Local Coast Guard serviceman, political leaders speak on government shutdown

With the partial government shutdown heading into its third week, there’s little funding left to pay members of the coast guard, according to a United States Coast Guard serviceman from the valley.

“I think this might be the first time that we may actually miss paychecks or paychecks may be delayed, so I think people who joined the military were never expecting to miss a paycheck,” the serviceman, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

Currently stationed in Hawaii, he also says some of his counterparts are being forced to take out loans to make ends meet.

“As a branch of the military, it can be little frustrating that other services are funded and we’re still expected to provide the same assistance that we do and still expected to show up for duty without being compensated,” the serviceman said.

He says he’s hoping legislation to fund the Coast Guard and other government agencies is passed quickly.

“If anythings not passed in the next week or so, we’ll probably be forced to dip into our emergency funds or start using some of those 0% loans to cover basic living expenses,” the serviceman said.

Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz says a number of similar concerns are being brought to his attention.

“We’re working side by side with our constituents to mitigate these problems so that we can alleviate some of this pain and suffering they’re going through and making sure we work diligently to get the government open on heir behalf because we need a government for the people,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz calling President Donald Trump’s actions a political play.

“Right now, the American people are fed up with the dysfunction. They’re fed up with a president who’s purposefully causing harm to the American people to appeal to a political base in order to fulfill a political promise,” Ruiz said.

Joy Medeike, a locRepublicancan leader, says otherwise.

“Most people, I don’t just talk to Republicans, but most people, Democrats I talk to, they want the wall too, and it’s the right thing to do. So, the vendetta that the Democrats and Congress have against our president is hurting the United States. It’s taking away jobs, money, insurance, all those important things, but why? For what? We have the money to build a wall, so why don’t they just give it to them?,” Medeike said.

Ruiz and Medeike both encourage people impacted by the shutdown to raise their voices.

“The only way this is going to be resolved is if the American people speak up and speak out, making sure their concerns and hardships are understood,” Ruiz said.

“Why don’t you write a letter to your government and tell them that they need to build the wall so you can go back to work,” Medeike said.

A few other local agencies impacted by the shutdown include; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree National Park, to name a few.

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