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Congressman Chris Collins discusses government shutdown

WBFO News

The government shutdown is here.

Republicans and Democrats are at a stalemate on many issues. For the time being, people who are in “non-essential” services will not be going to work. Republican Rep. Chris Collins thinks the shutdown could end sooner, rather than later.

“The Senate is going to have a vote on something," the Clarence Republican said. "It could be a three-week continuing resolution, which we are fine with, through February 8, giving everyone three weeks to negotiate any manner of things, from what we call DACA or the Dreamers to full funding for the military, border security to the visa lottery system, chain migration. All manner of things.”

Collins said a deal is in the hands of Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

One of the “non-essential” services shutting down is the IRS help-line. Collins said people filing their tax returns now may run into minor inconveniences.

“There’s not going to be anyone processing those tax returns," Collins said. "That is not deemed essential. I suppose if there were a one-week shutdown their refund check, if there was a refund coming, could be delayed a week, but that would be the extent of it.”

Collins said certain parks and monuments, including the National Mall, will remain open. Despite the shutdown, he said moving forward, there are several issues that need to be addressed.

“There is certainly a disagreement, the Republicans want to spend more on military, less on domestic," Collins said. "The Democrats want to spend less on military, more on domestic. Therein lies a potential compromise. We all agree we need to fund the disaster relief for the hurricanes, flooding and forest fires. That’s pretty much agreed on, but we just have to get it done.”

A meeting of the Senate is scheduled for 12 p.m. Monday.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas moved to Western New York at the age of 14. A graduate of Buffalo State College, he majored in Communications Studies and was part of the sports staff for WBNY. When not following his beloved University of Kentucky Wildcats and Boston Red Sox, Thomas enjoys coaching youth basketball, reading Tolkien novels and seeing live music.
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