Democrats Demand Zero-interest Loans for Federal Workers Caught in the Shutdown
by Pete Kasperowicz
January 18, 2019 02:06 PM
Dozens of House Democrats this week introduced legislation that would give federal workers access to 0 percent interest loans to help them get by during the partial government shutdown.
The Immediate Financial Relief for Federal Employees Act, from Democrat T.J. Cox of California, is aimed at helping 800,000 federal workers pay their bills. They haven't received a paycheck since Dec. 22 because of the ongoing shutdown.
"This is a commonsense piece of legislation that would provide immediate relief to the hundreds of thousands of federal employees who are suffering from this unnecessary shutdown," Cox said.
"Right now, families in every neighborhood and zip code, are being forced to decide how to pay their mortgages, heating bills, put food on the table, or even ration medicine," he said. "We must do whatever we can to protect the workers who are paying the price for this administration's cruelty — and this legislation, common practice at businesses across the country, aims to do just that."
Under his bill, federal workers could borrow up to $6,000 from the Treasury Department and not be charged any interest. Workers wouldn't have to undergo a credit check to get the loan.
It would be repaid by deducting the amounts owed from the federal workers once the shutdown ends.
Cox's bill had 84 Democratic co-sponsors as of Friday, and while it would likely easily pass the Democratic-led House, it is not scheduled for floor consideration yet.
January 18, 2019 02:06 PM
Dozens of House Democrats this week introduced legislation that would give federal workers access to 0 percent interest loans to help them get by during the partial government shutdown.
The Immediate Financial Relief for Federal Employees Act, from Democrat T.J. Cox of California, is aimed at helping 800,000 federal workers pay their bills. They haven't received a paycheck since Dec. 22 because of the ongoing shutdown.
"This is a commonsense piece of legislation that would provide immediate relief to the hundreds of thousands of federal employees who are suffering from this unnecessary shutdown," Cox said.
"Right now, families in every neighborhood and zip code, are being forced to decide how to pay their mortgages, heating bills, put food on the table, or even ration medicine," he said. "We must do whatever we can to protect the workers who are paying the price for this administration's cruelty — and this legislation, common practice at businesses across the country, aims to do just that."
Under his bill, federal workers could borrow up to $6,000 from the Treasury Department and not be charged any interest. Workers wouldn't have to undergo a credit check to get the loan.
It would be repaid by deducting the amounts owed from the federal workers once the shutdown ends.
Cox's bill had 84 Democratic co-sponsors as of Friday, and while it would likely easily pass the Democratic-led House, it is not scheduled for floor consideration yet.
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