Publisher’s Points to Ponder: Are American Workers Held Hostage by Government Shudowns?

Jan. 25 is the 34th day of the partial government shutdown. Some folks may subscribe to the idea that American workers are being held hostage as a result of the recent shutdown. Many of the families affected live paycheck-to-paycheck and can’t afford to lose wages.

President Trump appeared before the White House press corps Jan. 25 to announce his decision to reopen the government for three weeks. The president clarified his intention to shut down the government again if Congress does not approve building a wall or steel barrier.

“If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down Feb. 15 again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency,” President Trump asserted.

Members of Congress remain hopeful to meet in the middle of the aisle and reach a resolution. The Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc-Connell (R-KY) announced his hope for a good outcome on Central News Network.

“The president has put forth a plan that both sides are willing to accept, and hopefully we will have good faith negotiations over the next three weeks to try to resolve our differences on the best way to secure our border,” McConnell said during a news conference Jan. 25.

The 2018 shutdown that continued through 2019 is not the first government shutdown noted in history, but it is currently the longest one in the past 40 years. History revealed a 10-day shutdown under the Ford administration in 1976. The Carter administration had five government shutdowns ranging from 8 – 17 days between 1977 and 1979. Between the years of 1981 through 1987, the Regan administration reported eight shutdowns that lasted 1-3 days. The Bush administration sustained one three-day shutdown in 1990. The Clinton administration reported two closures that occurred between November 1995 through January 1996 wherein one lasted between three and five days with the latter lasting 21 days. In 2013. President Obama called for a government shutdown, which lasted for 16 days.

Think about the multiple ways U.S. government shutdowns affect American workers. We vote for members of congress to find resolve without sacrificing the earnings of the people who protect our freedom and our liberties.

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