Will federal government shut down in 10 days?
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Will federal government shut down in 10 days?
Studded tires start rattling around the roads above Latitude 60 ... except in this place
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Shutdown? What shutdown?
The federal government will have no authority to spend in 10 days, unless Congress passes a new spending bill. We’ve been down this road before and it’s typically a yawner. In 2017, the budget was not passed until just days before the deadline, as a political play to make President Trump look bad.
But now, we just blew by $33 trillion in federal debt, and the nation is on its way to $34 trillion before the end of the year, at this speed. See National Debt Clock spin at this link.
A shutdown would not mean the military or FBI would be furloughed. Mail delivery would continue. Social Security and SNAP benefits continue (mandatory programs) but about 40% of non-defense federal employees would be sent home to watch soaps. As with any shutdown, federal employees furloughed would be paid for that time sitting on the back deck or going caribou hunting once the budget is finally passed.
Five budget hawk Republicans ended up voting with the Democrats yesterday to knock down a vote on Defense spending and create chaos for Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The purely procedural vote died 212-214, with these Republican defectors: Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Dan Bishop of N.C., Ken Buck of Colo., Ralph Norman of S.C. and Matt Rosendale of Montana. (Democrats are saying there will absolutely be a shutdown but there are 10 days to go and they are missing a few players.)
Every shutdown is different. Agencies have a lot of wiggle room. More about this later at www.mustreadalaska.com.
Three finalists for Juneau Police chief
And one of them is known in Colorado as “Chief Bos.” Bios for the finalists.
Josiah Patkotak fundraiser for mayor draws dozens
Rep. Patkotak is done with traveling to Juneau and would rather stay in his hometown of Utqiagvik, and be where he can raise his children in a more normal life. If he wins for North Slope Borough mayor, the governor will be appointing a new House member for District 40. More here.
Coming soon to a horizon near you: Autumn Equinox
In the Northern Hemisphere the autumnal equinox falls about Sept. 22 or 23, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south. That’s Friday.
Providence Medical says workers need to get the shot — or else
The messaging is clear as mud from the major medical provider in Alaska and the Northwest. Some public relations people on Providence staff say it’s not a mandate, but the company website makes it look that way.
Judge Nesbett named to Anchorage Superior Court, and Judge Haas is new Alaska Public Defender
Why did Judge Haas decide that he wanted to go back to being a public defender and that serving as a judge in Bethel was not his thing?
Sullivan convenes a judicial council to make federal judge recommendations
Former Gov. Sean Parnell will chair the council. Who else was appointed to it?
FBI investigating multiple bomb threats to Alaska schools
One district reported that 25 schools across the state received a similar bomb threat. Anchorage did not close its schools, but Dillingham did, and so did Metlakatla.
Studded tire season is here in Southcentral and Interior — but not yet in Anchorage
Anchorage drivers will need to wait until Oct. 1 to put the studs on. We’re hearing them around town, but be aware that in Anchorage you can be ticketed for being early.
Ballot initiative for Sitka to limit cruise ships?
Some locals have had enough of the throngs of summer visitors and want an ordinance to limit them. They applied for a local ballot initiative on Friday.
Marine Corps orders stand down, as stealth jet shows up in pieces
It’s been a mystery from the start. The military ended up crowd-sourcing the hunt for the missing F-35 that supposedly drove itself into a sparsely populated area north of Charleston.
California legislature passes call for national Constitutional Convention to strip gun rights
It’s doubtful that it will go anywhere but it makes Californians think they are superior to the fly-over states that have constitutional carry protections, perhaps.
Rep. Emmer introduces bill to ban central bank digital currency
Allowing the government to track your purchases and even ration items you buy or carbon-footprint limit your ability to make your own decisions is a CCP-type threat.
Biden impeachment committee proceedings to start Sept. 28
This is the inquiry phase by the Oversight and Accountability Committee, the first step in a very contentious process.
Quote of the Day
Sen. John Fetterman, to striking auto workers: “My message to the, the CEOs, CEOs is, you know, it's $74 million, you know, collectively earning that, you know, how many yachts can they need, you know, to, to yacht, to water, uh, ski behind it, you know, I mean, it's, it's crazy. You know, I don't, my message.”
Question of the week: Will President Biden physically/mentally make it to the Democratic nominating convention on Aug. 29, 2024 in Chicago?
This day in history
Sept. 20, 2001, President George W. Bush declared a “War on Terror” in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. by Al Qaeda.
Columns
Parker Thayer: Voter registration charities are a massive, overlooked scandal
These charities are purely partisan efforts to ensure that Democrats vote. But they get away with it and are tax exempt.
Linda Boyle: Latest Covid vaccine is here, but is emergency authorization warranted?
The president has already said the pandemic is over, but the government has authorized and is pushing a poorly tested shot without regard to consequences.
David Boyle: Leftists try to take over Fairbanks School Board
A look at the candidates for school board in Fairbanks. Three of them should give voters pause.
Downing: Alaska air crashes and politics collide, once again
What is it about Alaska that has our political leaders and/or their spouses dying in plane crashes? Well, we fly a lot. The weather is crappy a lot. And moose meat might weigh your plane down. Some thoughts from a sourdough who has flown a lot of sketchy routes.
Rick Whitbeck: Biden betrays Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
When Congress in 2017 approved exploration and development opportunities in Alaska’s Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, it marked an end to a 37-year struggle to open the plain. Authorized by Congress in 1980, the plain holds a reserve that could secure U.S. energy for decades.
President Biden killed it all with a stroke of his pen.
David Boyle: Anchorage School Board wants to run MatSu School Board too?
Board members are sticking their noses into the MatSu’s business. Can’t they just focus on teaching the children of Anchorage their ABCs and 1-2-3s?
Tim Barto: Riley Gaines’ objective is to save girls’ sports
But you wouldn’t know it from the mainstream news coverage.
Alaska oil: $96.64
Henry Hub gas: $2.85
Alaska North Slope Production: 454,050
Permanent Fund (principal and earnings reserve): $77,973,200,000
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