143-year-old law puts fear in officials during shutdown

[formercia]




    
 Published: Tuesday, 1 Oct 2013 | 3:34 PM ET
By: Steve Liesman | CNBC Senior Economics Reporter


Administration officials now live in fear of a 19th-century law that could get them fired, penalized or even imprisoned if they make the wrong choices while the government is shut down.
The law is the Antideficiency Act, passed by Congress in 1870 (and amended several times), which prohibits the government from incurring any monetary obligation for which the Congress has not appropriated funds.
In shutting down the government, most memos cite the law as the reason. The Government Accountability Office says employees who violate the Antideficiency Act may be subject to disciplinary action, suspension and even "fines, imprisonment, or both."

--snip--

More at the link:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101078243

[yuiyoshida]

1. I would love to see the President use this....

I wonder who would be the one to enforce it? Homeland Security perhaps?

[surrealAmerican]

2. interesting - from later in the article:

... Congress in shutting down the government has to at least to some extent given up the power of the purse to the executive branch. Under the broad guidelines of what constitutes an emergency or threat to life or property, OMB now more or less decides what gets funded and what doesn't.

They may be sorry they did it.

[Mnemosyne]

3. K&R for more visibility. nt

[Historic NY]

4. Interesting but Congress is spending money...

The President should claim emergency powers and turn off their pipeline.

http://www.gao.gov/legal/lawresources/antideficiencybackground.html

[dickthegrouch]

5. Why can't we jail Bush under this?

He didn't appropriate any funds for his wars.

[1-Old-Man]

6. You can bet your ass no one above a GS-12 will ever suffer under this law

[WillyT]

7. K & R !!!