I am president of Chapter 35 of the National Treasury Employees Union for the Internal Revenue Service in Hawaii. As the stalemate in Washington, D.C., drags into its fifth week, know that real people are suffering. Employees want to get back to work, to serve the public and provide for their families, but we are pawns in a political battle.

If you think IRS employees should get part-time jobs, consider that they are forbidden from taking any tax-related jobs due to conflict of interest. Also, unemployment benefits are delayed and inadequate for living expenses.

If the shutdown continues into February and another paycheck is missed, many IRS employees will have no choice but to look for permanent work elsewhere, and resign. An already short-handed IRS will then be unable to process tax returns timely.

Everyone needs this government shutdown to end.

John Johnson

Kaimuki

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