Please explain?

[bookaddict43]

I've been so busy I haven't watched any news for week. Not Australian news, not OS news...

So could someone explain this article. Is it saying that whole hosts of government employees will be stood down?

I don't get it. *is puzzled*

Comments

[anxiety-junkie.livejournal.com]

Every two (or four, not sure) years Congress has to approve a budget, and if they can't approve it by the end of the fiscal year then the federal government shuts down; all gov' offices are closed and approx 800,000 people will be out of work. The last time it happened it went on for almost a month, I think. The problem is, the Dems and Reps disagree on what programs should be cut to save money, as usual.

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

But...

That's ridiculous! 800,000 people out of work??!! What must it do to the economy?

[anxiety-junkie.livejournal.com]

The number is probably wrong, it's probably closer to 80k, but it's still a lot. And nobody ever accused politicians of being sensible. :P

[truthmaker]

Here's the scoop.

Every year Congress must pass and the President must sign a budget. If that has not happened by the first day of the fiscal year (October 1) the "non-essential" portions of the government shut down. I'm not sure how many workers that entails, 800,000 sounds high but it is within the realm of possibility.

If the collective idiots in charge can't get their stuff together by the deadline and they don't want to shut everything down they pass what is called a "Continuing Resolution" which states something like "Keep funding going at current levels until date X."

April 8 is the current "date X." So if they don't pass a budget for the remainder of the Fiscal Year (or another Continuing Resolution) before Midnight (US Eastern Time) the proverbial substance hits the fan.

[Update] Aparently there was some sort of breakthrough agreement and to give themselves time to blather about it the passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the government until April 14 (Thursday).

[lvs2read.livejournal.com]

What others have said, but to give you a better idea of the sticking points... Republicans are trying to balance the budget by defunding programs that help the poor, i.e. Planned Parenthood, Medicaid/Medicare and other social programs. Because heaven forbid they raise taxes for the wealthiest 2% of the population and close corporate tax loopholes. *eyeroll*

Anyway, they did finally come to an agreement just before the deadline last night. The theory is that all they need to do now is write the bill and get it passed. We shall see... Of course, we have this to do all over again for the 2012 budget come October. *sigh*

[nujutape.livejournal.com]

Did you heard what Rob Matts said about that?