If you had any doubt...

[cstone]

Where have you been for the last 17 federal shutdowns?

Every time the federal government has been shut down, the non-essential employees always get back pay. EVERY TIME!

60% of federal employees are considered essential and 40% are considered non-essential. There is a vague notion about why some employees are or are not essential, but it has never made any sense to me who is and who is not. I often wish I was non-essential. I would like a paid vacation without using my leave.

The SecDef just recalled over 300k non-essential federal DOD employees. This had nothing to do with a budget or CR being passed. Hagel just did it. I guess because he wanted to.

If the Senate and the President cared about getting the rest of the government back to work, all they have to do is accept a budget without funding for the ACA. So who shut down the government?

The President of the United States.

[theGinsue]

If the Senate and the President cared about getting the rest of the government back to work, all they have to do is accept a budget without funding for the ACA. So who shut down the government?

The President of the United States.

And ^^this^^ is what it ultimately comes down to. Some of you can drink the liberal kool-aid and blame the GOP, but without holding the line against the unConstitutional and inaccurately named Affordable [Health] Care Act, the citizens of this country will continue to feel the total raping of their wallets and medical/financial privacy. If the POTUS & Democratic Senate actually listened to the will of the People like the GOP is trying to do, we wouldn't be in this mess.

[streetglideok]

And ^^this^^ is what it ultimately comes down to. Some of you can drink the liberal kool-aid and blame the GOP, but without holding the line against the unConstitutional and inaccurately named Affordable [Health] Care Act, the citizens of this country will continue to feel the total raping of their wallets and medical/financial privacy. If the POTUS & Democratic Senate actually listened to the will of the People like the GOP is trying to do, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Well said.