Do You Support Workers Impacted by the Shutdown Getting Interest on Backpay?

What’s the story?

• Some federal employees working without pay during the shutdown have taken out loans. Given that loans include interest, should the backpay the workers eventually receive also include added interest?
• Monday, January 21, marks the 31st day of the partial government shutdown. President Donald Trump on Saturday floated a Dreamers-for-wall-dollars proposal that Democrats have rejected.

Why does it matter?

• The House and Senate have both passed resolutions to provide backpay to federal workers affected by the partial government shutdown.
• But Air Force veteran Megan Fitzsimmons, who teaches GED courses at a federal prison, told NPR that promises of back pay post-shutdown don’t help her now.
• “I mean, I don't trust anybody who's making me work without pay. And I'm not sure how they can make me whole because paying someone back later on doesn't make them whole,” said Fitzsimmons.

“No one loans you money for free, for a start. I can't go to a bank and ask them for a loan and have them go, oh, sure, just bring me the money whenever you can.”

The Immediate Financial Relief for Federal Employees Act

• Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA) introduced The Immediate Financial Relief for Federal Employees Act (H.R. 657), which would require the Treasury to issue 0% interest loans up to $6,000 at the request of federal employees

“Our federal workers are faced with the burden of not knowing how they will pay their mortgages, their bills, or put food on their tables. This is wrong, and it is unacceptable,” Cox said.

What do you think?

Should federal employees impacted by the shutdown get interest on their backpay? And/or do you support the a bill authorizing interest-free loans during the shutdown? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto.com / alicat)