FBI agent’s wife: End the shutdown
HARRISON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — The wife of an FBI agent said the government shutdown is taking its toll on her southern Indiana family, and she’s asking congressional representatives to take action.
Without an FBI paycheck, Amanda Beam and her family are dipping into their savings. She said those savings make her one of the lucky ones.
“A lot of these federal workers are living paycheck to paycheck,” Beam said.
Beam said her youngest son is planning to get braces this year, and federal workers could start getting bills in the mail for dental and vision insurance plans if the shutdown extends past two pay periods. Beam said her husband’s second missed payday would land on Jan. 25.
She reached out to her congressional representatives, asking them to find a way to end the shutdown.
“This isn’t necessarily, for me, about the money or about the payments,” Beam said. “It’s about the disrespect shown to our law enforcement personnel.”
The offices of Sens. Todd Young and Mike Braun both told News 8 they got Beam’s message Thursday and they would respond. WISH-TV called U.S. Sen. Trey Hollingsworth’s office Thursday, and a spokesperson said the office got Beam’s message and they would try to respond within 48 hours.
But Beam also emailed staff for all three representatives with shutdown concerns on Jan. 4.
“I was a little fed up. You want your congressional representatives to not only respond to you but actually take action,” Beam said.
Beam said Hollingsworth’s chief of staff finally called around 3 p.m. Friday, listened to her concerns and apologized for not responding sooner. She said Hollingsworth himself also called her in the late afternoon.
Beam lives in Harrison County and used to work as a press contact for several Republicans in the Indiana Senate.
She said she identifies politically as an independent and, for her, reopening the government transcends politics.
“This is not about a wall. This isn’t about any certain policy position. This is about doing what’s right for 800,000 American workers,” Beam said.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management said federal workers can have their primary health insurance payments taken from their next paycheck, whenever the government reopens.
The FBI Agents Association confirms that, for dental and vision, employees may be billed directly if the shutdown goes past two pay periods.
Statement from Sen. Young’s office:
Our office is reviewing Mrs. Beam’s email and as is customary she will receive a response. Senator Young strongly supports and appreciates our law enforcement and it is unfortunate that we are in this situation over securing our border. Senator Young helped introduce the Shutdown Fairness Act, which would ensure that exempted federal employees who are on the job during the partial government shutdown get paid for their work currently. President Trump has also signed legislation that Senator Young supported to ensure every government employee will be paid after the partial government shutdown ends.
Statement from Sen. Braun’s office:
Earlier today, Senator Braun’s office received a phone call from Mrs. Bream (sic) regarding the partial government shutdown and as with every constituent letter, email and phone call, we will respond as quickly as possible. Additionally, while we wait for Democrats to address our southern border, Senator Braun is proud that President Trump signed into law that every federal employee will receive back pay once the government shutdown ends.