U.S. gov't likely to shut down

The federal government's potential shutdown this morning will not immediately affect the entire University, according to Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. Nonessential federal services and offices may be closed until Congress and President Clinton reach a temporary agreement for emergency spending prior to an established budget for fiscal year 1996. Scheman said the shutdown will only slightly affect some areas of the University during the short time the government is expected to remain closed. She added that a solution to the budget problem will probably be found before the University as a whole runs into specific problems due to lack of federal funds -- and that if there is no solution, the fallout would extend far beyond campus limits. "I find it hard to believe [the shutdown] would last more than a week," she said. "If it lasts to the point where it would affect the University, the effects on the University would be lost in the catastrophic effect on the U.S. Horrible effects on the University are nothing compared to airports closing." Political Science Professor Marissa Martino Golden said the potentially dangerous side effects of the shutdown would worsen the longer the government remained closed. Tomorrow, the government faces a deadline for paying approximately $25 million in interest on the national debt. Without a temporary budget agreement, the country will default on its loans -- a completely unprecedented event. While Golden refused to predict the likelihood of that happening, she said that several factors in the current budget stalemate worry her. "There's really an impasse because Congress has no incentive to back down, and for Clinton to sign [a temporary funding] bill would be to sign for things that he strongly opposes," she said. "There's really not anyone who's in a position to compromise." Golden said voters are unlikely to hold Congress accountable for the budget fight because there are so many members involved, whereas Clinton is easily portrayed as having single-handedly shut down the government. "Clinton loses either way," she said. "If he compromises, he'll be accused of selling out, and if he holds steadfast, he'll be accused of bringing government to a halt. That's what's troubling -- he's in a no-win situation." Today's potential shutdown would encompass only government services that have been deemed nonessential. Vital functions such as national defense, air traffic control and the Postal Service will continue to operate. But national parks and monuments -- including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Center City -- would be closed, along with Internal Revenue Service hotlines, passport offices and regional offices of many federal agencies. A total of about 800,000 workers -- 40 percent of the federal workforce nationwide -- may be sent home from work this afternoon. Scheman explained that while some people at the University could be affected by even a short shutdown, large groups like student aid recipients will remain untouched. She added that it is difficult to predict the specific short-term effects of the shutdown on the University since federal money comes in at different times. Golden said the shutdown should not cause tremendous worry. "At least in the short term, it's really not a big deal," she said. "Most of the services that will be impacted are the ones that have symbolic meaning rather than substantive meaning." Golden also said many federal employees would remain at work despite the shutdown so as not to get behind in work because, historically, offices have not stayed closed for long. The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.