Changes

A '''"government shutdown"''' is a suspension of non-essential United States federal government services, including all [[NASA]] Centers and [[National Park]]s, the [[Smithsonian]] Museum and several [[Washington, D.C.]] services, among others.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/government-shutdown-potential-furloughs-for-800000-federal-workers-disruption-of-dc-services/2011/04/06/AFRItOqC_story.html/ Government shutdown: Potential furloughs for 800k federal workers, disruption of D.C. services, Washington Post, April 8, 2011]</ref>.  The military, government-owned hospitals, Congress, [[Social Security]] checks and all other essential services continue without interruption, although employees (including some military troops) may end up not receiving pay until funding is restored.<ref>[http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/04/06/administration-paints-picture-possible-government-shutdown Administration Paints Picture of Possible Government Shutdown, Fox News, April 8, 2011]</ref>

A '''"government shutdown"''' is a suspension of non-essential government services, such as the issuing of passports, processing of mailed IRS returns, etc. The military and all other essential services continue without interruption, although other branches of the government, including all [[NASA]] Centers and National Parks, are mostly shutdown <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/government-shutdown-potential-furloughs-for-800000-federal-workers-disruption-of-dc-services/2011/04/06/AFRItOqC_story.html/ Government shutdown: Potential furloughs for 800k federal workers, disruption of D.C. services, Washington Post, April 8, 2011]</ref>

==History of Government Shutdowns==

==History of Government Shutdowns==

*In 1995-1996, the federal government was shut down twice; once on November 14 and again in late December.   

*In 1995-1996, the federal government was shut down twice; once on November 14 and again in late December.   

==2011 U.S. Government Budget Debate==

==Potential 2011 U.S. Government Shutdown==

In 2011, the U.S. Government was once again on the verge of a shutdown, as big-government [[liberals]] refuse to enact common sense, deficit-reducing legislation previously passed by the Republican House. Despite claims of a shutdown adversely affecting the American public, as propagated by the [[liberal media]], liberals, and some [[RINO]]s, the only real effect a shutdown would have had is that there would have been less government spending occurring; no significant harm would have been incurred. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/08/government-shutdown-shutdowny/ Government Shutdown Not So Shutdowny After All, Fox News, April 8, 2011]</ref> Liberal hyperbole aside, there's no reason that the government needs to be working all year round; the [[Constitution]] only mandates that Congress meet once a year. The budget debate was resolved at the eleventh hour on April 8, 2011, when one last stopgap resolution was agreed upon and a plan to enact $38.5 billion in budget cuts. Though this was largely seen as a political victory for the GOP Speaker of the House, [[John Boehner]]<ref>http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/04/09/who-won-shutdown-showdown-it-wasnt-even-close</ref>, it should be noted that riders for defunding abortion provider [[Planned Parenthood]] were defeated. <ref>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/08/MNQN1ITB0O.DTL</ref>  

As of April 6, 2011, the U.S. Government is once again on the verge of a shutdown, as big-government [[liberals]] refuse to enact common sense, deficit-reducing legislation previously passed by the Republican House. Despite claims of a shutdown adversely affecting the American public, as propagated by the [[liberal media]], liberals, and some [[RINO]]s, the only real effect a shutdown will have is there will be less government spending occurring-there will be no true damage done. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/08/government-shutdown-shutdowny/ Government Shutdown Not So Shutdowny After All, Fox News, April 8, 2011]</ref>

==References==

==References==