Staff Reports
In a world where government shutdowns seem as common as Monday morning coffee, Utah Senator John Curtis has recently made headlines, shedding light on the mechanics behind these frustrating interruptions. The senator, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, shared his thoughts on the ongoing standoff in Washington during an appearance on Newsmax. It was his debut on the channel, and he took the opportunity to talk about his past efforts to prevent such meltdowns in the first place.
Back in 2019, when he was still serving in the House of Representatives, Curtis rolled out two notable bills: the Government Shutdown Prevention Act and the No Work, No Pay Act. The former was designed to tackle the root causes of these shutdowns, while the latter proposed a simple and rather elegant solution—that lawmakers shouldn’t collect a paycheck if the government was shuttered. A commendable idea indeed! Unfortunately, like a cake left out in the rain, these bills never quite reached their full potential, ultimately failing to garner the necessary support to make any real changes.
Curtis lamented the state of budget appropriations in Washington, arguing that the outdated Budget Act from 1974 is overdue for reform. He highlighted a disappointing statistic: since the act’s inception, Congress has managed to complete its appropriations on time only four times. That’s about as reliable as a politician’s promise in an election year! The senator pointed out that simply working harder within a broken system yields little progress. He stressed that, when the system is faulty, no amount of hard work can fix it; it’s like trying to fix a leaky faucet with duct tape.
The senator’s conversation took a turn, discussing the role of politics in the current mess. He noted the irony in the Democratic leadership’s positions, particularly Chuck Schumer, who once criticized the very tactic of shutting down the government as a “politics of idiocy.” Curtis, sporting a wry smile, suggested that Schumer’s earlier stance perhaps didn’t age well, especially given the circumstances unfolding now. He argued that Schumer’s own party seems to have embraced government shutdowns as a means of getting their way, further complicating an already difficult situation.
The economic repercussions of the standoff could be dire, with estimates suggesting a loss of up to $7 billion in revenue each week. However, amidst the gloom, there may be a silver lining. Recent discussions in the White House have hinted at the consideration of spending cuts, which could force lawmakers to reevaluate their priorities. Curtis his optimism, stating that Democrats might soon realize the consequences that public employee unions will face due to these shutdowns.
As the situation continues to evolve, Curtis expressed a sober outlook on the timeline for resolution. His experience suggests that the current impasse may stretch into the following week before serious conversations can take place. So, if anyone was hoping for a swift resolution, they might want to bring a snack and settle in, as it seems there are still some rounds left to go in this legislative brawl. In the words of the senator, those watching from the sidelines should buckle up—this ride is bound to be a bumpy one!
