FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 24, 2019
“800,000 Americans who provide essential services to the rest of us will miss their second paycheck in a row because Washington politicians are trying to resolve political differences on their backs. Federal workers are standing in line at food banks, negotiating with creditors about their mortgages and keeping the heat on in the winter, taking donations of diapers and baby food all because some politicians are refusing to follow the democratic principles that have kept our nation moving forward for more than 200 years.
“Nearly 500,000 workers are now being forced to work without pay, in jobs that are critical to our nation’s safety and security. FBI agents, Coast Guard personnel, TSA screeners, air traffic controllers, airplane safety inspectors…they are still on the job but haven’t seen a dime for more than a month. We salute their dedication to the rest of us, but we also believe that a worker must be paid for his or her labor in a timely manner, no matter where they work or what they do.
“Making federal political policy through government shutdowns has never been a good idea, and never results in a good outcome for the American people. We urge all parties to recognize that in our system of government a majority rules, and that includes votes in Congress. If your proposal has the votes, then pass it. If it does not, then it is time to move on and get back to doing the business of the people.
“The Washington politicians must end this shutdown now. Stop holding the families of 800,000 American workers hostage in an attempt to subvert the democratic principles of our nation.”
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