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Letter: Congress is to blame for the shutdown

(J. Scott Applewhite | The Associated Press) On day 26 of the partial government shutdown, Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions ranking member Patty Murray, D-Wash., assemble outside the Capitol holding photographs of their constituents affected by the impasse between Congress and the White House, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019.

(J. Scott Applewhite | The Associated Press) On day 26 of the partial government shutdown, Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions ranking member Patty Murray, D-Wash., assemble outside the Capitol holding photographs of their constituents affected by the impasse between Congress and the White House, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019.

The “Trump wall” would never survive an objective cost-benefit analysis. Yet, because of a campaign promise, President Donald Trump has set out to harm many thousands of federal employees and many thousands more employees of federal contractors. In the process, he harms the nation and its economic system.

Now, members of the Utah congressional delegation want Congress to compromise with Trump. Previously, a compromise was forged and Trump turned his back on it in favor of a government shutdown — in favor of harming the nation and its people.

To the congressional delegation I say, “Why would we reward this kind of behavior?”

To the members of Congress who support Trump in this stalemate and wish to keep the government shuttered I say, “You are complicit to this injury to the federal employers, the employees of the federal contractors and the nation.”

Why should we reward your behavior by keeping you in office?

James Lowrie, Salt Lake City

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