Feds Prep For E-Gov Shutdown 290
dcblogs writes "If the federal government is shutdown midnight Friday, the feds plan to stop updating government Web sites that aren't delivering essential services. 'Most Web sites will not continue, only those Web sites that are part of these accepted activities would continue to operate,' the senior White House official said Tuesday. 'Accepted activities,' refers to essential, life and safety-related government services. The IRS, however, will continue to accept tax returns filed electronically and to process payments. 'We need to be able to collect the money that is owed to the U.S. government,' the official said. Paper-based returns won't be processed."
What about FY2012? (Score:3, Interesting)
If lawmakers can't agree to a budget for the time period starting 7 MONTHS AGO, how are they going to get a FY2012 budget done?
Federal managers aren't spending more than the Continuing Resolution levels, and should be saving some money in case of cuts. Funding them over the CR level would just lead to waste spending in the 'use it or lose it' model (They have until September to spend it all).
They need to pass a status quo budget for FY2011, and get started on FY2012. That is where the problem lies, and where a solution can take place.
Re:I only wish... (Score:4, Interesting)
If the FAA is shut down then twitter could be used to transmit ICAO messages (FPL, CHG, APR, etc) and mobile pbone use on aircraft could be made compulsory.
Re:Welcome to the real truth (Score:4, Interesting)
You conveniently left out that Obama tried to negotiate a budget and the Republicans decided to change their goal from $33 billion in cuts to $40 billion, just a few days ago. Note, I'm an independent, I hate both parties, but really the Tea Party Republicans are being idiots here...and at least some of the non-Tea Party Republicans seem to agree with that sentiment. It's called negotiating; what we instead have is "I'm taking my ball and going home!!"
Furthermore, it's all really idiotic, because that $40 billion or whatever in cuts doesn't apply to this year's budget only. It applies to this year and the next several years! The actual cuts in any given year are relatively small, but they multiply them out over several years to make the numbers look bigger so we're all impressed by how Congress is cracking the whip. And it's moot, since Congress passes a new budget every year (roughly), because next year they could change what's funded/cut anyway; there's nothing forcing them to uphold the cuts/spending made in a previous year.
In short, as usual, the politicians are lying. They could cut $1 out of this year's budget, the remainder out of the next 9 years, and all we'd hear is how they saved $40 billion.
Re:Either way.... (Score:4, Interesting)
just leaving qualifies as desertion
Slavery is illegal. There have been a number of lawsuits where people have tried to enter voluntary slavery schemes, and every one was found illegal. Them not paying you but requiring you to be there is slavery (well, actually indentured servitude, which is legally identical at this point). Additionally, you sign a contract to enlist. That contract indicates that you'll get paid for your service. Once they don't pay you, they have breached the contract. The contract may require grievances within the contract be handled by the UCMJ, but legal precedent has indicated that a contract requiring one type of remedy only for violating the contract is effectively invalid if one side determines that the remedy is unfair.
This underscores the problem with using civilian contractor for front line supplies and services.
What, that when you violate your contract with active duty personnel, they will still work for free under penalty of firing squad (or whatever the penalty is for desertion in a time of war), but the civilians won't work for free because you can't shoot them? How is that a problem? If you can't afford to pay for them, perhaps you should evaluate policy of making war while bankrupt. There's nothing wrong with paying civilians for critical services. They are no less reliable than military (and in many cases are ex-military). There's a problem with slavery, whether you are civilian or military.