NOTE: The federal government has officially shut down after Congress failed to pass short-term funding.

It’s October! Here are the topics for today’s independent commentary:

• Federal Government Shutdown 
• Downing Sends Email
• Bozeman & Urban Camping
• One More Thing

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN:

The U.S. Senate failed to pass a funding bill Tuesday evening to keep the government open.  Both the Democratic and Republican bills failed to get the votes to pass. (Source) 

At publishing time, the Federal Government was going to shut down at midnight Eastern time Tuesday night. 

There will be a lot of chatter from both sides of the political aisle in the coming hours and days. It is important to remember that the Republicans control the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, and the White House. 

Each side will attempt to “spin” the narrative to shape public perception in favor of its own side. Already, there are messages on Federal Government websites saying Democrats are to blame for the shutdown. As NPR pointed out, the Trump Administration is using taxpayer dollars to blame Democrats for the shutdown. (Source) This is illegal. 

In a recent poll by the New York Times, 33% of those surveyed blamed both sides equally, while 26% blamed Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress. Just 19% blamed Democrats. There were 21% who had not heard enough about the subject to say. (Source)

It’s too bad the people we send to Washington can’t work together. 

DOWNING SENDS EMAIL: 

First-term U.S. Representative Troy Downing (MT-02) decided to ask his constituents if they supported a government shutdown via email on Tuesday. He also uses the response to collect emails so he can send you his newsletter. 

Downing writes:

As September comes to a close, so does the Federal Government’s fiscal year—and with it, the threat of a government shutdown. The House recently passed a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep funding at current levels through November, but received little support from the Left. If the CR does not pass in the Senate before midnight tonight, the government will shutdown.

I voted to keep the government running so that Congress can continue its work to return to regular order, but I want to know what you think. 

I think the clowns we send to Washington should work together. 

BOZEMAN & URBAN CAMPING:

The city of Bozeman’s ban on urban camping goes into effect today (October 1). The Montana Free Press reports that daily fines of up to $500 and possible jail time are penalties for those who don’t move off the streets.

Just about everyone knows it is very expensive to live in Bozeman. I saw one report that said Bozeman has very high rent prices, with housing 51.4% more expensive than the national average. Rent typically falls between $1,903 and $2,715 per month, though prices vary by unit size. The overall cost of living in Bozeman is 20.9% higher than the national average. (Source)

That is ridiculous.

I feel for the people who have to do urban camping. I know there are some urban campers in Great Falls, and as we have seen in the past, local officials don’t like the homeless. They want the homeless out of sight.

We need to provide some sort of homes for the homeless to help those who want help to get back on their feet. We can build tiny homes and tiny apartments to help with this epidemic. It’s only getting worse. 

Check out the outstanding reporting about urban camping in Bozeman from the Montana Free Press by clicking HERE.  

ONE MORE THING:

When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus. -Turkish Proverb

## THE END ##