Federal Budget talk

[Bernadine]

Can we start a separate thread?

I've been slammed this morning, so haven't had a chance to read through any news. But we just received a request to update our numbers of excepted employees. I don't think that necessarily means anything- standard procedure for coming so close to the end of a CR. 

Anyone have any updates?

[candreco]

I'm surprised by how little chatter I'm hearing at work about shutdown preps, but I also think people just DGAF anymore, everyone's just too burnt out. I did talk briefly with our financial manager, and he seemed to lean toward a few days of shutdown next week. No idea what he's basing that on specifically, but he's been around forever.

[bex]

I still haven't heard a whisper in my component. There is talk of hiring interviews over the next few weeks for new judges and I am surprised they aren't waiting to see what happens with the budget talks.

[WanderingWinoZ]

Everybody is too overloaded with the tax cut? They are still busy trying to get that into conference committee.

The latest I've heard is they are doing a continuing resolution (to fund at hte same levels) through Dec 22nd

I just don't understand why they think it's good to post-pone it till then? Is anybody going to be more willing to negotiate just b/c it's 3 days before Christmas?

Says they will then do another 2 week CR? www.politico.com/story/2017/12/03/congress-shutdown-taxes-russia-276804

[seeyalater52]

Our contacts are preparing for a short shutdown next week because they don't see Congress being able to manage the frenzy in the conference committee (tax bill) this week and the CR at the same time. Might just be worse case scenario planning but the timing is really bad.

[pumpkin]

No one at my agency is discussing this at all.

[eclaires]

No talk of it at MH's place of employment. They usually can run for awhile if the government shuts down but they start prepping for it and warning employees in advance. So far, nothing.

[Deleted]

I am super nervous. I have nothing to base this on, other than this Congress being a total cluster.

Also, I am SUPER nervous about backpay if there is a shutdown. I just don't trust Ryan and McConnell.

[candreco]

Dec 4, 2017 14:02:19 GMT -5 @angryharpy said:

I am super nervous. I have nothing to base this on, other than this Congress being a total cluster.

Also, I am SUPER nervous about backpay if there is a shutdown. I just don't trust Ryan and McConnell.

Yes. Previous shutdowns I didn't doubt that we'd get back pay, this time I'm not so confident.

Despite the lack of talk about it, I just don't see when they're going to get anything done before Monday morning. Plus if immigration does become a sticking point, then there's no chance of avoiding.

[andwhat]

If you are essential personnel and HAVE to work during the shutdown are you guaranteed backpay? Like they can make us work for free, right? Eventually we will get our money, right?

I am also nervous about those who are basically laid off getting backpay. I don't think it will happen this time unfortunately. Hell I think Congress would look at how much money it saved by shutting down and incorporate it in their plan to reduce the deficit. I don't trust the GOP at all.

[bex]

Dec 4, 2017 14:09:46 GMT -5 andwhat said:

If you are essential personnel and HAVE to work during the shutdown are you guaranteed backpay? Like they can make us work for free, right? Eventually we will get our money, right?

I am also nervous about those who are basically laid off getting backpay. I don't think it will happen this time unfortunately. Hell I think Congress would look at how much money it saved by shutting down and incorporate it in their plan to reduce the deficit. I don't trust the GOP at all.

Yes. If you have to work you get paid, it just may not be until the government is up and running again.

Last time, we were out for about a week and then got called back as "essential" which pissed me off (because I felt like they were saying....you can skip work for a few days but wait, you actually DO work, you actually DO play a role in how things function, so never mind, come back!!!!) but anyway, so we knew we would at least get paid for those days - although I think by that point congress may have passed the law guaranteeing back pay.

[pumpkin]

Dec 4, 2017 14:09:46 GMT -5 andwhat said:

If you are essential personnel and HAVE to work during the shutdown are you guaranteed backpay? Like they can make us work for free, right? Eventually we will get our money, right?

I am also nervous about those who are basically laid off getting backpay. I don't think it will happen this time unfortunately. Hell I think Congress would look at how much money it saved by shutting down and incorporate it in their plan to reduce the deficit. I don't trust the GOP at all.

Last time there was a shut down, or the time before, I can't remember, I had to work for a couple of weeks and only got paid once the shutdown was over.

And I agree, I would be surprised if those who are not essential and don't work receive back pay.

[seeyalater52]

Just got word that the freedom caucus is pushing Ryan for a CR that goes through 12/30 instead of 12/22. Absolutely no idea why or what they’d have to gain for that, but thought I’d share.

[Bernadine]

Dec 4, 2017 19:46:40 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Just got word that the freedom caucus is pushing Ryan for a CR that goes through 12/30 instead of 12/22. Absolutely no idea why or what they’d have to gain for that, but thought I’d share.

Interesting.  Maybe they don't want the optics of shutting down right before Christmas.  I wonder if that's actually not a good sign.

But thanks for the update!

[gretchenindisguise]

Dec 4, 2017 19:47:55 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Dec 4, 2017 19:46:40 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Just got word that the freedom caucus is pushing Ryan for a CR that goes through 12/30 instead of 12/22. Absolutely no idea why or what they’d have to gain for that, but thought I’d share.

Interesting.  Maybe they don't want the optics of shutting down right before Christmas.  I wonder if that's actually not a good sign.

But thanks for the update!

This was my thought. A shutdown before Christmas is harder to make look good than a shutdown before the new year.

[curbsideprophet]

I also put this in the tax post.

Sounds like Meadows is concerned they will with have to give up too much if the deadline is right before Christmas.

House conservatives almost topple tax vote - POLITICOhttps://apple.news/AnV9gseRSSUG1d2vykVIeqg

[MrsAxilla]

Just talked to my trumper dad. It's super important to him that we come home for Xmas this year (my mom, who is in poor health, is finally retiring!). I said "gee, dad, idk! It all depends on if the government shuts down and whether DH is considered essential. He is the sole income, you know." My dad said "DON'T WORRY. JUST CALL US AND WE'LL SEND A CHECK." You bet your ass you will - lol. But really, it's not funny.

[chchchia]

Anyone DoD here? I have not heard a whisper about it and I don’t know if it’s bc we may be excepted or we are just accustomed to this.

[tacoflavoredkisses]

My Hs office seems to be too swamped to be able to focus on this- he said it hasn’t come up at all.

This is one thing I don’t miss about working for the feds. I didn’t get backpay in 2013, which was great when it meant I lost a paycheck 2 weeks before our wedding.

[candreco]

Dec 5, 2017 9:30:55 GMT -5 chchchia said:

Anyone DoD here? I have not heard a whisper about it and I don’t know if it’s bc we may be excepted or we are just accustomed to this.

Yes, Navy here.  Like I said above, we have had no official mention and very little office chatter about it, but people who have seen circumstances like this before are leaning toward a few days of shutdown next week.

[pumpkin]

Dec 5, 2017 9:30:55 GMT -5 chchchia said:

Anyone DoD here? I have not heard a whisper about it and I don’t know if it’s bc we may be excepted or we are just accustomed to this.

I thought the DoD was already funded for the FY? I could have that wrong though.
I know my agency and the DoD are funded differently than other agencies and I can never seem to find or figure out if we're good to go or not. Super frustrating!!

[chchchia]

Dec 5, 2017 9:46:59 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

Dec 5, 2017 9:30:55 GMT -5 chchchia said:

Anyone DoD here? I have not heard a whisper about it and I don’t know if it’s bc we may be excepted or we are just accustomed to this.

I thought the DoD was already funded for the FY? I could have that wrong though.
I know my agency and the DoD are funded differently than other agencies and I can never seem to find or figure out if we're good to go or not. Super frustrating!!

I thought we were too but how do you know if you are separated from the rest of the fed gov bc they may have only funded certain programs and I can’t find it anywhere. Ugh.

[chchchia]

Dec 5, 2017 9:44:47 GMT -5 candreco said:

Dec 5, 2017 9:30:55 GMT -5 chchchia said:

Anyone DoD here? I have not heard a whisper about it and I don’t know if it’s bc we may be excepted or we are just accustomed to this.

Yes, Navy here.  Like I said above, we have had no official mention and very little office chatter about it, but people who have seen circumstances like this before are leaning toward a few days of shutdown next week.

The big DoN here too!

[candreco]

Dec 5, 2017 10:04:52 GMT -5 chchchia said:

Dec 5, 2017 9:46:59 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

I thought the DoD was already funded for the FY? I could have that wrong though.
I know my agency and the DoD are funded differently than other agencies and I can never seem to find or figure out if we're good to go or not. Super frustrating!!

I thought we were too but how do you know if you are separated from the rest of the fed gov bc they may have only funded certain programs and I can’t find it anywhere. Ugh.

I've only been skimming emails on legislation stuff at work because I'm at the point where IDGAF anymore (it's a sore spot for my office right now), but I think the issue is that we have authorization (the National Defense Authorization Act) but not appropriation, so permission to spend money we haven't actually been given yet.

[chchchia]

Dec 5, 2017 10:13:41 GMT -5 candreco said:

Dec 5, 2017 10:04:52 GMT -5 chchchia said:

I thought we were too but how do you know if you are separated from the rest of the fed gov bc they may have only funded certain programs and I can’t find it anywhere. Ugh.

I've only been skimming emails on legislation stuff at work because I'm at the point where IDGAF anymore (it's a sore spot for my office right now), but I think the issue is that we have authorization (the National Defense Authorization Act) but not appropriation, so permission to spend money we haven't actually been given yet.

Yup our travel is STILL get bounced back. Lord have mercy and we’ve tried to do some cross org funding docs and they are like rubber...bouncing back and forth. I am not confident.

[pumpkin]

Dec 5, 2017 10:04:52 GMT -5 chchchia said:

Dec 5, 2017 9:46:59 GMT -5 pumpkin said:

I thought the DoD was already funded for the FY? I could have that wrong though.
I know my agency and the DoD are funded differently than other agencies and I can never seem to find or figure out if we're good to go or not. Super frustrating!!

I thought we were too but how do you know if you are separated from the rest of the fed gov bc they may have only funded certain programs and I can’t find it anywhere. Ugh.

It's so hard to figure out!

[Bernadine]

Not a big update, but OPM is not scheduling any calls with executives yet. They usually do when we get close to the end of a CR.

[melissa]

I'm actually surprised that they haven't extended the possible CR until after the new year. Does anyone know when they will be taking the holiday break?

[ssmjlm]

Another DOD person here and the only issue we have is people here on TDY and if they have to go home Friday. My TDY people are all essential though, so they will be here, the question is if my office is smart enough to make me essential to supervise them. They can't really be here with just anyone based on the nature of their work.

Otherwise everyone else is all "la di da."

[melissa]

The latest from Gov Exec: Trump on Shutdown: It Could Happen

Somebody isn't playing nice in the sandbox.