As the nation approaches the end of the current fiscal year, rumors of a government shutdown are present.

US Senator Chuck Grassley says that recently Senators met to discuss, but nothing concrete was planned at the time, and there was nothing they were for sure would happen. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio his opinion on the matter.

“It costs money to shut down the government, it costs money to open up government. Government is supposed to be a service to the people. You can’t service the people if you aren’t operating, every department of government operating. I don’t think there’s a threat to our national security because I think our military will be paid, social security checks will go out, stuff like that. But it’s just not a good way to do business, and I just hope it doesn’t happen.”

Grassley mentions that he has heard from some people that they don’t think that shutting down the government for a short period of time will cause any harm. He says that he believes that they say that because they aren’t federal employees, and as congress members, find ways to make up their own back pay from any shutdowns, essentially being paid for not working.