'Preparing for the worst:' NC lawmakers discuss possible shutdown

wral.com ^ | September 30, 2013 | Cullen Browder

[Tailgunner Joe]

Washington, D.C. — With the U.S. government just hours away from a possible shutdown, North Carolina lawmakers were in the middle of the fight Monday and shared their thoughts as the deadline loomed.

Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., says she is "hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst."

"Let's make sure our government keeps getting funded. Let's make sure our military are still getting paid. Let's make sure our seniors are getting their Social Security checks. Those are the issues we need to make sure are maintained," she said.

A shutdown, which would have far-reaching consequences for some and minimal impact on others, would be "crazy," said Rep. David Price, D-N.C.

"The notion that you would overthrow the normal legislative process and say, 'We're going to shut it down. We're going to shut it down unless we get our way,' that's really what's going on here," Price said.

Meanwhile, Rep. George Holding, R-N.C., said "keeping government open is important, but Obamacare is a job killer," adding that he would tell frustrated constituents that "this is the system of government our founding fathers put together."

A shutdown would cause an uneven impact across the face of government, inconveniencing millions.

Fort Bragg released a statement Monday, saying "the most immediate, and visible, impact of this potential shutdown will be the furlough of portions of Fort Bragg’s civilian workforce. There are some employees who will be excepted, generally those performing life, health and safety functions for the post."

[o2bfree]

Renee Ellmers should be primaried - I won’t vote for her again after seeing her support the NSA over the rights of citizens.

[familyop]

They’re lying. “Our military” forces “are still getting paid.” “Our seniors are getting their Social Security checks.” It’s already decided in policy and Congress. State and local government employees in both political parties, with their big government federal funding, are some of the worst of socialists. If you want to stop the Republican drift toward socialism, cut off all federal funding to state and local governments and NGOs (non-profit organizations).