Shutdown: Forget Plan B, What’s Plan A?

Do you know what furlough-bait looks like? Check the nearest mirror!

Most federal agencies reportedly have done a very good job of preparing for a possible shutdown. They are said to have decided which functions will continue and which will be downgraded or temporarily halted. And they have, in most cases, identified which employees will be furloughed without pay and which will continue to work. There are essential workers who are furlough-proof and there are employees who will keep working because their salaries are paid by fees charged their customers.

The plan has one teeny fault. Nobody seems knows what it is!

With rare exceptions, none of the employees who may be indefinitely unemployed as of Monday know what is going on. That probably includes you.

Many feds don’t know whether they will work or serve as furlough fodder. Or as many are threatening to do, whether to head for the unemployment office. Adding several hundred thousand people to the unemployment rolls would not make for the good economic numbers that Wall Street watches very closely.

If you are waiting for a federal tax refund, and there is a shutdown, lotsa luck! If you are worried about your Social Security benefits and there is a shutdown, well you get the idea. If you are planning a spring break trip to Yellowstone National Park, or Mammoth Cave, better take some educational DVDs, just in case.

In addition to tens of thousands of feds who would be furloughed, an even greater number of contractor jobs are also at risk. If buildings or offices are closed, contractors assigned to them couldn’t go to work. And the people who employ contractors generally don’t pay them if they don’t work.

So how do rank-and-file feds feel about dancing in the dark? Check this out:

• “Our agency hasn’t informed us as to whether or not we would report to work in the event of a shutdown. In the 90’s we did not shut down, due to some stipulation that we were under the USDA budget or some such thing; however, that no longer applies. Additionally, our contractors haven’t been told whether or not they are to report. My supervisor has been given mixed signals by upper management and isn’t really sure himself, but isn’t concerned since he doesn’t believe we will ever have another shut down.” H.M.
• “I work for the DOD as a civilian (Department of the Army Civilian or DAC) CONUS and have not been told anything about how a government shutdown may affect me as of this morning. ” John C.
• “Mike, perhaps a temporary shut down is a first step and part of the regime of cure for the years of fiscal profligacy. As I wrote to the National Treasury Employees Union our fiscal ship is sinking and Federal employees and retirees are not the only priority for the life boats. How about a little statesmanship from both Democrats, Republican, and public and private sector unions. There is transparency…many are out for themselves and to heck with the Country and common good.” Jim Cinocca
• “The government may not have a shutdown contingency plan but I do. First thing Monday I am heading for the unemployment office. I don’t know how long it takes to be approved or even if I will qualify. And if I get it and we get paid retroactively (no sure thing this time around) when we return, I may have to repay unemployment. Fine with me. But I am going to send the politicians a tiny message because unemployment costs money too. Imagine if 2 million furloughed federal workers hit their local unemployment office on Monday.” Carl V.

AFGE members are planning informational picket lines Wednesday at hundreds of Social Security field offices around the country. Because Social Security is the third rail of American politics (touch it and you die) it should be the 6 p.m. lead story in many TV markets.

Furlough: Next Step

Today at 10 a.m. (EDT) our Your Turn with Mike Causey radio show will focus on what happens if Uncle Sam turns off the lights. Invited guests include presidents Colleen Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union and John Gage of the American Federation of Government Employees. They have a lot of knowledge, and a lot to say, about shutdowns. Following up with the latest information will be Steve Watkins editor of the Federal Times and senior writer Sean Reilly or Steve Losey. Listen if you can call in (202.465.3080) if possible or e-mail us questions or comments at: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

Nearly Useless Factoid
by Suzanne Kubota

The smallest mammal in the world is the bumblebee bat, so named because it’s about the size of a bumblebee.

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