We have completed three weeks of federal government shutdown. The House has passed a CR (continuing resolution) that will continue spending the same as it was during September. It will last for seven weeks (to allow time for debate on the next year's budget) The Senate has not passed it. It requires 60 yes votes to cut off debate. Democrats refuse to vote yes until the CR is amended to include funds that have been cut. The number we hear is 1.5 Trillion dollars to get seven weeks of open government.

$1.5 T is hard for us to have a mental grip on it. Maybe this will help: The distance around the equator is 24,901 miles Take the number of feet in a mile (5,280) and 24,901 times 5,280 equals 131,477,280 feet around the equator. If you were to divide 1.5 T (1,500,000,000,000) into equal piles of money in each mile, you would have $11,409 in each mile.

So, 17.3 miles from Sparta to Tomah, by W-16, is 17.3 times 5,280 times 11,409. That is 91, 344 - -times 11,409. Which ends up as 1,042,144,000. You've read that correctly; one billion, forty-two million, one hundred forty-four thousand dollars to cover from here to Tomah. Enough to build almost 30 Monroe County Justice Centers at $35 million each.

Question : Do you think seven weeks is worth $1.5 T, seeing as how we already have a $37.9 T national debt and the daily interest of approximately $3 Billion per day?

U S savings bonds only account for 17% of the debt.