Republican Congressmen and President Bill Clinton are locked in a stalemate over the budget, and the repercussions are hitting the governmental agencies fist first.

Several SIUC students’ and Carbondale residents’ reactions to the standoff seem to hit upon one key element they think the public is going to suffer.

I think it’s pretty pathetic that no agreement can be made and the American public must deal with it, Amy Meier, a senior in art from Murphysboro, said. We have to take up their inadequacies.

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Randall McCauley, a junior in political science from Clarendon Hills, said people have been phoning in to Rep. Mike Bost’s, R-Murphysboro, office asking what local politicians can do about the closings.

But no matter what you shut down, you will have adverse reactions, McCauley said. It’s a Catch 22 situation. No matter what they do, they will be criticized. The best plan is to avoid it altogether.

Some students disagree. Jennifer Farwell, a sophomore in finance from Arlington Heights, said she thinks it is a good idea to shut down the agencies.

I think it’s good because there is too much spending going on in the agencies, Farwell said. They should keep closing down things that are costing too much money and use that money for better causes.

This becomes the 10th time the U.S. government has had to partially close down since 1980 because of spending disputes.

Greg Taylor, a junior in business from Waukegan, said if he could chose just one agency to shut down, it would be social aid.

I think it makes people more complacent, Taylor said. Social aid makes people not want to get jobs.

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But Meier chooses a different plan of action for the government.

They should shut down the defense first because it uses the most money and benefits the fewest people at this time, she said.

Taylor cited the fact that the United States has a Democratic president and a Republican congress as the key to the budget problem. He pointed the finger at congress because, It’s their fault they can’t decide on anything.

Meier said she believes the blame lies within the GOP. She offers one possible solution to the budget stalemate.

I think it would take Newt Gingrich getting hit by a bus (to pass the budget).