As House Republicans continue to go back and forth over a funding bill that would keep the government open through the end of fiscal year, Georgia Democrats are seizing the opportunity to slam them for a potential shutdown that could freeze paychecks for thousands of Georgians.
A group of far-right House Republicans, including Georgia Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green and Andrew Clyde, are battling with Speaker Andrew McCarthy, R-CA, over demands to impose spending cuts or punish prosecutors who are going after former President Donald Trump over alleged election interference, (among others). Because of the Republicans’ slim majority in the House, a small number of holdouts can prevent a floor vote on a short-term spending bill.
The ongoing drama has seen the U.S. Senate attempt to push forth their own stopgap measure, but that too is in question as the Saturday-at-midnight deadline approaches.
And while Republicans continue to infight, Democrats get to lob shots across the aisle, an opportunity that Democratic Party of Georgia Spokesperson Ellie Schwarz was sure not to miss.
“It’s shameful that while Georgia Democrats are working in lockstep to deliver for Georgia families, Georgia Republicans are risking Georgians’ livelihoods with a devastating government shutdown in pursuit of their extreme agenda. Republicans are forcing families to brace for two extremes: a government shutdown that would devastate Georgians; or extreme cuts that would raise costs and slash funding for child care, schools, veteran services, and more.”
According to the DPG, some 67,000 Georgia servicemembers could be forced to work without pay during the shutdown, and an additional 167,000 Georgians who are federal civilian employees with ‘essential’ jobs could be forced to work without pay.
The press release claims that Georgia seniors could see delays in Social Security checks, while low-income mothers and children could lose access to food stamps during the shutdown. Non-essential workers would be sent home – the CDC in Atlanta claims that some 60% of its staff may be kept out of work while the rest keep the lights on.
“Make no mistake: if the government shuts down, leaving thousands of Georgians without the paychecks or services they rely on, Georgia Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Buddy Carter, and Andrew Clyde will be squarely to blame,” said Schwarz in the scathing statement.
How much of the DPG’s claims are actually true (should the government shut down) remain to be seen. Some federal funding, such as social security, is set up to not run out as long as the shutdown doesn’t drag on for more than a few weeks. Same for programs like Medicare or food stamps.
But others, such as university research funded by federal grants, or the state’s national parks, could be impacted immediately.
Congress itself, meanwhile, will continue to be paid throughout the shutdown.
