Most experts agree, the government shutdown costs more than keeping the government open. It’s mind boggling to most citizens that congress can pass a bill to pay federal employees not to work, yet they can’t pass a bill to pay them to work.
According to the Boston Globe:
“The conservatives who propelled the first federal shutdown in 17 years have argued they are fighting for smaller, less costly, less-intrusive government. But a vote over the weekend to grant back pay to furloughed federal workers would negate any savings from a government shutdown and is more likely to raise net costs to taxpayers, according to government and outside estimates.”
“Government estimates put the cost of the last shutdowns, which lasted a total of 27 days in 1995 and 1996, at $1.4 billion, or $2.1 billion in today’s dollars. Most of that cost was attributed to paying back wages for furloughed employees.”
“You can’t explain it very well” said Senator Jeff Flake (Arizona Republican). “It doesn’t make any sense. I didn’t agree with the shutdown in the first place.”
