It's day 27 of the partial federal government shutdown. MPB's Jasmine Ellis reports on how a family in Greenville is coping with the loss of income.
Erin Watkins and her husband are using their savings to keep their household running. Her husband is an active duty U.S. Coast Guard member working on the Mississippi River -- who hasn't been paid since the government shutdown. Watkins is a teacher and says her income helps her family.
"We are an abnormal military family where I work outside of the home and have a decent career," says Watkins. "Whereas most families they have to have only one person working outside of the home because our spouses are gone for days to months at a time."
Watkins says her husband did not get paid during the last pay period. She says she's now concerned about her daughter's upcoming surgery.
"I have three daughters," says Watkins. "One is in daycare, she has Down syndrome, and we are just saving like crazy. She has a major surgery coming up. And while we still have our insurance that surgery costs a lot of money and has some extra costs added to it that we will have to cover."
This is the longest government shutdown in history. Coast Guard families were given advice on what to do during this difficult time.
"That we should sell our belongings and walk dogs," says Watkins. "And somehow find time to do all of that while we manage our homes, our husbands manage their careers."
Watkins calls the situation shameful and is disappointed that political leaders can't work to open the government.
