WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Hundreds of thousands of federal workers and active military members stand to be furloughed without pay if the federal government shuts down next month.
And government services would be impacted, as well.
Republicans are demanding deep cuts in federal spending ahead of the October 1st deadline for lawmakers to enact some appropriations bills. West Michigan Congressman Bill Huizenga spoke about that on West Michigan's Morning News. The Fourth District Republican said on WOOD Radio, "We've got a couple of folks who, in my opinion, are playing chess here. They've moved their pawn and they want to declare checkmate. And that's not how this works.
"We've got a series of things that we need to do, and one of those is to start moving appropriation bills."
The deadline to avert the looming federal government shutdown is Oct. 1.
Huizenga said he has proposed including a debt commission in the legislation.
"Because, look, with $33 trillion in debt, what we are talking about for our annual budget and spending is a pittance of what, really, the problem is. And we've got to deal with that," he said.
Huizenga and WMMN host Steve Kelly talked about the spending bill that has stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"A quote in Moody saying that we're paying $709 more a month on stuff. That's the average American - a month - than we did two years ago," Kelly said.
"Yeah," replied Huizenga. "It's real money. It's significant money, and wages have not kept up with inflation."
Huizenga says lawmakers are working through all of the appropriations bills that must be enacted, and will meet again next week to formulate a continuing-government funding bill with a component addressing the situation at the Southern border.
"We have 11 more appropriations bills that have to be passed, to then go to the Senate, to have them muck around with it. And then, send those back and come to agreement. So, not only do we have to agree in the House, we then have to agree between the House and Senate before it even reaches the President's desk (for signature)," Huizenga said.
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