The 27th Amendment of the United States of America states:

No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.

So guess what? It's technically unconstitutional for Congress to not get paid for a government shutdown. Not that Barbara Boxer didn't try... It passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. I have been wondering why Congress is still going to get paid, while upwards of a million people who either work for or are reliant upon the federal government will be furloughed or asked to come to work without being paid. The 27th Amendment seems to be why. We're not talking Joe the Plumber here... We are talking Stan the Sanitation worker here; we are talking Linda the Lunch lady, and Paul the Forest Ranger. We are talking about people - like those in the military - that live from paycheck to paycheck.

Now let's take a hard turn to Eric Cantor who said recently: So basically, the house blocked Boxer's legislation by introducing something totally unconstitutional. Best as I can see, there is nothing in the Constitution that prevents unconstitutional laws from being brought to the floor.

On a bright note, it appears that Federal Employees can claim unemployment benefits. I've not one problem with people being able to claim UI, I just find it amazing that the Federal government is placing the burden on States that are already strained. This is akin to shuffling chairs on the boat deck as it's sinking. But I digress... or perhaps not.

Do you see what is happening here? The GOP -- specifically the HOUSE Republicans, are using the Constitution AGAINST the people that the constitution is meant to represent. Do you think this is a coincidence? I don't. Remember, this budget isn't about fiscal responsibility, it's a cause: The BUDGET is a cause?

So here we are, We have a senator trying to do the moral thing, and the House GOP trying to make sure they get their political points with some crazy ideology -- and the collateral damage is the very people they are suppose to be representing. Ryan says: "It's a cause". Think about that... Could you imagine for a moment a set of parents telling their children that they can't buy food for their children -- for a cause? Imagine YOUR parents telling you you can't have dinner, because they need to prove a point to the neighborhood. Let's just make this clear about this cause. This is what is being proposed:

• Public education defunding
• Defund the arts
• Privatize Medicare
• Privatize Social Security
• More Tax cuts for Millionaires & Billionaires
• Tax breaks for corporations
• Subsidies for Agricorp
• Destroy Unions and collective bargaining
• Removal of Women's Rights
• Wall Street Deregulation
• Shut down the government

I could add much more to this list. I will say this: Paul Ryan is correct. This isn't a budget. A budget is normally a responsible plan to spend money and fund necessary costs. This is not a budget. What it is, actually, is a bullet to the head of the middle class. While they are preparing to kill you, and Grandma -- they damn well made sure they took care of themselves. They used our Constitution against We the People. They found a loophole. The GOP chose to propose something totally unconstitutional to force representatives to vote against it. It's a perfect bait and switch. I'll give them credit for that.

I wish this was why John Boehner cried -- again.

and

Raine