The district offices of Congressman Andy Harris have been closed and his district staff furloughed as the effect of the government shutdown begins to spread.
The Eastern Shore Republican says he is preparing to donate his paycheck as the government shutdown takes hold.
His Washington office will be manned by two staff members.
In a statement issued on Tuesday Harris blamed the President and Senate for the shutdown calling the Affordable Care Act a disaster that will cripple the Maryland economy.
Harris said that the Republican controlled House would continue to act on a daily basis to restore temporary funding of parts of the government such the military, veteran’s benefits and national parks.
Meanwhile, Senator Ben Cardin vowed not to yield to the House Republican efforts to defund or delay funding of the new health care law though the shutdown.
The Salisbury Daily Times reports that the Maryland Democrat charged that Maryland was losing $15 million every day the federal government is closed from lost paychecks and business near federal facilities.
More than 2/3rds of the Maryland Democrat’s office has been furloughed.
The Daily Times reports that Maryland’s Senior Democratic Senator Barbara Mikulski did not respond to inquiries about plans for her office during the shutdown.
In Delaware, Senator Chris Coons and Congressman John Carney are set to give away their pay during the shutdown.
Fellow Democrat Tom Carper also plans to donate a portion of his salary to a Delaware charity.
As the effects of the turmoil from the government shutdown begins show up public opinion polls found that most Americans are not happy.
__________
Public Reaction
A CNN poll found that 46 percent would blame Republicans for the shutdown while 36 percent blame the president.
13 percent blame both.
In Salisbury expressed their frustration to Delmarva Public radio's Ashley Martin:
__________
Delaware Military
DOVER, Del. (AP) - The effects of the federal government shutdown are being felt in Delaware's military establishment.
Delaware National Guard officials said some 350 full-time soldiers and airmen in the Guard were sent home without pay Tuesday until further notice. The 350 affected Guardsmen are uniformed federal technicians who make up almost half of the full-time Delaware National Guard staff.
Meanwhile, official at Dover Air Force Base said that about half of the approximately 1,000 civilian workers at the base have been placed on emergency furlough.
Base officials also said the library and commissary will be closed until further notice, but that positions that directly support wartime operations are not currently subject to furlough.
Base commander Col. Rick Moore said the actions are taking a toll on the morale of the civilian workforce.
Naval Academy
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The Defense Department has suspended intercollegiate athletic competitions at the nation's service academies due to the government shutdown.
The U.S. Naval Academy on Tuesday announced it will cancel games as appropriate.
The academy says notification about Saturday's scheduled football game featuring Navy and Air Force in Annapolis will be made public before noon on Thursday.
The academy says a soccer game Tuesday night against Howard has been cancelled. The academy says it's not known whether the game will be made up or not.
