Is everyone on the IC prepared? Op-Ed: Get Ready for a Government Shutdown

By: MAX RIVLIN-NADLER

Passport need renewing? Psyched for that totally amazing weekend you have lined up in Yellowstone? Well, John Boehner has some bad news for you: Unless the Senate agrees to delay the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (AKA ObamaKillsUCare) for an entire year, House Republicans will most likely let the government shut down on October 1st. Fun!

In a statement released today, Boehner laid out his demands:

“The American people don’t want a government shut down and they don’t want ObamaCare. That’s why later today, the House will vote on two amendments to the Senate-passed continuing resolution that will keep the government open and stop as much of the president’s health care law as possible."

“The first amendment delays the president’s health care law by one year. And the second permanently repeals ObamaCare’s medical device tax that is sending jobs overseas."

The House will now send back a version of the spending bill that will almost certainly be shot down by the Senate, leaving the government with virtually no chance to come to a resolution before it runs out of money on October 1st.

So what happens during a government shutdown? A lot of bad things. The economy tanks, government workers will be furloughed (further to that tanking of the economy), and National Parks and the Smithsonian would close. Also, the EPA would effectively shut down as well, so if you've got chemicals to dump — now is the time. And if you're going to do dispose of things, best do it in Washington D.C. (its garbage collection would be suspended).