The possibility of a government shutdown that disrupts everything from Social Security checks to pay for soldiers overseas is growing more and more likely, Republicans in Congress say.
Florida Republicans say negotiations with Democrats in the U.S. Senate have gone so badly that they are now resigned to a shutdown happening.
"I see that it is more and more likely that there is going to be a government shutdown," said U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, a Republican who represents most of Charlotte County. "I don't see how we can avoid it."
Earlier this month Congress approved a temporary three-week spending bill that will expire after Congress returns from its spring recess. After that, Rooney, R-Palm Beach County, said there will be no more continuing resolutions to fund the government.
Rooney said he worries that a shutdown will be far worse than than what happened in the 1990s when Congress hit a similar impasse over the budget. Rooney said those shutdowns mostly resulted in non-essential services being closed, such as museums. But this time, Rooney said, Social Security and military pay will be affected.
In a separate interview on Friday, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, said he, too, thinks Congress is headed for a government shutdown. He said Republicans are not going to pass any more temporary spending bills without bigger spending cuts to the federal budget.
But as certain as Rooney and Ross are that the federal government is heading for a shutdown, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is certain it will not.
The Democratic U.S. senator said during a stop in Sarasota last week that cooler heads will prevail and stop the government from shutting down.
"A government shut down is dire and that is why I think it's going to be avoided," Nelson said.
Nelson backs Libya action
During his stop in Sarasota on Tuesday, Nelson also threw his support behind the United States being part of the military action in Libya.
"I believe the president was correct to stop the slaughter that was about to occur on the road to Benghazi," said Nelson, a Democrat and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Now the question is how long is the U.S. going to be there."
Nelson said that, like President Barack Obama, he wants the U.S. role in Libya to be short with hopes of turning over the leadership in the operations to other nations.
Nelson was in Sarasota for a fundraiser for his re-election campaign and also to tour a Goodwill Industries facility.
Goodwill officials are trying to push Nelson to set up a $200 million fund in Congress for Goodwill to build job training centers nationwide like the one they run in Sarasota.
Democrats help in Tampa election
When Democrat Bob Buckhorn won the mayor's race in Tampa last week, it was not just Hillsborough County Democrats celebrating.
Sarasota County Democrats were also celebrating. That's because the local party staffed phone banks here and made more than 1,000 calls to Tampa to encourage Democratic voters to get to the polls and vote for Buckhorn, said Rita Ferrandino, the Sarasota County Democratic Party's chairwoman.
New GOP chair in Charlotte
The Charlotte County Republican Party elected Bill Folchi to be the new chairman of the party. Folchi, former president of the Charlotte County Republican Club, takes over for Bob Starr, who resigned earlier this month.
Area political events
Tuesday: The Manatee Forum, Republican Women Federated club meets at 6 p.m. for a discussion about sharia law and its impact on women. The meeting will be at the Bradenton Country Club. Cost is $20 and includes dinner. RSVP to sicily32@tampabay.rr.com or call (941) 758-0096.
Thursday: The Sarasota Republican Club meets for a forum on politics and political journalism with H-T political writer Jeremy Wallace and Rod Thomson of The Observer Group. Starts at 6 p.m. at the Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Call Joni Weist at (941) 924-4010 or go to sarasotarepublicanclub.com for reservations.
Saturday: Nova South- eastern University professor David Thomas speaks to the Republican Club of South Sarasota County about health care reform and how it affects insurance. The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the South Venice Civic Association, 720 Alligator Drive, Venice. Admission is free. For more information call (941) 473-3351.
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