WASHINGTON–Phil Connors is having a day—repeatedly–in Washington.
Phil Connors is the character famously played by Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day in which he relives the same day again and again, and as the government shutdown now hits its fourth week Jason Stverak says the character is an appropriate metaphor.
“There does not appear to be a compromise on the horizon,” noted Stverak, chief advocacy officer for the Defense Credit Union Council, even as some in Congress continue to put forth targeted spending bills that some are calling “rifle shots” to pay air traffic controllers, among others.
The federal government said it reallocated some Department of Defense funds to make the Oct. 15 payroll for members of the military. Members of the Coast Guard, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, were also paid.
Stverak noted the House has not voted on any bill for 39 days as of today, and while it did pass a continuing resolution to fund the government, that ends in the third week of November.
“So, even if they pass something this week we could be back here reliving this movie once again in a short period of time,” Stverak observed, adding that DCUC continues to call on Congress to re-open the federal government and provide relief to the approximately one-million government workers not being paid, in addition to contractors.
‘Serving Without Complaint’
“I think this once again shows the importance of credit unions and their commitment to serving their communities they have without complaint,” said Stverak, referring to the various assistance programs being offered by credit unions.
Now, another missed payday for federal workers and the military is approaching at the end of this week.
“It looks like (military members) will not get paid on the 31st unless there is another moving of funds,” observed Stverak. “I think they’ve got to find another eight-billion (dollars) to meet payroll.”
Congressional staffers also face a missed paycheck this week, as well. For House staffers, who are paid monthly, it will be their first missed check.
As the CU Daily reported earlier, many federal employees have begun showing up at food banks seeking help, putting a strain on those charities.
Additional Stress
On Nov. 1, meanwhile, federal SNAP benefits are likely to go unpaid, affecting more than 40-million Americans, including many low-paid members of the military.
“That additional stress in food insecurity and financial insecurity is unfortunate. to say it in the politest terms possible,” Stverak said.
Overall, said Stverak, “the short answer on the shutdown is we don’t know when it’s going to end and there are still a lot of things up in the air. The president is out of the country and the Democrats are saying they won’t negotiate unless it’s with him. So, we’re just going to have to continue to hope they find a solution quickly.”
