The federal government has shut down. What can I do?
The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1. I was hopeful that after the protests of Oct. 18, our federal representatives would return to Washington and, together, figure a way to get our government employees and programs back to being funded, as they have done in the past.
We now are heading into the second month, and food programs like SNAP — which provides supplemental food funding for 1.1 million or approximately 15% of Massachusetts residents (according to mass.gov) — will go unfunded, government employees will miss out on paychecks, and several government agencies will continue to limp along in their missions.
What can we do?
There is a quick and easy action that we all can take to put constituent pressure on our federal representatives. Making a simple phone call, you will get an option to leave a voicemail with a quick comment that you want Congress to figure out a way to work together to get the government back open. It only takes a minute.
The current holdup is in the Senate. Below are the D.C. office numbers of our federal senators. Please be respectful in your message.
Sen. Warren: 202-224-4543.
Sen. Markey: 202-224-2742.
P.S., please consider supporting Project Just Because locally in this time of extra need.
— Jim Mirabile, chair, Hopkinton Republican Town Committee
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ROTFL, paraphrasing Charles Weller, “Jim, now is the time for all good Republicans to come to the aid of their Country.” Please call Speaker Mike Johnson, who, I believe (and stand ready to be corrected) hasn’t had The House in session since 19 Sept, 44 days…
His number: 202.225.2777
Ed, thanks for your note. I can certainly call Speaker Johnson, as well as Senate Majority Leader Thune and Senate Democratic Leader Schumer and House Democratic Leader Jeffries. I don’t know that any of them will register my call or anyone else from Hopkinton’s constituency as none of them count on our votes to get elected. My intent was to call the people that we vote in to office and encourage them to work to get the government back open. As I know you are aware, the current holdup is with the Senate and I listed both of our Senators numbers. In my opinion, this is the most impactful way to actually have our voices heard and hopefully end the shutdown quickly so Congress can start the next phase of developing a budget for fiscal year 2026.
Of course, people can call whoever they would like to try to move the folks in DC forward.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Jim Mirabile
Mr. Mirabile – So you subscribe to the belief that members of Congress should only support those folks that voted for them? And yet the Republican voters across the country are the ones most likely to be negatively impacted by the lack of SNAP benefits and the loss of health insurance supports. And right now, since the GOP controls all 3 branches of the government – except for the parts being run by Mr. Miller – the onus is on THEM to bring this situation to an equitable end – starving the poor is so 19th century.
M Spencer, thanks for your response. As I stated in an earlier comment response, people are free to email whoever they choose. My point was how we, as residents of Hopkinton, MA can have the biggest impact with our Congressional delegation to move the process forward of re-opening the government. I would hope that an email to Sen. Warren or Markey would carry more weight than an email to other members of the Senate. Of course, I am a believer in everyone having the right to their own opinions and I appreciate you sharing yours.
Or you could call those two numbers and show your support for them opposing Trump’s destructive agenda. Discourage them from caving to partisan pressure. That’s what I did. Thanks for the info!
Mr. Owen, thanks for sharing your opinion. Although I believe we should be pushing our Congressional delegation to come together to re-open our government, I appreciate you engaging in the process and making calls.
Jim Mirabile is just the classiest person! Thank you!
You forgot the /s
Otherwise, I’m certain that Jim will think you are praising his adherence to civic deconstruction.
Hello Mr. Mirabile, You seem like a nice person, which is rare in Republican party these days. Trump claimed that he was able to reduce drug prices by 200%, 400%, 600% and levels never seen before. I am looking for a Republican to explain to me how Trump reduced drug prices by 600%. Can you please help me?
Jim I wish there was a laugh emoji here. Your letter is disingenuous at best. The world will never ever forget the first president in history to shut off SNAP benefits for our most needy citizens. Don’t you dare ask us to contact our Dem reps. Get the idiots in the Oval Office to do their jobs. The money was there and it was PURPOSELY WITHHELD. Jesus where do you come up with this crap?