With the government officially shut down, let’s be clear about one thing:

[kyzr]

Hm. Well, lets pretend it is.
Clearly the "Affordable" Care Act is anything but.
$1,400 to $1,600 is a difference of $200. That is not a "huge" difference.

But family budgets got used to the $900 a month premium. Which is a lot for a family, especially after losing $11,400 a year in buying power due to Biden's inflation. I had sticker shock when I first retired at 63 and had to buy healthcare until I hit 65 and got Medicare. $1500 a month is a lot of money for insurance.

Pardon my terrible typing in the last post.
They are spending the money by using the electricity. If you think they are not "paying" because they are not going to send the providers the money for the electricity until later, perhaps after the so called shut down" I'll play along.
What stops Trump or any president from making that claim about any spending he wants to
Again, where are these rules for what can be spent and what cannot be spent during a shutdown?

Its the end of the fiscal year, and departments always spend every dollar allocated, so finding unused funds is rare. The president nor Treasury secretary can allocate spending, only congress can do that.

If Congressional salaries can be paid without a continuing resolution, why can't all federal salaries be paid if the president can find the money?

You should know this. Its in the Constitution that congress MUST be paid. Everyone else can wait, unless the president finds the money in an existing account.

 

[Seymour Flops]

But family budgets got used to the $900 a month premium. Which is a lot for a family, especisally after losing $11,400 a year in buying power due to Biden's inflation. I had sticker shock when I first retired at 63 and had to buy healthcare until I hit 65 and got Medicare. $1500 a month is a lot of money for insurance.

Yeah, it's a "lot of money" for people who want to be entrepreneurs or artists or video game designers, etc. instead of working jobs with employer provided health care plans. They volunteer to pay that "lot of money." even on exchanges that were supposed to be "affordable."

If they are not affordable, maybe those people should not have quit their day jobs? Did they just believe they would be affordable because of the name? Starbucks is hiring and they provide a healthcare plans even to part timers.

As to retirement, suppose you and I were the exact same age, sixty four and five months, my actual age. You decided to retire. I decided to keep working because I still have stuff to buy that costs "a lot of money." So what? We are both grown and can make decisions like that.

But does that mean I should pay for your health care costs until you are old enough for medicaid?

Why would working people be expected to pay for people who choose not to work for whatever reason?

Its the end of the fiscal year, and departments always spend every dollar allocated, so finding unused funds is rare. The president nor Treasury secretary can allocate spending, only congress can do that.
View attachment 1174068

You should know this. Its in the Constitution that congress MUST be paid.

My question was, where are they getting the money to pay those congressmen if everything has been spent?

Everyone else can wait, unless the president finds the money in an existing account.

Trump can find the money. the money that is not being blown out the door for USAID alone should cover most of it.

You still have not explained how they can spend any money legally, if Congress has appropriated zero as is the case right now.

 

[kyzr]

Yeah, it's a "lot of money" for people who want to be entrepreneurs or artists or video game designers, etc. instead of working jobs with employer provided health care plans. They volunteer to pay that "lot of money." even on exchanges that were supposed to be "affordable."
If they are not affordable, maybe those people should not have quit their day jobs? Did they just believe they would be affordable because of the name? Starbucks is hiring and they provide a healthcare plans even to part timers.
As to retirement, suppose you and I were the exact same age, sixty four and five months, my actual age. You decided to retire. I decided to keep working because I still have stuff to buy that costs "a lot of money." So what? We are both grown and can make decisions like that.
But does that mean I should pay for your health care costs until you are old enough for medicaid?
Why would working people be expected to pay for people who choose not to work for whatever reason?

Get over yourself. I bought real healthcare insurance, not via the ACA. Even with a good retirement account, paying $1,500 a month is a lot of money for insurance.

My question was, where are they getting the money to pay those congressmen if everything has been spent?

Their salaries have to be allocated by the Treasury, its in the Constitution that they must be paid.

Trump can find the money, the money that is not being blown out the door for USAID alone should cover most of it.
You still have not explained how they can spend any money legally, if Congress has appropriated zero as is the case right now.

Trump can't just take money allocated for item-A and put it to item-B. I remember when he took money from the DOD to build the wall and the democrats went nuts and impeached him. Those accounting rules are strict, only congress can allocate money. The money ($55b?) saved from USAID went back to Treasury. Believe Trump when he says he can't pay the troops.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Get over yourself. I bought real healthcare insurance,

It's what I love about the internet.Anyone can be anything.

not via the ACA.

If the aca is not real insurance, why are we subsidizing even a penny of it?

Even with a good retirement account, paying $1,500 a month is a lot of money for insurance.

Sure. again yes it's a lot of money. Granted. The question is how does your wanting to spend a lot of money based on choices you made obligate me to provide that money?

Their salaries have to be allocated by the Treasury, its in the Constitution that they must be paid.

Then the - Treasury at the direction of the president - can allocate money for everything that's needed. Particularly funds for wic, which feeds little babies both in the womb and after birth.

Because of a few Democrats, Congress has abdicated its authority to originate and pass spending bills.

Don't blame Trump if he steps up to the plate to feed little kids.

Trump can't just take money allocated for item-A and put it to item-B. I remember when he took money from the DOD to build the wall and the democrats went nuts and impeached him. Those accounting rules are strict, only congress can allocate money. The money ($55b?) saved from USAID went back to Treasury. Believe Trump when he says he can't pay the troops.

One of his impeachments was over building the wall? I guess I lost track of them.

Anyway, how many of his impeachments led to him actually being removed and how many led to him being exonerated by the Senate?

 

[Orangecat]

The gov is shut down? Meh, didn't notice.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Republicans already passed 3 appropriations bills out of the house and senate. They just need a conference to finalize them, then they go to Trump's desk. Apparently we don't need democrats to pass appropriations bills.

What makes you think the Democrats will participate in a conference to finalize them?

Looks like we DO need Democrats to pass appropriations. They don't need to actively participate, just stop being bill-blocking assholes.

Senate fails to advance Pentagon funding bill as Thune's new shutdown push falls short

Senate Democrats blocked an effort to advance a year-long appropriations bill to fund the Pentagon, stalling Republican leaders' attempt to restart some funding amid the government shutdown.

www.cbsnews.com

Washington — Senate Democrats blocked an effort to advance an individual year-long appropriations bill to fund the Pentagon on Thursday, stalling Republican leaders' alternative approach to restart some funding on Day 16 of the government shutdown.

In a 50 to 44 vote, all but three Democrats voted against moving forward with the full-year Defense Department appropriations bill. Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted in favor of advancing the bill. It needed 60 votes to advance.

 

[WorldWatcher]

The gov is shut down? Meh, didn't notice.

And this ladies and gentlemen is why we have government slowdowns and not shutdowns.

Shut it down 100% and watch who notices and how long it would last.

WW

 

[kyzr]

It's what I love about the internet.Anyone can be anything.
If the aca is not real insurance, why are we subsidizing even a penny of it?

Don't be too smug. The next time democrats get control it will be Medicare for all. Then you can whine.

Sure. again yes it's a lot of money. Granted. The question is how does your wanting to spend a lot of money based on choices you made obligate me to provide that money?

You did not pay a penny toward my health insurance choice, and you won't pay a penny toward the ACA subsidy if congress dedicates tariff money to cover it.

Then the - Treasury at the direction of the president - can allocate money for everything that's needed. Particularly funds for wic, which feeds little babies both in the womb and after birth.

Nope. Neither Treasury nor the president can allocate money, only congress can.

Because of a few Democrats, Congress has abdicated its authority to originate and pass spending bills.
Don't blame Trump if he steps up to the plate to feed little kids.

He can't. My god you're thick.

One of his impeachments was over building the wall? I guess I lost track of them.
Anyway, how many of his impeachments led to him actually being removed and how many led to him being exonerated by the Senate?

None, but Trump-47 plays by the rules.

 

[Blisterfinger]

True.

They would not be eligible under Biden or Trump, but that is not the reason for the of shutdown, Republicans leaving millions of American citizens uninsured.

The House-passed reconciliation bill would take health coverage away from millions of people and dramatically raise health care costs for millions more...

And Biden was going to let all of the tax cuts expire

 

[kyzr]

What makes you think the Democrats will participate in a conference to finalize them?
Looks like we DO need Democrats to pass appropriations. They don't need to actively participate, just stop being bill-blocking assholes.

Washington — Senate Democrats blocked an effort to advance an individual year-long appropriations bill to fund the Pentagon on Thursday, stalling Republican leaders' alternative approach to restart some funding on Day 16 of the government shutdown.
In a 50 to 44 vote, all but three Democrats voted against moving forward with the full-year Defense Department appropriations bill. Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania voted in favor of advancing the bill. It needed 60 votes to advance.

Thanks for that. I wasn't sure which three bills passed both houses already, and they must have had at least 60 votes each.

Defense is usually the biggest Bill. Democrats will probably fight tooth & nail to demand cuts.
Hopefully a few democrat vets will help pass it.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Don't be too smug. The next time democrats get control it will be Medicare for all. Then you can whine.

Laughable.

You did not pay a penny toward my health insurance choice, and you won't pay a penny toward the ACA subsidy if congress dedicates tariff money to cover it.

Nor if the Tooth Fairy pays for it. But in the real world, I pay for it.

Nope. Neither Treasury nor the president can allocate money, only congress can.

So congressmen are not being paid?

He can't. My god you're thick.

Okay, what do you mean, "He can't?" What if he does? What would happen to him?

None, but Trump-47 plays by the rules.

Uh-huh.

Thanks for that. I wasn't sure which three bills passed both houses already, and they must have had at least 60 votes each.
View attachment 1174147

If it is passed already, how are Democrats blocking it?

Defense is usually the biggest Bill. Democrats will probably fight tooth & nail to demand cuts.
Hopefully a few democrat vets will help pass it.

Nope, they don't want cuts. Democrats approved of this appropriation until they shut down the government.

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/10/16/congress/senate-democrats-military-funding-bill-00611606

“I won’t vote just for the defense appropriations bill, even though that’s my bill,” said Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations panel that controls the defense budget.

See the kind of twisted logic they use?

 

[frigidweirdo]

Nope, this is an internal Congress thing. TRUMP! can't command Congress to do anything, so it's all on Schumer to stop it.

So, Schumer controls Congress then?

 

[schmidlap]

And Biden was going to let all of the tax cuts expire

We can speculate regarding what Biden might have done, but that does not evade what actually happens.

 

[Blisterfinger]

We can speculate regarding what Biden might have done, but that does not evade what actually happens.

And that's what makes your "the sky is falling" approach to practically everything Trump does, so laughable.

 

[schmidlap]

And that's what makes your "the sky is falling" approach to practically everything Trump does, so laughable.

Most Americans disapprove of Trump overall, and in regard to the economy, inflation, crime, Ukraine/Russia, Gaza/Israel, but you'll be reassured to know the sky is still staying up.

President Trump Job Approval - Foreign Policy | RealClearPolling

President Trump Job Approval - Foreign Policy | RealClearPolling

www.realclearpolling.com

Some former boosters are registering disgust, as well:

Podcast host Joe Rogan last week bemoaned the state of Trump’s increasingly brutal and militarized mass deportation campaign.

“I did not ever anticipate seeing that on TV on a regular basis,” Rogan said, referring to images of Trump “ripping parents out of their communities.”

MSN

It won't be easy to recover the nation's integrity, dignity, and respect, but we'll manage it eventually.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Most Americans disapprove of Trump overall, and in regard to the economy, inflation, crime, Ukraine/Russia, Gaza/Israel, but you'll be reassured to know the sky is still staying up.

He is SOOOO unpopular! Does that happen in other countries, where the most unpopular person gets elected and reelected to head of state?

President Trump Job Approval - Foreign Policy | RealClearPolling

President Trump Job Approval - Foreign Policy | RealClearPolling

www.realclearpolling.com

Some former boosters are registering disgust, as well:

Podcast host Joe Rogan last week bemoaned the state of Trump’s increasingly brutal and militarized mass deportation campaign.

“I did not ever anticipate seeing that on TV on a regular basis,” Rogan said, referring to images of Trump “ripping parents out of their communities.”

MSN

No Joe Rogan is your standard-bearer?

It won't be easy to recover the nation's integrity, dignity, and respect, but we'll manage it eventually.

To recover all that, should we return to the Biden-Harris immigration policies, all of them?

Yes or no, then explain all you like.

 

[kyzr]

Nor if the Tooth Fairy pays for it. But in the real world, I pay for it.

So you are against any subsidy for Obamacare? You will be losing millions of voters in the mid-terms and in 2028.
Even MTG sees the truth. They need some subsidy after getting hit with Bidenflation.

So congressmen are not being paid?

Its in the Constitution that congress gets paid. No one else can allocate money. Not the president not Treasury.

Okay, what do you mean, "He can't?" What if he does? What would happen to him?

What part of "He can't" don't you understand?

If it is passed already, how are Democrats blocking it?

Different versions passed in the House and Senate, now they need a conference to agree on one version, then vote on final passage before Trump signs it.

Nope, they don't want cuts. Democrats approved of the defense appropriation until they shut down the government.
“I won’t vote just for the defense appropriations bill, even though that’s my bill,” said Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations panel that controls the defense budget.

See the kind of twisted logic they use?

That's just nuts. That is why Thune needs to go nuclear, 51 votes, end the madness.

 

[WorldWatcher]

That's just nuts. That is why Thune needs to go nuclear, 51 votes, end the madness.

Watch what you ask for...

..... ..... You just might get it...

..... ..... ..... ..... The pendulum swings...

..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... You won't like that option when the DEMs are back in the majority...

..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... And have no delusions, they will be back in the majority at some point.


WW

 

[hadit]

So, Schumer controls Congress then?

In this regard, absolutely.

He makes one statement and Senate democrats allow votes on spending bills. He is the holdout.

 

[Seymour Flops]

So you are against any subsidy for Obamacare? You will be losing millions of voters in the mid-terms and in 2028.
Even MTG sees the truth. They need some subsidy after getting hit with Bidenflation.

I'm against obamacare period. it is, was and always was meant to be a boondoggle. Nothing more than a trillion dollar benefit to health interact providers with part of that money coming back to the congressfolk, who voted for it.

Why would I want to borrow money to pay for that? Why should my grandchildren and great-grandchildren be saddled with such an incredible debt, so that congressfolk can keep getting reelected?

Its in the Constitution that congress gets paid. No one else can allocate money. Not the president not Treasury.

What part of "He can't" don't you understand?

The part where you support your claim by explaining why "he can't" do that. He is physically capable of picking up the phone and calling Treasury secretary Bessent and telling him to free up money from the IRS's revenues, or from Savings Bonds to fund whatever agencies or programs he chooses it.

Different versions passed in the House and Senate, now they need a conference to agree on one version, then vote on final passage before Trump signs it.

But then it has not "passed" as you claimed. democrats in the senate have announced they will not allow. I need partial funding of the government. They literally said they don't want the party to lose leverage.

Get it? The party. Not the voters, not the taxpayers, not the people who need health insurance. No, those people don't count. As in 1984, The Party is everything.

That's just nuts. That is why Thune needs to go nuclear, 51 votes, end the madness.

Terrible idea. that is exactly what the democrats are hoping for. Then they can cry and moan, and their media will help them to cry and moan, about how horribly unfair the Republicans are.

Nope.

The democrats followehuSchumer in diving into the pool. Now they have to figure out how to get some water in it before they crack their skulls on the bottom.