Government Shutdown Looming

The current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires at midnight this Friday, April 8.  While Congress continues its negotiations for a Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 spending deal, federal agencies are starting to prepare for what seems inevitable.  If a funding bill is not signed into law by Friday, the federal government will shut down effective 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 9.

No one is sure how long a shutdown would last, and according to The Washington Post, many federal employees may not know their fate until Monday morning.  Federal agencies have begun issuing contingency plans and congressional offices are being instructed on how to operate during a shutdown. 

To avoid the looming deadline, House GOP leadership proposed a one week funding bill, which cuts spending by an additional $12 billion – and eliminate the District of Columbia’s ability to use city taxes to fund abortion for low income women.

Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has laid it out as an ultimatum for the Dems: either pass the one week bill or shut the government down.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced this morning that he is not as optimistic about reaching a deal as he was earlier this week.  Senator Reid said the two sides have agreed to the amount of cuts – however, the fight is now over ideology. 

Although a shutdown seems to grow closer, the very real threat clearly does not seem to be fostering a desire to compromise.  House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) continues to push for attaching policy riders to the final budget bill – meaning, the potential defunding of Planned Parenthood and/or Title X Family Planning. 

We are working with our friends at the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA) to keep you posted on any new developments.  This is an extremely crucial time to call your representatives in the Senate AND the House to voice your support for the Title X program and its providers, including Planned Parenthood.  Tell them:

• For every public dollar invested in family planning care, $4 is saved in Medicaid expenditures.
• California serves 22% of all Title X clients with essential, cost-effective family planning services. Without these funds clinical services for low income individuals are at risk.
• California has over 314 clinic sites providing Title X services to over 1.1 million clients.
• Title X has contributed to the decline in California’s teen birth rate.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected with your senators and representatives!