Maryland senators press to end government shutdown

Maryland is one of the top three states affected by the partial government shutdown, as thousands of federal workers living in Maryland worry about when they’ll get paid. Friday is the first day of the shutdown in which non-essential furloughed workers and essential workers who still must report to work, won’t receive a paycheck. More than a dozen government workers and union representatives from NASA to the Treasury, came to the Howard County Savage Branch Library in Laurel to share their shutdown stories. Maryland senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Howard County Executive Calvin Ball came to hear those personal experiences. American Federation of Government Employees union representative Jeff Barlow said “I actually get paid tomorrow, where in the morning you check that phone and see that your account has changed, I don't expect that to happen tomorrow.” The Senate passed legislation Thursday night to ensure furloughed workers receive back pay once the shutdown is over, a bill which President Trump has said he will sign.