Wilbur Ross says he doesn't understand why federal workers are turning to food banks in shutdown
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Wilbur Ross says he doesn't understand why federal workers are turning to food banks in shutdown
Dylan Stableford 59 minutes ago
Wilbur Ross (Photo: Mary Calvert/Reuters)
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Thursday that he doesn’t understand why some federal workers who have been furloughed or are working without pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown are having to turn to food banks and homeless shelters to feed themselves and their families.
“I know they are, and I don’t really quite understand why,” Ross said in an interview CNBC.
Ross, whose net worth in 2016 was estimated to be $2.9 billion, said those workers should seek loans because “the banks and the credit unions should be making credit available to them.”
“True, the people might have to pay a little bit of interest,” Ross added. “But the idea that it’s paycheck or zero is not a really valid idea.”
This iframe is not allowedThe commerce secretary also downplayed the number of federal employees affected by the shutdown, now in its 34th day.
“Put it in perspective, you’re talking about 800,000 workers,” he said. “And while I feel sorry for the individuals that have hardship cases, 800,000 workers if they never got their pay — which is not the case, they will eventually get it — but if they never got it, you’re talking about a third of a percent on our GDP. So, it’s not like it’s a gigantic number overall.”
Ross said it was “disappointing” that some of the affected federal employees ordered back to work by President Trump are refusing to do so.
“There really is not a good excuse why there really should be a liquidity crisis,” he said.
A furloughed TSA employee at a food bank in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday. (Photo: Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty)
The comments drew immediate scorn online , with critics saying they show an administration out of touch with its own workforce.
At her weekly press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she doesn’t understand why Ross doesn’t understand the hardship of workers who are missing their paychecks.
“Is this the ‘Let them eat cake’ kind of attitude or ‘call your father for money’ or ‘this is character-building for you, it’s all going to end up very well’?” she said.
Trump himself has claimed repeatedly that most federal workers support his tactic of shutting down the government to enforce his demand for a border wall — including those directly affected by it. But a recent poll of government employees shows that few actually do.
According to a Government Business Council survey released last week , 71 percent of federal workers oppose the shutdown, compared to just 21 percent who support it. And just 34 percent of federal employees surveyed support Trump’s demand for funding for the wall, while 56 percent oppose it.
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Wilbur Ross is a character out of Dickens....
Furloughed worker to Mr. Wilbur Bumble, bowl in hand...
"Please Sir, I want some more."
"More? More? Why don't you just go get a loan!?"
"Well, because the law says I should be paid for my work..."
"If the law supposes that," said Mr. Wilbur Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, "the law is a ass — a idiot. If that's the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is, that his eye may be opened by experience — by experience..!"
"but if they never got it, you’re talking about a third of a percent on our GDP. So, it’s not like it’s a gigantic number overall.”
So apparently this asshole doesn't actually care if these people never get paid. Because it wouldn't impact our GDP that much - so to hell with actual people
Where the hell does Trump find these people? This is the worst Cabinet we've had in my lifetime. But all he cares about is that they're billionaires and they will kiss his ass.
This is the WORST overall administration EVER.
Wilbur Ross belongs in prison. He has committed many financial crimes.
Unfortunately we have a society that winks at white collar crime.
People like him better hope that there is never a "French revolution" type event in America. He would be horse whipped at the least , if not lose his head.
What a fucking douche canoe, hey asshole get in the real world where people don't have billions, typical republican for you
WELCOME TO TRUMP'S AMERICA