The support for this petition shows how frustrated everyone is with our elected officials. And to think, it was started because I was having a fit about a $15 fine and angry those in Washington are never penalized for not meeting deadlines while all of us were regularly.

The partial U.S. government shutdown, ongoing since October 1, 2025, stems from a dispute between Republicans, holding slim congressional majorities, and Democrats over a short-term funding bill. On September 25, 2025, the House passed a "clean" continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through November 21, but Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, blocked it, demanding extensions for Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring in 2025, which could affect 20 million Americans’ insurance costs.

That sticking point could be addressed after the CR is agreed to, government opened, and could be resolved before year end if Congress wasn’t perpetually on a break.

Just a few days ago I was asking if we could hit 100,000 signatures, and today we’re nearing 200,000! The momentum of this petition could amplify calls for reform post-shutdown. Similar past efforts (e.g., during 2018-2019) gained traction but faded without bipartisan buy-in. With public trust in Congress at historic lows (around 20% approval), this petition underscores a bipartisan demand for incentives to end gridlock, potentially influencing 2026 budget talks if signatures continue climbing 

Keep the momentum! Share the petition and demand change for all citizens! We aren’t backing down!