Bracken County federal employee waiting for government shutdown to end

FOSTER, Kentucky (WKRC) – Pam Spradlin hasn’t been to work at the IRS in 25 days, and going without a paycheck is making life uncomfortable. She is collecting unemployment, but it’s still not enough to cover her bills.

Spradlin, like the other 380,000 furloughed federal employees, doesn’t know when the shutdown will end and it’s frustrating.

“If we do collect unemployment, every dime of that has to paid back,” Spradlin said. “Our insurance premiums, our dental premiums, our vision, life insurance, anything else that you have coming out of your check — that will be doubled up on.”

Spradlin works at the Covington office of the IRS and says she loves working there as a data transcriber.

Spradlin said the bills are piling up and her bank account is overdrawn. Part of the government is shut down because President Donald Trump wants funding for a border wall and Democrats don’t want to approve the funding. Democratic leaders have also refused to negotiate about funding for border security until Trump agrees to reopen the government.

The stalemate has left Spradlin without a paycheck and money was already tight because she’s raising her 6-year-old granddaughter, Summer.

“It feels hopeless, and then I’m wondering how am I going to raise my granddaughter? You know? How am I going to do that?” Spradlin said.

Late Tuesday, 46,000 furloughed IRS workers were recalled to handle tax season, but they have to work without pay. Spradlin is not one of those who has been recalled. She’s left to sit at home with her dog and watch the news. She wonders when lawmakers and the president will stop arguing and make a deal.

“I hope they get a clue about us, you know? I hope they realize it’s not just about whatever they’re fighting about. It’s about us,” said Spradlin.