Federal government shutdown might be looming

The budget that controls when and where federal money goes will expire on March 4. Rumors are the government might simply shut down. A federal government shutdown 2011 is a possibility, however lawmakers are working to prevent the shutdown.

Possibility of a 2011 federal government shutdown

It is good to know what is going on with a government shutdown since it might possibly occur in 2011. In 1998, a full federal government shut down occurred. Almost every little thing was shut down that was government-run. There have been other federal government shutdowns since 1998, but they were very short-term, partial shutdowns that impacted portions of the government, but not the entire thing. A full government shutdown this year would mean that anything from Social Security to Veteran’s Affairs would simply cease to function. There was no longer access to national parks. Passport agencies were not working anymore while federal employees went unpaid. Some select self-funding agencies, such as the USPS, might stay open. Medical facilities would also continue to operate however with a skeleton crew.

Ways the federal government shutdown can take place

A budget is needed for the federal government which has to pass in both Congress houses while the president also has to sign it. The funds available won't be known by the federal government agencies without a budget. That means they will have to shut down for a while. As in 1998, Congressional debates over spending cuts are holding back the passage of a budget.

What it means to have a 2011 government shutdown

There would be lots of problems if the government shut down this year. Lots of pressure would be put on Congress to get a spending budget passed. Republicans and Democrats would have to play nice. Getting the budget made is necessary. The only time in the last 15 years that a surplus of federal funds was available was after the balanced spending budget spending was created in 1998 after the government shutdown.

Citations

CNN

politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/21/house-republicans-and-senate-democrats-in-talks-to-avoid-government-shutdown/#more-147736

Washington Monthly

washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/028070.php