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Governor Larry Hogan visits BWI Airport for a tour of TSA security checkpoints

Posted at 5:52 PM, Jan 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-24 17:52:42-05

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Governor Hogan talked to TSA agents on Thursday as they work without pay.

The governor thinks this shutdown effects more than just personal finances for federal employees.

"This shutdown is impacting the security of our nation, it's impacting the economy of Maryland but, most importantly it's impacting the lives of 10's of thousand of our Maryland citizens," said Hogan.

Hogan says more than 150,000 Marylanders are effected. Many of them in the security field. Air traffic controllers, home land security, FBI, TSA, workers that are defending the security of our nation and not getting paid.

Hogan is using his new position as Vice Vhair of the National Governors' Association to end this shutdown.

"I've been working on this for a month. I got all 50 governors to send multiple letters to the president, the leaders if the republican party in congress, the democratic party to say lets get this thing solved. Nobody's listening."

Hogan says companies like Exelon, BGE and Pepco are working with federal employees. These companies will not charge late fees to federal employees impacted by the shutdown.

Hogan says the state can help with unemployment insurance. Besides unemployment insurance, Governor Hogan says there are other things he can do to assist federal workers.

"So if they are riding MARC train, they're riding MTA, Baltimore Metro, Bus Link, Baltimore Link every single State transportation service is going to be free so for these employees so they can get to work without having to coming out of their pocket."

You don't have to be a government worker to be affected by this shutdown. Margaret Brack is a music teacher and says some federal employees and their kids have to cut back on paying for music lessons.

"Which then impacts me, which impacts my car payment, impacts our food you know so, the ripples go far outreaching," said Brack.

"It's the President, it's the leaders in congress in both parties. It's absurd and ridiculous and every single person in Washington is to blame," said Hogan.