Michelle Fischbach Discusses Federal Shutdown

Minnesota 7th District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach says the federal government shutdown is now into its 4th week. She says House Republicans passed a clean bill at the end of September to keep the government funded through November 21st, but the Senate has failed to pass a bill after voting 11 times.

Fischbach says they need to find 4 Democrats in the Senate who will vote for the bill. She says the main sticking point for the Democrats seems to be health care.

Fischbach says members of Congress are still getting paid during the shutdown as that is mandated by the Constitution, and the furloughed government workers will receive back pay once the government reopens. She says the Senators and Representatives could ask not to be paid, but they would also receive back pay after the shutdown.

Fischbach says President Trump has transferred $13-billion dollars to the U.S.D.A. to help farmers as the ag economy has been affected by the trade wars, but that money is not available at this time due to the shutdown. She says the U.S. has been dependent on China for buying our soybeans, but other markets should be looked at for using crops like soybeans such as the domestic fuel market. If anyone has concerns and would like to contact Congresswoman Fischbach, her closest office is in Willmar.