Senator Chris Coons says he expected the government shutdown will go on for a couple of weeks.
The Delaware Democrat tells WDEL that if it does persist the shutdown is likely to run into the deadline for a default on the debt ceiling, which he called a disaster.
But, he says that the President is right not accept proposals by House Republicans to restore some government services but not others.
That, he told the station, is “just a slow bleed” that would have a negative impact on the economy and millions of Americans.
He pointed to Dover Air Force Base where around half of the 1-thousand civilian employees have been furloughed along with another 350 soldiers and airmen from the Delaware National Guard.
As for his own pay check, he told WDEL that he was returning it because he does not believe he should be paid while hundreds of thousands of American are not.
Unemployment claims
Maryland's Department of Labor says it received 4,000 unemployment claims from federal workers Tuesday. That's more than the state usually receives all year from federal workers.
Virginia's Employment Commission is providing a special paper application for federal workers.
