The '11th hour' is here and one Rio Grande Valley lawmaker said he and others are working to avoid a federal government shudown.
If congress does not approve the budget by tonight, federal employees will have no choice but to stay home.
U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) told Action 4 News that he and other lawmakers have been working to avoid the shutdown.
“Such an event would adversely impact seniors, veterans and military families and those who have car payments, mortgage payments and out of pocket expenses on medical prescriptions," Cuellar said.
Cuellar and others voited to appropriate funds for military service members to ensure they continue to receive their paychecks in the event of a government shutdown.
A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner told the Associated Press that the biggest issue still standing in the way of a budget agreement is the issue of spending cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sees it another way. He told the Associated Press that it's an "ideological battle" that "has nothing to do with the fiscal integrity of this country."
Democrats told the Associated Press that Republican demands on social issues, including denying federal dollars for Planned Parenthood, are at the heart of the deadlock.
The two sides failed to reach agreement on Thursday.
It's not clear whether Reid and Boehner will return today to the White House, where they met with President Barack Obama three times in the past two days.
As the pressure mounted, Obama abruptly postponed plans to promote his agenda in Indiana today.
How would the Shutdown Affect You?
Tax Filers
• Those filing paper tax returns would not receive tax refunds from the IRS, and many taxpayers would be unable to receive service from the IRS to help them meet their tax obligations.
• The 400 walk-in service centers throughout the country would be closed
Seniors
• Social Security checks would be sent to beneficiaries
• Services in field offices and processing centers will be limited
• No new and replacement cards or updated earnings records will be processed
• Disability determination services limited
Military
• Most Department of Defense budget planning and preparation would cease; military personnel would not receive paychecks during a funding lapse
• Military operations in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq would continue
Veterans
• Most of the Veterans Benefits Administration customer support services would be suspended
• Medical services for veterans would continue to be available
Federal Employees
• About 12,325 federal employees in the 28th District of Texas would be affected by the government shutdown. They would not report to work at their respective federal jobs.
Businesses
• No new approvals of Small Business Administration (SBA)-guaranteed loans for business working capital, real estate investment or job creation activities would occur
• Inspections of stock brokers, receipt and publication of corporate financial disclosures, and routine oversight of financial markets by Federal agencies would cease
• Agricultural export credit activity and other agricultural trade development and monitoring would cease.
Communities, Cities and Municipalities
• The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund would suspend its grants and technical assistance to communities across the country
• Department of Commerce grant-making programs for economic development would cease
• Customer service would be reduced across the federal government.
Source: Office of U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar
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