Family members and people working in Toe Path Industries, a sheltered work center operated by Schoharie County ARC, are worried about what people will do if this vocational option of choice is eliminated. The Schoharie-based workshop employs 68 people who are learning new skills through meaningful work opportunities in a safe and accessible environment while contributing and earning a paycheck for real work. Whether employed by the sheltered workshop or through the supported employment program, a job creates a sense of dignity and pride for people to have a place to go to work and contribute to the community.

Ted Cruz is representing Texas I'm a Texan and his actions are not my action nor the action of majority of Texans.

The GOP members of the House are endangering people's livelihoods and our economy. They need to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling before more damage is done to the U.S.

Hundreds of thousands of Utahns depend upon the national parks in Utah remaining open, and are losing money every day that our representatives continue this shutdown. I am one of them.

As a full-time real estate professional, and a man in the process of purchasing a home for his family, I am personally affected by the government shutdown, as is anyone who is trying to close on a mortgage. The IRS is not open to process the 4506 forms required by law to fund a loan. This is affecting me personally as I will soon be homeless because my landlord is not extending my previously agreed-upon exit date. The shutdown affects hundreds of thousands of taxpaying citizens, who are paying large salaries to the same people who are essentially taking their jobs away. Congress absolutely should not be paid during this shutdown and should suffer the same consequences that they have brought upon their employers--the U.S. citizens!

I am outraged that Rep. Randy Neugebauer claims to represent any part of my home state. His behavior proves that he does not understand the consequences of his own actions and therefore needs to immediately stand down before more damage is done.

I want my legislators to take personal responsibility and experience the same consequences of their votes as other citizens. It isn't fair for them to revoke the salaries of their constituents without sharing their plight.

There are far too many career legislators, too removed from the general U.S. citizenry. Our country was founded on citizen legislators and needs to be again. Perhaps then something will get done.

At an August town hall meeting, Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) said that supporting a federal government shutdown would be “irresponsible” and have a “huge, negative impact.” He even said he opposed a shutdown as a way to delay Obamacare. Now, he has time and again voted with the tea party for a government shutdown. Join Daily Kos and Progress Iowa in demanding that Congressman Tom Latham get back to work—and reopen the government without delaying Obamacare.

Marriage equality is a civil right which is equated in our federal constitution. No one should have the right to vote for or against civil rights. Each state should follow the constitution and allow legal marriage equality. The polls show its acceptance and recent court actions prove it.

The inequality and injustice of Congressmen being paid during the shutdown that causes rank and file federal workers to be unpaid creates a ridiculously unfair imbalance. It's outrageous that members of Congress can continue to receive pay while not doing their jobs and inflicting hardship on others with their inaction and inflexibility. They are there to make the country work, not to shut it down because they don't get to have everything their way.

I am tired of lifetime politicians destroying our country and never feeling the pain the people they were elected to represent have to feel because of their actions. In other countries we, the people, would be able to FIRE all of them! At least they should not be paid like the rest of the government, so there is some pressure for the hard core Tea Party Republicans to grow up and do the right thing. They can't seem to do it for the right reasons so hit them where it hurts.