Federal Employees to Congress: ‘Let Us Work’

At a rally for federal workers on Capitol Hill, National Federation of Federal Employees Federal District 1 President Bill Dougan told House Republicans to “check their egos at the door” and end the government shutdown.

Federal workers’ unions could not stop the rain at a Capitol Hill rally, but they let House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) know that he can stop this government shutdown.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the House has enough support to reopen the government if House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) allows a vote on a clean continuing resolution.

Flanked by members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who have been fighting for a clean continuing resolution to reopen government, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) Federal District 1 President Bill Dougan called on Boehner and House Republicans to “check their egos at the door” and end this destructive government shutdown that has now entered its 10th day.

“We are now beginning to see and hear about the collateral damage due to the inability of Congress to pass an appropriations bill to keep the doors of government open,” said Dougan, who has seen over 70 percent of NFFE-IAM’s 110,000 members either furloughed or working without pay.

He railed against the damage being done not only to federal workers and their families, but to young people, the elderly and veterans who rely on government services for their livelihood.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) railed against Republicans for allowing the government shutdown to last into its 10th day.

“I find no honor in continuing to lockout hundreds of thousands of federal employees who want nothing more than to go back to work and serve the American people,” said Dougan. “Nor is there honor in continuing to allow political differences to be the excuse for denying services and inflicting pain on those who are most vulnerable and in need of support.”

Other speakers, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), called on Boehner to allow a floor vote on a clean continuing resolution, which recent reports have shown has enough support from moderate House Republicans to pass.

“We are here to join with you to say open up the government,” Pelosi told hundreds of federal workers. “Give us a vote Mr. Speaker!”

Click here to see a photo gallery of the rally.

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