Today in Austin local organizations including Texas Fair Share met to urge their congressional representatives to re-open the government and end this taxing government shutdown now. Despite hardworking Americans urging congress to give them their jobs back, the House stalled in negotiations late last night, leaving millions of Americans without financial security and continuing the threat of more financial insecurity for all Americans as the debt ceiling deadline rapidly approaches. Talking Points Memo reports: 

"Veteran Reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) also told TPM after exiting the meeting that they don't know if the plan has the votes to pass.

Making matters worse, the White House rejected it as a "ransom" demand.

"The President has said repeatedly that Members of Congress don't get to demand ransom for fulfilling their basic responsibilities to pass a budget and pay the nation's bills," said White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage.

Texas Fair Share released this statement yesterday: 

"...with the federal government’s shutdown now entering its third week, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is no ‘fair share’ for millions of Americans who are suffering. This includes people like Rosie Escalante, IRS employee, who has been furloughed for three weeks and is struggling to pay her mortgage.

 “And the situation will continue to get worse – much worse – the longer the shutdown continues,” Michael McCann said.

“For so many Americans, the shutdown is an insult that adds to injury. In the wake of the 2008 recession, the income gap has widened between the richest Americans and those struggling day to day to make ends meet. Too many families live in poverty – and many middle class families are living on the brink of poverty. Who knows how many families will fall out of the safety net unless Congress halts the political brinkmanship and focus on real policies that address the widening income gap and invest in rebuilding our economy to grow the middle class.”

“We know that the job of Congress is to make government work better for the people – not to stop it from working,” Michael McCann said. “It is simply unconscionable that we have even gotten to this point. It is time for a vote. Re-open government, pay our country’s bills and get back to work building a better tomorrow. That’s why we elected you.”