Stiffing small contractors has always been a fundamental feature of the Donald Trump business model...
I'm sure he views the federal government doing the same as a benefit of the shutdown, not a drawback...
Hey Jim are the Dems playing it smart ?
Re: Hey Jim are the Dems playing it smart ?
There are a couple of bills I think the Dems could put on the floor of the House regarding the shutdown that I believe could well serve them politically...
A bill that would fund their salaries, at least as a CR through Feb 8th (the date used in the original Senate passed CR) would say:
"Okay Sen. McConnell and President Trump, you don't want to have a CR for all the operations effected by the shutdown, but surely you can agree to at least provide pay for those brave individuals who are serving in law enforcement agencies that work to protect the US security that you claim to care so much about."
And let Mitch and Donald go on the record opposing that...
The other bill I'd put on the floor would be one suspending the pay of all members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary of any affected Department during any government shutdown or "partial shutdown"...
Variations of this have been proposed repeatedly by members of Congress from both parties in both Houses over the years, but the leaders of both chambers have refused to allow this to reach a floor vote. (For the obvious reason that it would be very difficult for any member to be able to vote against it.)
All of the people who work in those law enforcement agencies are being required to work without receiving their paychecks...The DHS is now a combination of 22 federal departments and agencies, including the following federal law enforcement agencies:
Customs and Border Protection
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Transportation Security Administration
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Secret Service
A bill that would fund their salaries, at least as a CR through Feb 8th (the date used in the original Senate passed CR) would say:
"Okay Sen. McConnell and President Trump, you don't want to have a CR for all the operations effected by the shutdown, but surely you can agree to at least provide pay for those brave individuals who are serving in law enforcement agencies that work to protect the US security that you claim to care so much about."
And let Mitch and Donald go on the record opposing that...
The other bill I'd put on the floor would be one suspending the pay of all members of Congress, the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary of any affected Department during any government shutdown or "partial shutdown"...
Variations of this have been proposed repeatedly by members of Congress from both parties in both Houses over the years, but the leaders of both chambers have refused to allow this to reach a floor vote. (For the obvious reason that it would be very difficult for any member to be able to vote against it.)
