Non-essential services feeling the heat of the current government scale back are not as numerous as the media would have us belive. Yet in the minds of the American public, the stalemate between President Trump and Democrats appears unending and riddled with casualties. The press persist in fear-mongering over the downtrodden federal employees on furlough and wail over the inhumanity of having a couple of National Parks closed in the dead of winter.
There is incessant chatter that the most vulnerable citizens will have to do without basic necessities – healthcare, Social Security payouts, and (gasp) food.
The USDA has a $3 billion contingency fund for situations such as a government shutdown...
Oh, the horror of it all.
But alas, the Democrats aren’t connected to reality – or, obviously, the facts – and their inability to negotiate a skosh will not affect America’s seniors, infants and children, mentally and physically challenged, or the working poor who depend on human services.
Reality Check
Out of 15 federal departments, nine are closed, and a dozen agencies remain shuttered, yet 75% of regular government services remain unaffected. The U.S. Postal Service will continue to deliver mail, Social Security checks will be issued, Veterans still enjoy their hard fought for benefits, and Medicare and Medicaid remain unaffected. And yes, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue to load the same amount of funds on little blue cards through the month of February.
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the program and has repeatedly vowed that the 38 million folks who depend on assistance will not suffer. As Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue explained, “For now we have solved the problem of what to do about February SNAP benefits. I believe this is ample time for Congress to act.”
We can only hope that lawmakers will help move the ball forward.
Just Breathe
The USDA has a $3 billion contingency fund for situations such as a government shutdown, which could effectively be used through the majority of March 2019 – if Congress sits on their hands that long – to offset the $5 billion per month budget. Coincidentally, that budget line item is about what Trump has requested for a southern border wall.
The ridiculousness of the left in attempting to show dominance over President Trump has gone on far too long -- over an infinitesimal amount of money when considering the $4.407 trillion plus budget. Yes, that pie chart is eye popping.
Americans need to rise-up and demand that liberal lawmakers accept the electorate’s calls for increased security at our southern border and encourage cooperation with their president. Otherwise, we cater to a Mexican standoff that is a waste of everyone’s time.
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