From USA Today:
"'I live paycheck to paycheck': Federal workers rally for their jobs at White House"
Federal workers and their supporters rallied for their jobs near the White House on Thursday as the partial government shutdown rolled through its third week with no end in sight. Almost half of the 800,000 civilian federal employees are not working, and even those that are won't be paid until the stalemate is settled. For most, the furlough becomes real Friday when they miss their first payday. Hundreds of protesters marched near the White House on a sunny but cold and windy day with signs saying “Let me work for the people,” “We want to work” and “Trump: End the shutdown.” Mahasin Mohamed, who has been a security officer for the Smithsonian Institute for seven years, brought a sign that said, “Trump pay my bills or give back our jobs.” Lila Johnson, who has worked as a contracted custodian for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 21 years, said her daughter has been helping her out financially. “It’s a struggle," Johnson said. "It’s time for them to open the government back up so people like me ... can go back to work.” IRS employee Horatio Fenton came from Philadelphia to attend the D.C. rally. “I don’t know where the next paycheck is coming from," Fenton said. "I have a mortgage. I have regular, everyday expenses, so I’m very concerned right now.” The impact is rocking federal employees across the nation. In tiny Arcata, California, single mom Leisyka Lee said she has worked for the Bureau of Land Management for 17 years. "I live paycheck to paycheck," she said. "I earn a living wage when I work. I love my job and I just want to get back to work." In Madison, Wisconsin, Carl Houtman has spent the last 21 years working for the Forest Service. The chemical engineer said he is the primary wage earner for his family of four – including two in college. President Donald Trump has said he would be willing to keep the shutdown going for a year or more if Democrats don't yield to his demands for $5.7 billion toward funding a border wall. Talks broke down Wednesday, and it was unclear when or if they would restart. Trump has suggested that liberals should feel compelled to go along, claiming that "most of the people not getting paid are Democrats." He also has said federal workers support his plans for the wall and his decision to force the shutdown. "The president has a cavalier attitude because he has no idea what it's like to rely on a regular paycheck," said Steve Lenkart, spokesman for the National Federation of Federal Workers. Houtman said Trump's dismissive attitude to federal workers dampens their hopes for a quick settlement. "The whole drum beat in the conservative media about how federal employees don't really do anything, that we are not important, it adds to the stress," Houtman said. Some workers have started GoFundMe campaigns, but the Office of Government Ethics warned that standard ethics rules apply. Such donations would likely be considered gifts, and rules for accepting gifts are stringent. The U.S. Coast Guard thought it was being helpful when it posted a tip sheet with a list of suggestions such as holding garage sales, babysitting or tutoring to make ends meet. One last option – declaring bankruptcy. The tip sheet was later removed from the agency's website. The federation, which represents more than 100,000 federal workers, co-sponsored the rally. A similar effort in Edison, New Jersey, drew about 300 people. Edward Guster III, an EPA scientist, noted that workers are not patronizing local shops and eateries. “Those local businesses must be feeling that," he said. The work the employees do is also affected. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said his agency has cut back significantly on safety inspections of domestic food. Guster said his inability to inspect gas station leaks could lead to contaminated groundwater. Lee, a former firefighter who now does education outreach for BLM, said vegetation fuel reduction work normally performed this time of year across the West is on hold, which could loom large when fire season rolls around in the spring. Houtman said he has research reports sitting idle on his desk, and he has a graduate student hamstrung in her efforts to complete experiments required for her thesis. But he admits the financial issues remain front and center. A kind neighbor brought frozen food from their freezer to help his family out, he said. "We are not that desperate yet," he said. "But we took the food."
^ I completely agree with these Federal employees. They are being played as pawns by Trump, the Democrats and the Republicans. I would not work if I wasn't being paid. I would either call in sick or just stay home/ Political agendas and cat-fights to not pay people's bills. Sadly the only way this current Federal Government Shutdown will end is when it starts affecting more than just the Federal employees and their families. Once it affects the majority of ordinary Americans then that will force Trump, the Republicans and the Democrats to put their "big boy/girl pants" on and start doing what is right for the country. ^
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