The Many Ways the Government Shutdown Hurt Public Health and the Environment

Today's post was shared by RWJF PublicHealth and comes from switchboard.nrdc.org

After 16 long days, the government shutdown has finally come to an end. It is relief to know that hundreds of thousands public servants can return to work and that critical programs protecting our health and the environment will fully function once again. But any sense of reassurance is tempered by two simple facts: we never should have been here in the first place, and we could easily be in the same position again in January. Political extremists pushed our nation to the brink out of sheer obstinance. Speaker Boehner could have ended this days ago by simply letting the full House vote on reopening the government. Instead, he declared himself a willing hostage to the radical wing of his party. The reopening of the government and avoiding default are obviously good news. But the deal that allowed it to happen should be a signal to the environmental community to gird for the battles ahead. The deal puts off the big fights for just a couple of months. House Republicans had a long list of anti-environmental provisions they threatened to add to the debt limit before the Affordable Care Act became their single-minded focus, and they could be part of the brinksmanship next time around....

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To cut costs, New York will close workers' comp hearing sites

The state is shutting down eight offices used for workers' compensation hearings, Capital has learned, a move that will save money but could inconvenience sick or injured working people. Last month, the Workers Compensation Board informed a state employees union of its intention to close “customer service centers” in Lockport, Riverhead, Canton, Geneva, Oneonta, Monticello, Queensbury and Hornell. The centers are hearing sites for injured workers contesting the denial of their compensation claims. Their closure would force injured workers on those areas to travel longer distances or make phone appearances in support of their case. "Since 2008, the Workers Compensation Board has been engaged on comprehensive review of its facilities to achieve savings and efficiencies, while at the same time ensuring the quality of services for stakeholders. As part of this year’s enacted budget, the Workers Compensation Board agreed with the legislature to consolidate the functions of eight customer service centers that were largely unused or underutilized and in some instances housing no employees,” said board spokeswoman Rachel McEneny. “There are no layoffs associated with the consolidations and the Board is allowing any affected claimant to appear telephonically where possible. The consolidation will result in $3,000,000 in savings to employers throughout the state over the next 10 years.” A spokesman for the Civil Service Employees...

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