Federal Government Shutdown 2011: Possible Effects Of A Shutdown (PHOTOS)

With the government looking like it's heading toward a shutdown as midnight approaches, many are wondering what exactly a shutdown would mean to them.

Based on the last government shutdown, there could be wide-reaching effects. According to AOL News, some immediate effects, such as the closing of national parks and museums, would be easily seen, while other services may only see delays.

A government shutdown occurs when a government discontinues providing services that are not considered "essential." Typically, essential services include police, fire fighting, armed forces, utilities and corrections. Interestingly, Congress and the President are exempt from the furlough and continue to receive compensation despite the fact that other services are suspended.

According to Congress.org, "Under Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution, members of Congress 'shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States.'"

Though Congress is working towards a budget deal to prevent a shutdown, it could still happen even if a budget deal is reached.

Check out the slideshow below for a list of possible effects, largely derived from what happened during the 1995 shutdown. While some services almost automatically halt, the impact on others often depends on the length of the government stall.

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Lost Money

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The last shutdown cost taxpayers $800 million, including $400 million in wages to federal workers who did not report to work, according to About.com. However, during the first shutdown in 1995 800,000 non-essential workers were furloughed without pay for five days, according to AOL News.

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The last shutdown cost taxpayers $800 million, including $400 million in wages to federal workers who did not report to work, according to About.com. However, during the first shutdown in 1995 800,000 non-essential workers were furloughed without pay for five days, according to AOL News.

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Comments

[turkeyfish]

05:49 AM on 04/30/2011

A reading of the constitution sort of makes one wonder, if the president and congress can actually be paid if the government shuts down after all. Its says they "shall be" paid "from the treasury". If the government is broke, then how can there actually be a treasury?

Perhaps when a few dollars do trickle in that are not otherwise accounted for the bills could be just be placed on the floor of the capitol building and then everyone can watch to see who will be first to take their share. After all, there won't be any funds to hire anyone to program the computers to make direct deposits.

[1browser]

10:53 AM on 04/09/2011

It seems, if just 10% of the government employment roll was trimmed, and "I will vote for yours if you vote for mine" were made illegal, alot of the problem would not be here to all of a sudden have to avoid. Why the pat on the back for good job done, they put us where we are.
These "vote for mine's . . ." are not usually this one chuck of money, but ongoing financial holes where the money of all pour in for a few, for years, lest we forget the bridge to nowhere and eleven thousand dollar stepladders.
Also, if the salary, for what three months work, with all the staff and other "perks" was, say twice minimum wage, who would be fighting over these jobs? People who actually care about the country?
Last, term limits, one or two, that removes the "well I do not like my congressman, but he DOES have seniority."
THis would be a start, and maybe prevent these "pat us on the back's", where the men and women actually work together, as foreign a concept as that is.

[Bob Schuster]

02:39 AM on 04/09/2011

So, I come here for news and get information sourced from About.com? I guess I should just start going there for everything I want to know "About." Seriously- you can't find a more reputable source than About.com? What am I paying you for? ... Oh. Wait...

[TEEB]

01:50 AM on 04/09/2011

They tried that Welfare to Work program and it didn't work. So congress go to planned parenthood. Then Congress shut down gov. Everything is being ignored. This out of control and they have no idea on the touch of reality. So, they just think of the word CUT. Then selfishly like a big baby use their power of politics playing "it's our way or the highway. If it was up to them 'who" really can care less about the unfortunate They would rather take them off the face of the earth or say, 'I made it from nothing". You all with excuses and hurting the economy is the problem. Cutting from the poor is not going to hurt them because they are use to living from (you) plans. What would hurt if you give single mothers a future with big companies in giving the company money to help them with a hiring process such as training programs before they can start for more jobs.. Then try your "Cut". OH!! I'm sorry that's to much like helping people with the economy. Plan Parenthood should be address from the young adults having kids out of wedlock like it's a party. Which use to be shamed on. Congress need to WAKE UP instead of staying UP all night with useless information or ideas that won't work. That's why religion can't be involved in politics because they would realize they would have a painful death like they are going to hell.

[TEEB]

01:06 AM on 04/09/2011

This all happened from that so called "WELFARE TO WORK PROGRAM. Some single mothers can't work professionally and sometimes when you go places they aren't in no hurry to service you. I'm not giving excuses for them to just stay home but because it's true. I see it everyday. That's why it has been, "no good customer service" No one will or even answer the phone. Since this occur most companies may lose their customers. This can effect the company budget by then they would lay off people cause they can't afford employees So to save money companies just get the automated phone services for better services. Some jobs/companies won't even hire a person from a welfare to work program and people don't want to pay taxes on welfare neither. Some companies label on job search program CONFIDENTIAL. Weighting certain individuals from their company. How should they live? People make up your mind. The government need to get the information from the source themselves which are the people on government assistance from DFS. Instead ignoring the situation, clear it first!!!. Get opinions, THIS COULD BE FREE. Then Division of Family Services inform certain companies of the program. Have a hiring process like a training program for that company. Then the less fortunate will feel like they accomplish something for a future. Instead of just have to work at the gas station with children at home with their parent as a role model. Then this cycle continues.

[rshrink]

01:15 AM on 04/09/2011

Can you get someone to interpret this? I have scratched my head sore.

[turkeyfish]

05:51 AM on 04/30/2011

It looks as if someone has tried to perform an experiment to build a Turing machine, but it evidently wasn't successful.

[nv63bearcat]

12:57 AM on 04/09/2011

I think the HP is a socialist publication dedicated to the downfall of this great Nation and

all the values it represent.You have violated seriously the trust we have placed in American

media. As a soldier with more than 31 years of service to this great Nation you are a disgrace

to the purpose I served. You have seriously misrepresented the GOP stance on the current bud-

get. It is unforgivable. BG Nathan C. Vail, USA ( Ret ) [e-mail]

[rshrink]

01:22 AM on 04/09/2011

Oh no, you were offended. What are we going to do? Please, please, try to forgive. You don't want to go to sleep with those kind of feelings, do you? Who knew that taking care of mothers and children could ruin a country? Thank you for cluing us in. Now do you feel better?

[rshrink]

01:33 AM on 04/09/2011

The repubs probably have a good reason for wanting the freedom to pollute as well. Then you get to pay for cleaning it up. It only makes sense, right?

[Sandy Obu]

12:52 AM on 04/09/2011

PROBLEM SOLVED! The success of America is built on the concept of 2 heads are better than one. I believe, "The more culturally diverse an individual, family, city, country, company, and so on, the more blessed and prosperous the end result wil be!" The POWER of American Congress totally rocks, debate on!

[rshrink]

01:04 AM on 04/09/2011

The trouble is that one of the heads is full of a sandwich lunch meat with mysterious ingredients.

[flyby777]

12:16 AM on 04/09/2011

The government is ready to shut down the government over 0.01% of the US budget. Ridiculous!

[GerryS]

12:04 AM on 04/09/2011

the dutch-bags,,,,,,,arguing over 2 billion dollars-------------

I could spend that in one day,

of giving to non-profits-------------------------

[rshrink]

11:42 PM on 04/08/2011

"Planned Parenthood is also funded by private donors, with a membership base of over 700,000 active donors whose contributions account for approximately one quarter of the organization's revenue.[34] Large donors also contribute a substantial portion of the organization's budget; donors have included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Buffett Foundation, Ford Foundation, Ted Turner Foundation, the Cullmans and others.[38][39][40][41] The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's contributions to the organization have been specifically marked to avoid funding abortions.[38] Some, such as the Buffett Foundation, have specifically marked funds for abortion services.[38] Pro-life groups[who?] have advocated the boycott of donors to Planned Parenthood.[42][43]"

Wikipedia

[rshrink]

11:40 PM on 04/08/2011

"Planned Parenthood has received federal funding since 1970, when President Richard Nixon signed into law the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act, amending the Public Health Service Act. Title X of that law provides funding for family planning services, including contraception and family planning information. The law enjoyed bipartisan support from liberals who saw contraception access as increasing families' control over their lives, and conservatives who saw it as a way to keep people off welfare."

Wikipedia

[rshrink]

01:17 AM on 04/09/2011

Notice how conservatives wanted it when they finally got it through their heads that it saves money. Then these years later, they have amnesia. What are we gonna do with these conservs. Lib ya needs freedom fiders.

[rshrink]

11:11 PM on 04/08/2011

This was a manufactured crisis that tea party repubs made just to attack social programs. To be worrying about saving 60 billion now is an absurdity. The government needs to be focusing on creating jobs and fixing the infrastructure. There are numerous ways to save money that would make 60 billion look like chump change. In fact, if we had adopted the health care plan that the House came up with, we would have saved a lot more than 60 billion on that alone.

[flyby777]

11:09 PM on 04/08/2011

If the national parks close, where are the rednecks going to hunt?

[turkeyfish]

05:55 AM on 04/30/2011

I don't even know how rednecks can even afford bullets these days or if they have enough money to put gas in their pickups, but with regard to the national parks you can be sure that the Mexican drug cartels will be doing a lot of camping when the parks are closed.

[rshrink]

09:52 PM on 04/08/2011

If tea party legislators had any intelligence, they would be advocating increased spending for planned parenthood. The more spent on it, the more we save and the more abortions we would prevent. Their ignorance is a massive waste of time and money. It would make more sense to abolish the tea party.. That would save enough to fund another country.

[turkeyfish]

05:56 AM on 04/30/2011

Yes, but if you did that Rupert Murdoch would loose money by having to invest in a new diversion.

[Joann Albert]

09:13 PM on 04/08/2011

Do you think the politicians realize how sick we are of there personal egotistical war?! No...because they just keep it coming. Republicans....GET OVER IT...A BLACK MAN IS PRESIDENT. GIVE HIM A CHANCE! You're a bunch of sore losers and you are willing to ruin the whole country because of that. I wish what I'm saying made a difference..but I know it just "dust in the wind".....

[rshrink]

09:41 PM on 04/08/2011

I don't know that this is about ego. I would bet on money, donations, payoffs, etc. Then maybe ego. "Everything is dust in the wind." Hm. That would make a good song.

[Mover]

05:58 AM on 04/13/2011

Sorry Joann, but that is simply ridiculous. Nobody I know cares about the race of the president. It is only liberals, progressives and Democrat partisans who are fixated on race and use accusations of racism to stifle opposition. But it's not working.

President Obama has been given a chance, but after two full years we see that he lacks leadership with his wait-and-see MO, recklessly spends "hope dollars" on special interests and corporate welfare, disregards centuries of accepted contract law, and is bankrupting the country.

He doesn't seem to care that Americans on fixed incomes are suffering under his two year COLA freeze, along with his dollar devaluation, the 50% increase in fuel over that last year that forces prices up on everything (especially food), and the loss of millions of family homes that could have been prevented and would have cut the recession short. Instead he prolongs the jobless situation.

We can only assume that his advisers believe that people who want to give him a chance will forget all this if the economy picks up despite his actions by November 2012.

[Joann Albert]

11:40 AM on 04/13/2011

What is "simply ridiculous" is the fact that Republicans ARE the racists...not the liberals or Democrats. Everyone seems to forget it to Bush 8 years to ruin our country and everyone expected a miracle in 2. With the Republicans fighting "tooth and nail" against every single improvement for our Government.