1990 United States federal government shutdown

none January 2018 issues upright|alt=Official portrait of George H. W. Bush standing in front of an American flag|thumb|President George H. W. Bush negotiated a deficit reduction plan with Congressional leaders that included tax increases, despite his campaign pledge of "read my lips: no new taxes". The United States federal government shut down from Saturday, October 6, until Monday, October 8, 1990. It stemmed from the fact that a deficit reduction package negotiated by President George H. W. Bush contained tax increases, despite his campaign promise of "read my lips: no new taxes", leading to a revolt led by House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich that defeated the initial appropriations package. Because the shutdown occurred over a weekend, the effects of the shutdown were lessened, with the National Parks and the Smithsonian museums being the most visible closures. Around 2,800 workers were furloughed, with the government losing $2.57 million in lost revenue and back wages. Background alt=Official portrait of Newt Gingrich in front of an American flag|thumb|upright|Newt Gingrich, then the House minority whip, led a revolt that led to the 1990 government shutdown. Because Gingrich opposed a deal supported by Congressional leaders from both parties, House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel characterized the revolt as "a thousand points of spite". The shutdown stemmed from disagreements over the 1991 United States federal budget, whose fiscal year was to begin on October 1, 1990. Over the course of the prior year, President George H. W. Bush negotiated with Congressional leaders on a deficit reduction plan. At the time, Congress was controlled by Democrats. In June, Bush announced support for tax increases to break a stall in the negotiations, abandoning his campaign promise to not increase taxes. On September 30, the day before the beginning of fiscal year 1991, a deal was announced that would reduce the federal deficit by $500 billion over five years, including $134 billion in new taxes and making deep cuts to Medicare, with a temporary continuing resolution to fund the government through October 5. However, the new taxes in the bill were opposed by conservative Republicans led by House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich.https://www.proquest.com/docview/140262759 House Rejects Deficit-Reduction Agreement: Federal Shutdown Looms After Budget Vote Yang John E. Kenworthy Tom October 5, 1990 The Washington Post May 11, 2017 January 19, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180119175514/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/doc/140262759.html 140262759 live The fact that deal was supported by the President and Congressional leaders from both parties after long negotiations, with Gingrich walking out during a televised event in the White House Rose Garden,https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-his-debut-in-washingtons-power-struggles-gingrich-threw-a-bomb/2011/12/22/gIQA6GKCGP_story.html In his debut in Washington's power struggles, Gingrich threw a bomb Woodward Bob December 24, 2011 The Washington Post May 11, 2017 caused House Minority Leader Robert H. Michel to characterize the revolt as "a thousand points of spite". In addition, liberal Democrats opposed the bill's cuts to benefit programs. In response to the opposition, Bush made a nationally televised address warning of the negative effects of failing to reduce the deficit. The deal was defeated in the House of Representatives in the early morning of October 5. Congress passed a second continuing resolution, but it was vetoed by Bush, causing a lapse in funding authority beginning on Saturday, October 6.https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/09/us/the-budget-battle-countdown-to-crisis-reaching-a-1991-budget-agreement.html The Budget Battle: Countdown to Crisis: Reaching a 1991 Budget Agreement October 9, 1990 The New York Times May 10, 2017 0362-4331 Shutdown Because the shutdown occurred during a weekend, the most visible effect was the closure of National Parks and the Smithsonian museums.https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/11/us/looking-back-previous-government-shutdowns.html Looking Back: Previous Government Shutdowns Borkowski Monica November 11, 1995 The New York Times May 10, 2017 0362-4331 Although none of the appropriations bills had been passed, not all government agencies actually shut down. Full shutdowns occurred in the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Labor, Office of Personnel Management, and Department of Housing and Urban Development, and partial shutdowns occurred in the Library of Congress, Government Printing Office, and the Departments of Energy, Interior, and State. According to a study by the General Accounting Office, Interior (which includes the National Park Service) furloughed about 2,800 workers, the Library of Congress around 100, and the other agencies fewer than 10 each. Resolution and aftermath In the morning of Tuesday, October 9, a revised deal was announced that would reduce the cuts to Medicare and would cut capital gains taxes in return for higher income taxes on the wealthy. A new continuing resolution lasting until October 19 was passed to allow for the bill to be finalized, allowing workers to return to work.http://www.gao.gov/products/GGD-91-17FS Government Shutdown: Data on Effects of 1990 Columbus Day Weekend Funding Lapse October 19, 1990 U.S. General Accounting Office May 10, 2017 The continuing resolution was passed by the Senate on a voice vote, and was passed by the House 362–3 at around 1:30 AM. The deal was driven by a perception that the public was blaming Congress for the shutdown rather than the President.https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/10/09/bush-hill-agree-to-end-government-shutdown/2bfb933e-e4a4-4664-8279-e16f4ed1dd22/ Bush, Hill Agree To End Government Shutdown Yang John E. October 9, 1990 The Washington Post May 11, 2017 Mufson Steven en-US 0190-8286 Yang John E. Mufson Steven Had the shutdown lasted into Tuesday, 2.4 million federal workers would have been furloughed. The final deficit reduction deal, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, derived 28% of its savings from tax increases including an increase in the top income tax rate, but the gasoline tax was not raised. Trims to Medicare and discretionary spending were also included in the deal. Only 47 of the 176 House Republicans voted for the final package.https://www.washingtonpost.com/read-their-lips-for-the-origins-of-todays-deficit-fight-look-to-1990/2011/07/25/gIQAC0jHdI_story.html Read their lips: For the origins of today's deficit fight, look to 1990 Mufson Steven July 30, 2011 The Washington Post May 11, 2017 The defeat of the initial bill was seen as giving Democrats more leverage in negotiating the final deal. Bush initially announced that federal workers would not be paid for the furlough days, but Congress passed legislation granting them back pay due to the threat of lawsuits.https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_sic_12610 Government Shutdown Closes Smithsonian for 3 days October 6, 1990 Smithsonian Institution Archives May 10, 2017 en The cost of the shutdown was $1.68 million, mainly as a result of lost revenue, not including back pay amounting to an additional $837,000. The shutdown was later seen as the first high-visibility example of Gingrich's political power, showing his willingness to weaken the President and his own party leaders to try to stop them from making compromises with Democrats. The revolt was partially responsible for negative perceptions of the Bush presidency, as they could not use Reagan's strategy of claiming that Congressional Democrats were responsible for the tax increases. During his 1992 reelection campaign, Bush called the deal a mistake. See also Government shutdowns in the United States References 30em Category:1990 in American politics Category:1990 in labor relations Category:October 1990 in the United States 1990 Category:Presidency of George H. W. Bush Category:Newt Gingrich