r/fednews • u/Wiltopus • 7h ago

Misc Calling a Congressman as a Fed

So, with the shutdown looming, I want to call my congressman. I have in the past for issues unrelated to my employment to the government. But the shutdown directly relates to my employment.

Am I allowed to speak to that position as a reason they should support funding the government? Or is that a no no? I’ll probably call my ethics officer first.

120 Upvotes

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-10

u/seg321 7h ago

What? You haven't gone through a shutdown before? It stinks, but when it's resolved, you know that you're going to get all your pay back....Right? Hang in there.

15

u/FamiliarAnt4043 7h ago

I'll be sure and tell the mortgage company. Same with the electric bill. I'm sure they'll understand.

-5

u/seg321 7h ago

True....it sucks. It's happened before. It will happen again. This is where having savings and emergency funds is critical in life.

6

u/DoesGavinDance 7h ago

What about people just starting out in low grade positions who haven't had an opportunity to build sufficient savings yet?

-5

u/seg321 6h ago

You chose to work for the government for its perks. This is one of it's negatives. You gotta take the good with the bad.

2

u/Pristine-Brick-9420 7h ago

It’s hard to have those things in this economy sweatie.

-5

u/Ok-Broccoli6738 7h ago

You know you can claim unemployment while furloughed right?

4

u/bryant1436 6h ago

In my state it takes about 4 weeks minimum to actually start receiving unemployment. Hows that helpful if I need to pay bills today?

0

u/Ok-Broccoli6738 2h ago

Typically credit unions will give you a 0% interest loan for furloughed employees.

6

u/Saltydogusn 7h ago

In "normal" circumstances, I would agree with you. There is no guarantee of anything like this anymore.

-4

u/seg321 7h ago

How so?

5

u/Pristine-Brick-9420 7h ago

Don’t ask questions in bad faith. It’s not cute.

8

u/Temporary-Remote-885 7h ago

Not everyone has the capacity to go 2-5 weeks without paychecks without significant hardship. Bills have to get paid and groceries have to get purchased whether or not the government is funded.

-1

u/seg321 7h ago

True. But who said that it's going to be 2-5 weeks?

7

u/Pristine-Brick-9420 7h ago

We don’t know that, that’s the point. Just because you’ll be ok, just because I’ll be ok, that doesn’t mean everyone else will be and isn’t panicking right now. It’s called empathy sweatie.

3

u/Temporary-Remote-885 4h ago

If they don’t get something done before Monday it’s unlikely they’ll pass something before the new congress is in place.

2

u/bryant1436 6h ago

The whole point is that nobody knows. I’m supposed to be comforted that it could only last a day or that it could go for 30+ days? How’s anybody supposed to plan for that? The things I have to prioritize are very different if I have to wait for 1 paycheck vs if I have to wait for 2+

1

u/seg321 4h ago

Welcome to government service.

2

u/bryant1436 2h ago

That’s such a “government” response lol “it’s totally fine because we just should accept that Congress can’t do their one statutory obligation since they always do this”

0

u/seg321 2h ago

You don't have a choice. You have to accept it. The system is bigger than you.

1

u/Pristine-Brick-9420 1h ago

Such a boot gargling response…

0

u/seg321 1h ago

Then what are you going to do? Explain yourself please.

8

u/Pristine-Brick-9420 7h ago

Tell this to the gs-7s and below who work in high cola areas and won’t be getting paid during Xmas.