A Week and Counting
More than a week into a U.S. government shutdown, there is no sign of an imminent deal to re-open the government. The last vote to advance a short-term “clean” funding extension garnered just 52 votes in the U.S. Senate, far short of the 60 required.
Democrats continue to insist that an extension of the soon-to-expire healthcare tax credits be included in any funding deal, while Republicans say the government should be funded at existing levels and the healthcare credits negotiated separately.
Analysis and eternal perspective: The longest government shutdown in U.S. history was 35 days in 2018-2019. A 21-day shutdown in 1995-96 and a 16-day shutdown in 2013 both also exceeded the duration of the current closure. While a funding deal is certain to be struck eventually, the duration of the shutdown and the terms of that eventual deal are yet to be determined.
The extent to which the shutdown impacts you personally very much depends on your individual situation. Government employees or contractors, servicemembers, and those dependent on impacted government programs feel the negative impact well before those employed by private industry and not dependent on federal programs.
You very likely have a perspective on the politics and the public policy at play in this situation. Those are certain to vary across our community, but we can be united in our intentional focus to search out and stand with those most negatively impacted. Who in your world is missing paychecks or assistance in a way that materially impacts their wellbeing? What practical role can you play to stand in that gap with and for them?
Let’s together meet those needs for each other this week.
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.