Posted on 04/08/2011 11:14:32 AM PDT by Poundstone
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- If Congress shuts down the federal government, Washington will still end up paying hundreds of thousands of employees who are sent home.
Idled federal workers can apply for unemployment compensation from the states in which they work, and the federal government will pick up the tab. Whether they get their full back pay once a shutdown is resolved is less clear. After the 1995 and 1996 federal government shutdowns, Congress approved back pay for furloughed employees. Federal employee unions say they will fight for a similar measure again. The Department of Labor has told state unemployment agencies during daily conference calls not to expect Congress to approve back pay.
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Commonsensical, but worth noting as yet another issue in the “law of unintended consequences.” Another reason why the shutdown will end up costing taxpayers more than simply continuing government operations.
I have a question. Do Federal Agencies pay SUTA for their employees like private companies are required to? If not it does not seem right that federal employees should be able to drain the state unemployment coffers without their employers contributing to the fund. This will cause private companies rates to go up.
Since the Federal Courts are partially funded by fees, Chief Justice Roberts has told the employees they can go an extra two weeks before they run out of money.
Just an FYI.
How sweet for government employees. They get a paid vacation on the taxpayer’s dime; however, servicemen and women still have to work. I say no work, no pay, PERIOD.
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