Thank you to everyone who has supported this petition. To clarify, this petition is not about favoring one political party over another. Its purpose is to express frustration with the lack of action and accountability in Congress, where blame-shifting often overshadows efforts to find solutions. It is in support of those citizens who have no control over the budget and are unfairly penalized because our elected members in the legislative branch can’t have an adult conversation to reach a workable solution that would keep the government open.

There are also some misconceptions about government shutdowns. Since the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, there have been 22 shutdowns over the past 50 years. The president with the most shutdowns during their term was Ronald Reagan, and the longest shutdown occurred under Jimmy Carter. Budget failures are the responsibility of Congress—the House and Senate—not the executive branch.

Should there be a safety net for federal workers and others affected by government shutdowns? Absolutely.

Does this petition impose strong enough penalties to hold lawmakers accountable? Not fully, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Again, thank you for your support and please continue to share this petition! I