by Serwan Zangana
“Sorry we are closed” or indeed the Democrats and Republicans did not say sorry when they shut down the federal government. To them, it is as simple as 1,2,3, “the government shut down.” The two political Parties did not agree on the budget spending as each side shifted the responsibility for such an action. Again, it is the blame game and Americans are powerlessly watching the powerful politicians controlling the steering wheel of the country’s economy.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated 750,000 federal employees could be laid off, including active-duty military, federal law enforcement, and airport security officers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). But the members of the House and the Senate are prevented from the consequences of the shutdown, which means their salary will not be affected.
Article I, Section 6 of the U.S Constitution protects their pay as it states, “The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.” That means while the majority of the federal workers will not receive paychecks, the Representatives and Senators get paid and continue their normal lives.
However, a few lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed their opinions with common sense. Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) said, “It’s wrong that the President and Members of Congress get paid during a government shutdown when our military and public servants don’t.” Indeed, Sen. Kim did not only express such an opinion but he went further and said, “I will be refusing my own pay if we end up in a shutdown. Government leaders shouldn’t be playing with other people’s chips.”
Furthermore, Rep. Kat Cammack (R.FL) also made a statement regarding the members’ pay, and however, while she blamed the Democrats for the government shutdown, she said, “So let’s see if they are willing to give up their pay as well; I’ll start.” But blatantly Sen. Ruben Gallego (D.AZ) said, “I’m not wealthy, and I have three kids. I would basically be missing, you know, mortgage payments, rent payments, child support.”
Apparently, political power dilutes human decency and sometimes creates a behavior of a monster over people. This is not limited to the U.S but it can be observed across the world in every nation that their citizens are suffering under the rule of the incompetent politicians.
However, the tax credit that helps millions of middle class and low-income people to purchase healthcare insurance through Affordable Care Act marketplace (ACA) at a lower price was the dispute between both Parties. This tax credit will expire at the end of 2025 as the Democrats are demanding to extend it, but the Republicans are claiming that the Democrats want to provide healthcare to the undocumented people in the country. Obviously, the Democrats are denying such a claim.
According to a survey from KFF, an independent source for health policy research, 3 in 4 adults support extending the enhanced tax credit. The majority of Democrats and Republicans supporters believe that the enhanced tax credit should be extended, Democrats 92%, Republicans 59%, and Independent 82%, KFF revealed.
The high cost of healthcare insurance in the U.S remains on the top of the issues, which usually divides the Democrats and Republicans as each group has a different policy for eligibility of people to receive Medicaid or enhanced tax credit. However, despite the high cost of healthcare, the U.S still leads the world in medical innovation. (Vantage Medtech)
After all, the politicians’ rigid mindset and the loud clamor of the lawmakers became an obstacle for agreement to pass the budget bill, which led to the shutdown. The U.S federal government failed the nation and simply closed its door and left thousands of Americans without pay.
