One Fed Worker's Take: 'Bipartisan Shame'

Odenton resident Matthew Korbelak was one of the thousands of federal workers furloughed as a result of the government shutdown. On Thursday, he went into Washington, DC in an attempt to meet with members of Congress. He posted the following message on his Facebook page and it is reprinted here with his permission. 
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As a furloughed Federal worker in the DC area, I went in to town today to meet with some of my elected representatives.  Trying to reach Senator Mikulski or her staff in the Hart building, I encountered a locked door and a sign that said, "this office, along with those of other Members of Congress, is shut down."  I was unable to find any staffed or unlocked Senator's offices while in the building. I sent a text that said, "Public access to our elected officials is shut down".

At the Capitol I went to the House viewing gallery and took in several Representatives presenting during the debate portion of the latest on the shutdown. The seats on the floor were empty and the gallery had more bodies than the presenters, Speaker, reporter/recorder, and various support staff.  I wondered what it is like to present to empty seats and cameras in a process that originally had no cameras.

Unlike the Senate experience, a visit to Representative Sarbanes' office in the Rayburn building resulted in offices that were unlocked and staffed. Though Mr. Sarbanes was at the Capitol for a vote, his staff was receptive and explained that their counterparts at the Senate are on furlough at the discretion of their employers. The disparity is amazing to me. When asked if I had a particular issue, I stated that I wanted to personally and civilly express my displeasure in the current shutdown hoping a person such as Mr. Sarbanes who embraces the grassroots voice (he doesn't take PAC money) would listen to a furloughed worker that lives in his district.

I am not favoring one party or another. I despise the polarization and party line votes. The unanimous funding of the military recently was an exceptional united action of late. Otherwise, I only see bipartisan shame.   would love to see a flood of independents to upset the two-party-system applecart.

My hope is that everyone will reclaim their voice, their vote, and send word that we the people say "enough".

-Matthew Korbelak, Odenton.