ICYMI: Bresnahan: It’s Time to Get Washington Working Again

SCRANTON, PA: This week, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) penned an opinion editorial on the current government shutdown. The piece first appeared in the Sunday edition of The Times Tribune on October 12.

 “As the government shutdown drags into its second week, Senate Democrats continue to block a bipartisan solution that would reopen the government and pay our servicemembers,” wrote Rep. Bresnahan. “Because of their inaction to keep the government working for you, Pennsylvania families are suffering and paying the price.” 

In the piece, Rep. Bresnahan calls attention to the problems a government shutdown causes to federal employees, working families, small businesses, veterans, and seniors. He also addresses his legislation, the No Taxation Without Operation Act, and offers a solution to reopen the government.

“The people of Northeastern Pennsylvania expect their government to work as hard as they do,” continued Rep. Bresnahan. “They get up early, put in long hours, and find a way to make things work even when times are tough. They deserve a Congress that does the same. It is time to reopen the government, pay our workers, and get Washington working again.”

You can read the full piece here or below:

It’s Time to Get Washington Working Again

I want to lower the cost of living and healthcare, and I’m committed to working with anyone who will work with me to do so, but not at the price of taking paychecks away from our military. As the government shutdown drags into its second week, Senate Democrats continue to block a bipartisan solution that would reopen the government and pay our servicemembers. Because of their inaction to keep government working for you, Pennsylvania families are suffering and paying the price. In Northeastern Pennsylvania, the effects are immediate. 

Small business owners are left with uncertainty as they wait for their loan applications to be processed. Our seniors and veterans are left in a lurch as they wait to hear from the Social Security and Veteran Affairs administrations. Our vulnerable neighbors who rely on Federal support programs are left even more vulnerable as these critical services shutter. Families cannot visit our wonderful National Park sites, like Steamtown or the Delaware Water Gap. Passengers are left delayed or stranded as air traffic control towers face staffing shortages. A government shutdown is not an abstract political fight; it is a direct hit to the daily lives of working people in Pennsylvania’s Eighth District. 

We have more than 10,000 federal employees here: the civilian and military workers at Tobyhanna Army Depot, the doctors, nurses, and support staff at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, the TSA agents and FAA officers at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport, the correctional officers at U.S. Penitentiary at Canaan, and the customer service staff at Social Security Administration offices throughout our region. These are our neighbors, our friends, and our family members. When the government shuts down, many of them are furloughed, and all are going without pay until the government reopens. 

While so much of our government grinds to a halt, one agency, the IRS, clings on to the authority to collect taxes from hardworking Americans.

That is just another ridiculous double standard that only flies in Washington. That is why I introduced H.R. 5695, the No Taxation Without Operation Act to halt the collection of income taxes while the government is shut down. It would also protect federal employees and contractors that work without pay during a shutdown, ensuring they do not pay taxes on any backpay they receive. 

If Washington cannot meet its obligation to the American people, why should we expect them to meet their obligation to the taxman? This is a matter of fairness to the American taxpayer and holding Washington accountable.  

The good news is there is a straightforward path to reopen the government and get back to work. House Republicans put forward a clean, bipartisan funding bill that keeps the government open at current spending levels. It contains no new policy changes, no spending cuts, and no partisan add-ons. I voted for it because it is the responsible thing to do while we continue our work to pass year-long spending bills. In the meantime, it keeps services running for small businesses, veterans, and seniors, and ensures federal employees continue to receive their paychecks.

Unfortunately, Chuck Schumer has blocked this bill and refuses to reopen the government. There are 53 Republicans in the Senate, but because spending bills need 60 votes in the Senate to pass, Republicans and Democrats must come together. While some Senate Democrats, including Senator Fetterman, have recognized the need for compromise, too many others are holding out. In today’s political environment, bipartisanship is not optional; it is essential. We can disagree on policy, but we should all agree America should not grind to a halt because of politics. 

At a time when families are struggling with record-high prices, we should not add to their burden. That is why I am a coauthor of the only bipartisan legislation out there that would extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits. Extending these credits provides the stability families need while giving Congress time to negotiate a longer-term bipartisan solution that truly lowers healthcare costs without adding to the deficit. Lowering costs for families should be a bipartisan priority, but it should never come at the expense of shutting down the government. 

The truth is that government shutdowns cost taxpayers money with no benefit. The National Economic Council estimates that the current shutdown is costing the economy $15 Billion per week. For small businesses in NEPA that depend on federal permits, tourism, or seasonal contracts, even a short disruption can mean lost income they can’t get back.

Local families understand what’s at stake. The single mother in Scranton who depends on childcare support, the veteran in Honesdale who needs to refill his prescriptions, and the farmer in Wayne County waiting on a USDA loan to expand his operation are all caught in the crossfire of Washington dysfunction. The longer the gridlock lasts, the more damage it does to communities like ours.

That is why I believe Congress must take shutdowns off the table once and for all. In addition to the No Taxation Without Operation Act, I support bipartisan efforts to stop the needless shutting down of government when funding lapses. I support automatically extending government funding when appropriations lapse, while forcing Congress to stay in Washington until spending bills are passed. This ensures that critical programs and paychecks are never disrupted while negotiations continue. 

The people of Northeastern Pennsylvania expect their government to work as hard as they do. They get up early, put in long hours, and find a way to make things work even when times are tough. They deserve a Congress that does the same.

It is time to reopen the government, pay our workers, and get Washington working again. 

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