Two state bills could help furloughed federal workers during shutdown

It’s been more than a month since the impasse over a border wall partially shutdown the government, and federal workers are doing whatever they can to feed their families and pay the bills.

But two new bills in the RI Senate could help relieve some of that stress for now and any other shutdown in the future.

The bills would help avoid collections on missed payments and delay tax payments for city property taxes.

One of the bills introduced by Sen. Dawn Euer is called the Federal Furloughed Employees Protection Act. 

It would guarantee that furloughed workers would not face penalties by missing a payment while the government is shutdown, and as long as they aren’t receiving a paycheck.

Sen. Euer represents Newport and said that a lot of her constituents are feeling the effects of the shutdown.

“Populated by a lot of military families, government families, so it’s something I was hearing from constituents,” Sen. Euer said. “Credit card payments, rent, car payments, that sort of thing. It’s intended to give some peace of mind to the families affected by the shutdown.”

Senator Bill Conley is the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He also introduced a bill that would help federal workers. 

The bill would allow municipalities to give relief to any federal worker not receiving a paycheck when it comes time to pay property taxes.

“A lot of cities and towns have third quarter property tax payments coming up in a matter of weeks,” Conley said. “This is a circumstance that could repeat itself.”

Sen. Euer’s bill was heard at the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday but was put on hold to add in student loans. It’s expected to head back to committee again Thursday.

Sen. Conley’s bill passed the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday and now heads to the full Senate. He’s hoping for his measure to be taken up sometime this week.

Both senators are confident the bills will become law.