Members of Congress have just two hours to avoid a partial government shutdown. They are still trying to reach a budget compromise. We'll have the latest developments from Capitol Hill and the White House. Plus, tonight's other headlines.
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You asked, Anderson answers
I am holding my breath I am a sgt in the marine corps with a family to feed I can afford not to get paid
If the Republicans are serious about cutting spending, the 1st thing they should do is cut their salaries in half! They aren't worth 1/4 of what they steal from the taxpayers, anyway!
Gary Vargo
Phoenix, AZ
I am totally disgusted with the President and with members of Congress. No one seems to know how to budget or how to stop spending. We, the country, are sliding down a steep slope into a financial abyss while Congress has a retirement program that is not to be believed.
Lets vote them all out.
Thank you.
Hi Anderson, I am really concerned about this government shutdown stuff. What is happening about veterans benefits, specifically veterans who are 100% service connected disabled and found unable to obtain gainful employment by the Veteran's Administration. The gov't isn't going to take away his disability payments are they? I have health problems, can't work, and do my best to care for my husband and keep our expenses as low as we can. He is a wounded warrior. Have you heard anything? Thank you.
Where else can someone completely fail at a job and still get paid? Oh yeah, a bank CEO!
Congress needs to be fired!
...and isn't it coincidental that the last time the government was shut down we had a Democrat as President too? Do the republicans think we are that stupid?!!
This Congress is manipulating things too important to government employees that do not effect them.
ann – i agree with you women's health and the DOD do not even relate so how is there a huge debate over planned parenthood as part of the budget. but on another note I am a Veteran of the USAF and i appreciate what the troops are doing for this country, but they keep preaching about the toops, well what about the other 850,000 other people that wont have a job come monday, how will they pay their bills?
We serve, we protect, we die for our country, Why, We stand behind the people and our way of life. Congress where do you stand?
I wish we could dig through the rhetoric and read.
Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., "well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does." when challenged (since that's actually almost exactly WRONG, they spend over 90% on preventative measures) he said it was, "not intended to be a factual statement."
There ya' have it. (idea: folks could just look this stuff up... I know, call me crazy)
To Govern is to control. Noone is governing. No leadership.
Do you really think they won't pass a budget based on 317 million dollars? I mean they are fighting for billions of dollars, planned parenthood is just a talking point. Dems couldn't get a budget passed before the Republicans were elected, there is obviously bigger issues than this planned parenthood. Just give up and cut the ridiculous spending!
No one outside of congress really knows what the disputes are about and we can't really tell who is at fault here. Maybe this could get done if they made it all public and allowed the TV cameras behind those closed doors and these stinking politicians can be held more accountable to the voters for who is actually saying what. Maybe this would force them to act a little more responsibly, communicate, and get the job done. Just a thought.
Why does the Tea Party think they are Captain Kirk putting "Cling Ons" on important bills, and then blame the other side for all the problems they cause.
April 15th is coming up. How about we all just not send our taxes in until the people on the hill start doing their jobs? I think the congress needs to go back to first grade and learn how to work together. They have the mindset of mine,mine and mine.
@Janis
The fear in taxing the rich is that they have enough money to relocate to another country if they like, taking all their wealth with them, same with business, if we over tax they relocate taking their jobs and wealth with them, a difficult balancing act.
If the gov't shuts down – 800,000 people become unemployed and the government loses 32 million a day from income producing parks, etc.
As a disabled veteran who was medically retired from the Air Force, and the spouse of an Air Force Reservist who just switched over from active duty on 1 March 2011, we are absolutely dependent on both my VA compensation and her reserve pay (of which, she hasn't even received her first paycheck yet). The idea that the military and it's veterans could be put in jeopardy for lack of an approved budget is personally revolting. Even if an extension, or a completely approved budget, is approved tonight before the deadline, the fact that military families have had to endure the emotional hardship that has been created up to this point is enough to make my blood boil. If I, or any other average American were to come this close to a deadline without delivering, without doing THEIR JOB, we'd be lucky to get by without being fired. The legislative and executive branches of our government are elected AND PAID to avoid these very problems. We are less than two hours away from a shutdown and they have failed to do their job. If this is the way our elected officials are going to work, their pay needs a serious reconsideration. Their pay is inflated to begin with, but if they aren't going to do their job they need to be paid commensurate with the fruits of their efforts.
//Signed//
Nicholas A. Marino, SSgt (Ret), USAF
Anderson,
Can Rep. Anthony Wiener really assert that a budget could not be reached due to the blocking of the Republicans even though they controlled both houses and the executive and successfully managed to pass a controversial health care bill?
How do the Senators still get paid and the men and women fighting in Afghanistan will not get paid? As a service member myself how in their right state of mind can they not pay the people fighting for our freedom daily? There are people suffering in the service due to not able to be financially stable because of the economy and now wont get a paycheck till who knows when....HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!?!?!?
I am a twenty year vet.I have a Daughter and 2 Son-in-laws in the military and to think that our government could cancel their pay and maybe cause them to lose everything is shocking.
After listening to the Democrats and the liberal media ... it appears the focus groups came up with three things ... extreme ... tea party ... and reducing women's rights ...
And unfortunately ... it is working.
I believe the republicans are responsible for most of this mess. They have shown no responsibility for compromise. The only effort republicans are working on diligently is the constant efforts to break the backs of the american people along with big business and their lobbyists. I am ashamed of everyone that was elected to "represents the american people's interest. Why would they be concerned about the military. The majority have never served our country. They are too busy serving themselves and stuffing their pockets to concern themselves with what is right. I voted for the President, but he has done nothing for the american people. The only thing the tea party reps need is medication. They are truly an bunch of misfits deserving their own reality show.
Maybe we need to look at Egypt & Libya and take to the streets–in peaceful protest against the ENTIRE government!!
Anderson, I continue to find it interesting that the republicans constantly speak of spending cuts and the high deficit but there is little or no metion of the over 9 trillion the Obama admin inherited/republicans being in charge much of that time in congress? what is missing here?
@Jana, Georgia, I can't believe that the politicians will get paid and our men and women in uniform will not.. That just isn't right.
Hi Jana. No it isn't right, it is a disgrace! Our military is the most essential group in this country. They should always be paid and taken care of.
Obama and the congress, republicans and democrats has reached a point of shame and disgrace to theirselves there is no return from. If it were their pay checks ending I am sure it wouldn't have gone this far.
Tell them (and I don't have to explain who "Them" are) that they don't get paid and this will end right now.
$178,000? That's a 6K paycheck every two weeks. And she can't afford to NOT get that? I'm pretty sure she can.
I wanna know why aren't they worried about the none military families that will be affected by this shutdown? because we also have bills too and what are they going to do about that?
Well at least Rep Wiener is willing to give his pay back, now lets have the rest of them do the same thing.
All I am hearing is We, They, nothing about U.S. Some leadership!
I thought we were the nations strongest government. What happened to that America. It seems like we have become the worst.
In Kentucky we have 'State' Health Departments as well as Planned Parenthood. Women go to the health department and have an option. What is all the discussion about on this? We (at least in Kentucky) have options and don't need to depend on the Federal Government.
Thanks.....
It seems to me that the people on "The Hill" are more interested in forwarding their own personal agendas than in negotiating a deal to close this budget crisis. The men and women in our Military are fighting for our country because they want to, not because they were drafted as was the case in the past. Perhaps the Congress and Senate should give up their paychecks if the government has to shut down. The Military does so much more for this country anyway. The money would be more wisely spent awarding it to the Military people who so richly deserve it.
Thank YOU Cooper for asking Congressman Weiner if it is fair that they are getting paid! He sounds like he actually cares if it shuts down.
the conceit and arrogance of our so called "representatives" knows no bounds. the way in which they show indifference to the damage this does to the american people is shameful. and all to further their own agendas in trying to legislate morality. what happened to government by the people for the people? it is now government by the lobbyists for the highest bidders.
Isn't the reason why the democrats were not able to pass a budget earlier this year was because the republican's filibustered all proposals during the first part of the administration in order to stop President Obama. Is this fact or what? And if so this is what needs to be reported.
im so tired of the rubicans blocking everything all they doing is hurting americans more and more time to vote out everyone and start fresh also gas almost 4 bucks a gallon if it goes much higher we dont have to shut down congress there wont be any one working time to drill in green river basin we have enough oil there to last 400 years its we the people not we the goverment wake up america
I think if the government shuts down Congress should lose their pay also, fair is fair.
Just wanted to let u know a lot of military friendly banks ie.. Navy federal and pacific marine, are covering active duty paychecks in full if there is. Government shutdown. So if there is no money from the gov we active duty will still get paid.
Republicans now have to Govern. Sucks huh?
Actually the Demos could not pass the budget earlier. You should know your facts. Look it up!
amelia
What will hppen with the jails?
Will not happen with Jails, they will not released from jails, Thwy will stay jail long time for sure.
I think this an embarrassing moment for all the people in Congress. Why is it they cannot agree on that policy issues. That arguments is overblown!! They are not 4th Grader! Maybe they are talking too much politics!! They should shut their mouth talking about politics and try to meet halfway in agreeing that budget!!! Oh, by the way I will not vote anymore. They are all liars!
godbless all i wish the best to the men and women who fight for this county
Anderson, please tell Kay BH that regardless of where she stands, we hold her responsible along with EVERYONE in congress (D or R). Shame on ALL of them.
I wonder why some legislators are so interested in woman's private business yet they complain about too much government – go figure.
Thank you United States government for giving me a reason to fight for you...Thank you for making sure me and my family can live without any interuptions other than deploying every other year, working 16 hours a day, and now cutting my pay check so I strugle to provide food, clothes, housing, gas, water, and electricity. In case you, The United States Government, cant figure it out because your head is so far up your rear end this is said with 100% sarcasm!!
To put this in numbers the folks can understand ... imagine the Federal Budget is $365.00. When the GOP passed HR1 they wanted to cut $1.69 front the $365. The Dems offered a $4.7B cut which was equal to 14 cents. At 33B the Dems were offering 92 cents. If they agree on $40B we are talking $1.08 out of the $365 dollar budget.
How can ANY sane person person think EITHER SIDE is serious about real reductions in spending??
And BTW ... on this scale ... our National Debt is $1420.00 ... comepared but a dollar and eight cents ...
I said practicaly the same thing as the comment by Renee before me. Only in a shortend version.