As far as employees of the Department of
Labor were concerned today, it was
business as usual.
Appropriations or not, the department's
been without funds before.
In fact, for the past two years, Congress
has failed to agree on a new budget
before the old one ran out.
So, as usual, the labor division
is temporarily cutting back
travel that is not absolutely essential
will be curtailed.
The department won't engage in any new
contracts with vendors and there won't
be any new hiring and there
could be salary cuts
unless some type of decision
is made concerning either a continuing
resolution or appropriations by October
the 9th.
In all probability, the next paycheck
for Department of Labor employees,
which will be due two weeks from today,
will probably be a one half
of their normal paycheck.
And that would be tough on employees.
Well, it could cause problems.
Right now, my husband's a freelance
and freelance film production and
we need to have the regular check coming
in to cover things so.
Well, I'll survive, but
I'm not looking forward to it.
But labor personnel expect to happen
is Congress will agree to a continuing
resolution, which means the Labor
Department will be funded, but
at the same level as last year,
while that would put workers behind
schedule, they would get paid.
Graysmith Channel 5 Action News, Dallas.