04 Oct The Shutdown

As the government shutdown enters Day 4, estimated losses for the US economy have now topped $1.2 billion according to IHS predictions. The September jobs report was set to be released today, but has now been delayed while the Labor Department is furloughed. The IHS predicts that the week-long shutdown could cost the economy as much as a .2 percentage drop in fourth-quarter growth.

Currently, as many as 800,000 government workers are furloughed without a paycheck or any idea of when they might return to work.  But it’s not just the furloughed workers who should be concerned: 8.9 million people lost access to the WIC program on 10/2/2013 when it was shut down.  WIC-Women, Infant, Children Program supplies supplemental vouchers for healthy food, breastfeeding support, infant formula and other necessities dispensed at clinics nationwide.  There is an emergency fund but how long it, and the shutdown, will last is anyone’s guess.

And neither the GOP or the Whitehouse seems to care.  Look at this comment via the Wall Street Journal: Said a senior Whitehouse administration official: “We are winning…It doesn’t really matter to us” how long the shutdown lasts “because what matters is the end result.” or this video of a GOP senator accusing a Park Ranger for the shutdown: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/10/03/randy_neugebauer_park_ranger_video_flag_wearing_gop_congressman_berates.html

Typically, we at ISC blog about jobs, resumes and everything to do with employment and staffing but as our government officials stand by and allow their constituents to be without work, without assistance programs and without the basic tenants afforded to them, it is time to speak up.  ISC is committed and dedicated to our employees.  We want to  assure all of our associates that as long as you work for us you will never have to worry about receiving your paycheck or benefits and you have a spouse who is furloughed, please reach out to us to see if there is anything we can do to help.

Shame on our representatives, senators and government officials.