Obama XX: Maybe We'll Even Talk About Obama

Kepler · Apr 6, 2011

Re: Obama XX: Maybe We'll Even Talk About Obama

At this point can we all agree that Wisconsin can't be trusted to govern itself and they should outsource their government to, I dunno, Manitoba?

Priceless · Apr 6, 2011

Re: Obama XX: Maybe We'll Even Talk About Obama

A preview of what might be considered essential vs non-essential in the event of a shutdown.

Since 1980, every government agency has been required to have a plan in the case of a shutdown, defining essential employees and operations. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) mandated this in a memo that continues to be updated.

These plans are not available to the public, which is why there is so much speculation in advance of the expected fallout. We simply don't know what's considered essential these days. The last time the government shut down was in 1995; so much has changed with respect to the government's business and how it's conducted since then. In 1995, these services were not deemed essential by their parent agencies, and therefore went untended:

Health, welfare and financial services for Veterans
Passport and visa application processing
National parks, museums and monument
Work on bankruptcy cases
Recruitment and testing of federal law-enforcement officials
Disease surveillance and information distribution
Toxic waste clean-up

It's a good bet that most things deemed unessential in 1995 are still unessential in 2011. There is speculation that this time around, however, the SEC may have to put off audits and interviews, and that the decision of which cybersecurity personnel to keep on would not only be especially delicate, but could also open the door to attacks from hackers who are more numerous and better organized than they were 15 years ago.

Providing for the national security, including the conduct of foreign relations essential to the national security or the safety of life and property.
Benefit payments and the performance of certain contract obligations
Medical care of inpatients and emergency outpatient care
Conducting activities to ensure continued public health and safety, including safe use of food, drugs and hazardous materials
Air traffic control and other transportation safety functions
Border and coastal protection and surveillance
Protection of federal lands, buildings, waterways, equipment and other property owned by the United States
Care of prisoners and other persons in the custody of the United States
Law enforcement and criminal investigations
Emergency and disaster assistance
Activities that ensure production of power and maintenance of the power distribution system
Activities essential to the preservation of the essential elements of the money and banking system of the United States, including borrowing and
tax collection activities of the Treasury
Activities necessary to maintain protection of research property.

Employees who get rated "essential" are still allowed to report to work, whereas everyone else is barred from performing their duties, even if they offer to do so for free. Essential personnel get paid, but only retroactively, once funding for their particular agency has been restored.

During the last major shutdowns in the final days of 1995 and early 1996, the government closed 368 National Park Service sites, along with national museums and monuments.

In addition, 200,000 passport applications went unprocessed and toxic waste cleanup work at 609 sites stopped. The National Institutes of Health stopped accepting new clinical research patients and services for veterans, including health care, were slowed.

Which services will keep running regardless? Agencies are allowed to perform any operations necessary for the safety of human life and protection of property.

The government will keep essential services, such as air traffic control and the national security apparatus in full operating mode.

Federal workers who provide medical care on the job would be kept on, as would employees who handle hazardous waste, inspect food, patrol the borders, and protect federal property, guard inmates or work in power distribution.

Workers who protect essential elements of the money and banking system will also continue.

Will Social Security benefits be mailed? During the last major shutdown, the Social Security Administration mailed checks throughout the crisis, and a close reading of established law makes clear the agency has the legal authority to do so again.

Will troops overseas get the resources they need? Yes. While some Pentagon activities would stop, it would continue many other operations necessary for the safety of human life and protection of property.

However -- the Department of Defense says that if the government shuts down for an extended period, troops might not be paid on time.

Priceless · Apr 6, 2011

Re: Obama XX: Maybe We'll Even Talk About Obama

100% reporting, Kloppenburg 740,090 and Prosser 739,886. Gap is only 204 out of 1,479,976 votes.

Old Pio · Apr 6, 2011

Re: Obama XX: Maybe We'll Even Talk About Obama

Regardless of the outcome in Wisconsin, partisan elections for judges is the worst possible way to select them. In Texas, powerful, wealthy lawyers can manipulate the system to their benefit. Billionaire (no typo) lawyer Joe Jamail has been videotaped shoving wads of cash at his favored candidates. And in the late 70's, a thoroughly corrupt piece of work by the name of Don Yarbrough was elected to the Texas Supreme Court. The reason? His name was very close to former gubernatorial candidate Don Yarborough and senator Ralph Yarborough. He eventually fled the country and landed in Grenada where he was arrested and returned to the US to face trial (convicted, six years in the federal pen). It was a real thrill to see a former state Supreme Court justice cuffed and stuffed into the back of a cop car.

Even if Wisconsin had an alternative way of selecting judicial candidates, the outcome probably would have been the same. But, hyperpartisanship aside, we really don't want our judges selected the same way we pick dog catchers. Do we?

ExileOnDaytonStreet · Apr 6, 2011