Congress has the power to end this shutdown without Trump

There are statements of obstruction from both parties blaming one another for this shutdown of the government. Many workers are forced to work without pay and many are forced not to work and will receive no pay. At the same time the members in the House of Representatives and the Senate and their staffs are being paid.

The House passes bills but the Senate will not take them for discussion or a vote. I would consider that lack of taking up of bills by the Senate as obstruction. But no matter what, since nothing is being done in the legislative branch, they must be nonessential and as result should not be paid. I would also say that this lack of responsibility on their parts is a reason we need term limits.

I am a federal employee currently on furlough. Beginning next week, my husband and I will be forced to dip into our savings in order to pay our bills. We’re fortunate that we have savings, but it won’t last us that long.

I’m imploring you to please end this shutdown. We’ve already put several planned purchases on hold, some of which would have gone to local Colorado businesses. It’s clear that the wall is not the problem. This president has backed himself into a corner and cannot see a way out that would allow him a “win” ... so let’s take him out of the equation.

I urge Sens. Michael Bennett and Cory Gard- ner to work with the colleagues to pass a vetoproof budget and get us back to work. My husband works for a company that does a lot of work for the government. He hasn’t been impacted by this shutdown, yet. Please, get your fellow Coloradoans back to work. Open the government with or without the president.

Since when is the United States Senate controlled by the president? Could the answer be, since President Donald Trump bribed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell by making McConnell’s wife secretary of transportation?

The majority of the U.S. Senate would likely vote to re-open the government if McConnell would simply put the issue on the floor of the Senate, instead of covering the president from such a vote.

The U.S. is a Democracy, not a kingdom. McConnell should get out of the way and let our government respond to the will of the people.

Mr. president, bring to the table what Americans, and, by Americans I mean all Americans, really need. Bridges are in dire need of repair, roads are in bad shape, railroad crossings need attention and the infrastructure for shipping needs to be fixed. Send letters of 250 words or fewer to openforum@denverpost.com or 5990 Washington St., Denver, CO, 80216. Please include full name, city and phone number. Contact information is for our purposes only; we will not share it with anyone else. You can reach us by telephone at 303-954-1201.