CENTRAL VALLEY – As the effects of the federal government shutdown ripple across the country, residents in Fresno and Tulare counties can expect to see some office closures and delays in services while still receiving essentials like social security payments and mail deliveries.
The shutdown became effective on Oct. 1 and will continue at least through Oct. 3, when the United States Senate will pick back up on its debate over federal funding after a pause on Oct. 2 for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Up for consideration is a bill that would fund government operations for about seven more weeks, through Nov. 21.
Congress previously authorized federal spending through Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal year, after Senate Democrats agreed to a continuing resolution in order to avoid a partial government shutdown. Now, Democrats are holding out for a bill that includes extensions to health care benefits. The bill requires a three-fifths majority — or 60 votes — to pass.
Voting in recent days has not reached that threshold, with the bill failing by a 55-45 vote on Sept. 30 and again on Oct. 1. Just two Democrats and one Independent — Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Angus King of Maine — have joined 52 Republicans in voting for the bill; one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, has voted against it.
Local impacts
During a government shutdown, federal agencies operate at different levels depending on whether their services are considered essential or not. Non-essential employees may be furloughed until the shutdown is over, and essential employees continue to work without being paid.
Essential services include the administration of health care benefits like Medicaid and Medicare, though there may be delays in processing claims. Social security and supplemental security income (SSI) payments will continue, as will benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 97% of VA employees are anticipated to continue working during a shutdown, with most services still available to veterans, including the Veterans Crisis Line and the VA’s primary call center.
For those in the Central Valley, access to Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite national parks will remain open, as “park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors,” according to the National Park Service contingency plan.
Employees needed to maintain dams managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, such as the Terminus Dam in Tulare County and Pine Flat Dam in Fresno County, will remain at work.
According to a press release from the United States Courts, the Federal Judiciary will continue its paid operations through Oct. 17 thanks to court fee balances and other funds that are not dependent on new appropriations. This includes proceedings and deadlines as previously scheduled in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, which includes a courthouse location in Fresno.
Political perspectives
Reflective of the partisan blame being pushed by Republicans and Democrats at the national level, local Valley politicians have called on those across the aisle to put an end to the government shutdown.
In his weekly newsletter on Sept. 30, Rep. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, wrote that House Republicans passed a “clean, short-term funding extension” on Sept. 19 that allowed lawmakers to continue “good-faith, bipartisan negotiations on long-term funding bills.”
“Unforunately, over the past week and a half, we have seen Senate Democrats refuse to pass this nonpartisan legislation, bringing us to the brink of a government shutdown,” Fong wrote. “It is vital that we keep the government open to protect essential services for seniors, veterans and families in need.”
Democratic Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno likewise blamed Republicans who he said “have refused to work in a bipartisan way” to fund the government.
“Instead, they chose to shut our government down and reject the comprehensive plan put forward by Democrats,” Costa said in an Oct. 1 statement.
Costa said Democrats’ budget plan would prevent health care tax hikes and require the Trump Administration to carry out the budget passed by Congress.
