The Schumer Shutdown

Well Day 1 into the shutdown and so far the United States has continued to chug right along.  Indeed many would argue it is working better than before and saving money, too.

With essential government functions untouched, mayhaps everyday Americans will start asking themselves why are we are paying for all these non-essentials?

I'm not sure how well the Democrat's demands for funding for healthcare for illegal aliens and funding for NPR to end the shutdown are resonating with everyday Americans.  They're both rather poor hills to die upon.

Anyway, just gotta say, poor Senator Schumer. 

When even CNN is mocking him, reconsideration of the Schumer Shutdown be a thing to do:  Redstate: Watch: Rare Hilarious Moment on CNN When Senate Minority Leader Gets Owned Over Schumer Shutdown

I mean when you've lost CNN less than a day into your shutdown pageantry, and they use your own recent words about not doing shutdowns against you,  it may be time to reconsider the tactic. 

Or not. 

The Government Shutdown Of Fun - IRS Edition

Well, even as the government is supposedly shut down the IRS had no problems cashing my quarterly withholding check. That's highly appreciated, really.

On the other hand, the IRS turned off its fax line for filing S-Corp elections. It's not like a fax line costs money or anything and assuming they're up to date technology wise that fax should go right to electronic storage so its not like anyone even needs to be there to refill the fax machine's paper tray or anything like that.

As a result, quite a few of my clients are left hanging wondering if their election to be an S-Corp will be approved or not. Also I can't send the elections cheaply by fax but now have to be mailing them by certified mail so we have a proof of mailing as there are deadlines as to when you can make that election and missing the the election cutoff date has serious tax consequences. Hopefully the IRS will count the election date as the date of mailing, not the date when they finally reopen.

So, the shutdown doesn't affect them processing check and taking in your money, but it does affect you making a filing that has a tight deadline that can save you money. A real nice shutdown we got here.

End this clown show - allocate the money to build the wall which is a drop in the bucket as far as federal government overall spending goes, make a real budget, and pass it already so we don't have these continuing resolution games.

Well, That Government Shutdown Sure Folded Fast

The Schumer shut down ends with a whimper as the Democrats fold.

Holding the government hostage over DACA really wasn't a winning strategy.

The Dems have traded in the ephemeral and illusionary advantage of shutting down the government in return for a promise that the Senate will take up Legislation on the 700,000 potential New Democrat voters illegals currently under the DACA program.

Senate breaks Dem filibuster, clearing way to end government shutdown

I suspect the polls showed their Shutdown was not having the effect they wanted, and Trump’s rather artful emphasis of making the shutdown as painless as possible, as opposed to Obama having made it as painful as possible really detracted from their attempt to hold the government hostage to the DACA demand.

If the Republicans in the Senate had any gumption, when they bring DACA and introduce the bill, then they should say "Ok we've now considered your request to bring it up and we decline to acquiesce to your request to pass it" and then vote it down without further comment.

King Obama The First Closes The Oceans

Like King Canute before him, but with even less modesty and more vanity, King Obama believes he can control the oceans.

Breitbart: Feds Try to Close the OCEAN Because of Shutdown

Just before the weekend, the National Park Service informed charter boat captains in Florida that the Florida Bay was "closed" due to the shutdown. Until government funding is restored, the fishing boats are prohibited from taking anglers into 1,100 square-miles of open ocean. Fishing is also prohibited at Biscayne National Park during the shutdown. 

The Park Service will also have rangers on duty to police the ban... of access to an ocean. The government will probably use more personnel and spend more resources to attempt to close the ocean, than it would in its normal course of business.

Now, I know the President thinks he can do anything. After all, it was he that publicly proclaimed that his very election was "the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow".  But, closing access to an entire expanse of the ocean in a bit of petulance while trying to inflict as much pain as possible over the shutdown is really a bit much.

Whoever comes up with these ideas like shutting down open air monuments and ocean access may think of themselves as some kind of evil genius, but he sure is coming across more like a demented child having a tantrum. 

The Obama's administrations actions during this shutdown have skipped right past the tragedy and gone straight to farce.

Government Shutdown - Now With Some Stupidity From The FTC

Anyone want to explain why the Feds need to shut down their websites during the feared Government Shutdown? It's not like the information contained on the static pages changes during a shutdown or the hamsters powering the Web servers are on furlough.

For example, go to the FTC's site - normally a decent resource of pretty static pages. But today instead of the regular site, instead we get the following bilingual message:

Unfortunately, the Federal Trade Commission is closed due to the government shutdown.

The FTC Premerger Notification Office will be open to accept HSR filings.
Consumers may file FOlA requests, but they will not be processed.
Consumers cannot file complaints or register for Do Not Call.
All public workshops, roundtables, hearings and conferences are postponed until further notice.
We hope to be open soon.

Lamentablemente, la Comisión Federal de Comercio está cerrada debido a la suspensión de actividades y servicios del gobierno.
La Oficina Premerger Notification de la FTC estará abierta y aceptará presentaciones HSR.
Los consumidores pueden presentar peticiones bajo la ley FOIA, pero no se procesarán durante la suspensión.
Los consumidores no pueden presentar quejas ni registrarse en el Registro No Llame.
Todos los talleres, mesas redondas, audiencias y conferencias de carácter público se posponen hasta nuevo aviso.
Esperamos reiniciar pronto nuestras actividades.

Seriously?  You can't leave static pages up and just say interactive features will not beprocessed?

Interestingly enough, not all Fed sites folowed this petulant example.  At least the EPA figured it out, leaving the site intact but only placing a short bilingual message on the top of their home page that says:

The federal government is currently shut down. The EPA website and social media channels will not be updated until the federal government reopens. En la actualidad, el cierre del Gobierno Federal está en vigor.

The DOT also kept their site up with the addition of an English only message (Maybe illegals aren't supposed to drive, so that's why they kept it English only?).

So either the FTC is considered less essential than the EPA and DOT, or they got the brilliant idea that it would be more "Fair" to take down their whole site during a shutdown.

What's the downside to this whole Government Shutdown again?

Government Shutdown: Memorials and Parks Closed. Oh My!

Much of the government shutdown really has no effect on the average person, unless the government goes out of its way to make it so.

One prime example is the shutting down of the national parks and monuments like the World War 2 monument. Even without government workers, it's not like the parks and monument are going to disappear. Closing them is simply petulance on the part of the Democrats, as even without government workers present, people could still ably camp, visit memorials and even drive through Yosemite, all on their own without any officials present. After all, they;'re Americans, and don't need the government holding their hands.

Now, if the FedGov is concerned about those who must first tug a forelock and ask permission or need to hold a government official's hand to visit a park and are thus worried about liability due to such helpless fools, and given governmental immunity that's hard to fathom, they should simply post a sign saying "No federal personnel or services available, enter at own risk".

I'd wager few would worry much about their absence.

Of course, such a closure didn't stop some determined American veterans from getting to the World War 2 Memorial:

The Detroit News: Battle of the Mall: WW2 vets storm WW2 memorial after Obama shutdown

Just moments ago on the National Mall, a group of World War II veterans (not many of those left, sadly) walked up to the World War II Memorial – their monument – only to find it surrounded by police tape, denying them access. But, as is characteristic with the folks who make up the Greatest Generation, the vets – canes, walkers and all — would have none of this nonsense. They stormed their memorial while Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, distracted police.

Good on the vets and Rep. King for seeing through the shutdown melt-down charade and visiting their memorial.

Shutdown ends in hours, Tax increase to Stay

Thanks to two Republicans and 55 Democrats the income tax increase was passed.

And as reported in the Detroit News So is the new extension of Michigan's 6% Sales tax to

tanning, carpet cleaning, ski lifts, landscaping and some 20 other services won narrow passage in the state House as Granholm and lawmakers made an 11th-hour push to avoid sending the state to the brink of a spending shutdown.

These tax increases will suck $1.35 Billion dollars out of Michigan resident's pockets and hit businesses that provide those "discretionary" services right when they don't need an additional expense.

Thanks so much.

Michigan budget deal hasn't happened yet.

But Right Michigan seems sadly pessimistic that a deal is going to be reached that will involve raising our taxes.

So far both the Detroit News and Free Press are stating that a deal is not yet been reached so there's still a possibility of a shutdown, and the Detroit News reports that the proposed 6% sales tax extensions to sales tax to services for the "rich" such as dry cleaning, lawn maintenance, ski lifts, tanning booths and dating, consulting, landscaping and janitorial and payroll services.

Of course a sales tax on these industries will likely hurt them right when keeping business going is vital for this economy. The addition of taxing of ski lifts is likewise ridiculous, especially when Michigan is trying to draw tourists here for recreation, hitting them with an additional 6% may drive them farther away to where there's even better skiing. Nice idea indeed.

Upping the income tax when in this economy people need every dollar they can will likewise hurt the state's economy and its people.

Increasing taxes in a recessionary economy is just plain economically wrong

Apparently, it will only take a couple Republicans to be swayed for this to take place. Hopefully they'll show some backbone and demand real structural changes to reduce spending and balance the budget that way rather than further taxing the people of Michigan.

The Republicans have a huge PR opportunity here to portray themselves as defenders of the people from the Democrats insatiable appetitefor tax increases and even more government spending.

Let's hope they don't squander this opportunity and cave-in to the Democrats tax hunger.

Will Michigan's Governor turn out the lights?

There's a good chance that Governor Granholm will shut down the government unless she gets a tax increase passed rather than merely pass a continuing budget resolution.

For some great coverage of the impending shutdown see the excellent commentary at Right Michigan.

The interesting thing is if the shut down will be a bug or a feature.

While the Democrats think this shut down will cause people to push for a quick tax increase as the government will not be providing services. Apparently the Governor is threatening that liquor stores and casinos will not be allowed to open due to a lack of state inspectors, indeed people are being warned to get their licenses renewed now in case the government is shut down when theirs expire, and who knows what other facilities she'll threaten to close?

In case of a shut down, the default should be open, not closed. That there are no inspectors to watch a casino or liquor store should not prevent it from being open as it is the government and not the facility that is choosing to withhold inspectors. Likewise DNR sites and state controlled recreation areas should be open without fees.

Indeed anyone who gets ticketed for an expired plate should have an excellent excuse- they can't get one from the very government thats ticketing them.

Default to open and we'll see how long people can go about their business without being hampered.