Looming federal shutdown would affect local tourism, nonprofits,non

On the eve of a potential government shutdown, the blame game between bitterly divided federal lawmakers continued Friday over legislation to protect about 700,000 younger immigrants from being deported.

Democrats in the Senate intend to filibuster a four-week, government-wide funding bill that cleared the House on Thursday evening, seeking to shape a subsequent measure but exposing themselves to charges they are responsible for a looming shutdown.

Republicans controlling the narrowly split chamber took up the fight, arguing that Democrats were holding the entire government hostage over demands to protect "Dreamer" immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan showed his displeasure with the stalemate through a scathing written statement Friday, saying, "Marylanders are sick and tired of Washington's dysfunctional, insider blame games."

"I am calling on all Members of Congress and the Administration to not only continue funding the government, but to finally find long-term, common sense solutions to provide health care for our vulnerable children and to protect Dreamers," he said.

Hogan urged federal lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to "stop the finger-pointing and do your jobs."

Locally, the impact of a shutdown, which would take effect at midnight Friday, would be felt in the form of furloughs for residents who work for the federal government, either directly or as contractors, possibly resulting in late or lost wages.

Additionally, access to federal services could be limited, even though the impact of a shutdown is likely to be spotty until Monday since most government agencies are closed for the weekend.

In the event of a shutdown, food inspections, federal law enforcement, airport security checks and other vital services would continue, as would Social Security, other federal benefit programs and military operations. But federal workers wouldn't be paid.

A prolonged government shutdown could be "devastating" to tourism in Washington County, which relies heavily on visitors to federal parks in and around the county, said Dan Spedden, president and chief executive officer of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The county is home to five national parks, including Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.

"Fortunately, we’re at a time of year where park activity is at its lowest point," Spedden said. "If the shutdown happens and it's short-lived, it won’t have a big impact. But if it drags on into the spring, its going to be devastating to us."

Other parks in or near the county include the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Catoctin Mountain Park.

Nonprofit agencies also could be in a bind if a prolonged shutdown occurs. For example, Washington County Community Action Council, which provides services for some of the area's most vulnerable residents, relies on federal grant funding reimbursements that could be delayed as a result.

"A lot of the nonprofits in town are fighting for every dollar we can get, and it's just sad to see money like this wasted for no good reason," said Geordie Newman, president and chief executive officer of the county CAC.

The shutdown would be the first since 2013, when tea party Republicans — in a strategy not unlike the one Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer is employing now — sought to use a must-pass funding bill to try to force then-President Barack Obama into delaying implementation of his marquee health care law