WEBVTT WE LIVE IN A PLACETHAT MAY BE MORE TUNED-IN TOTHIS BUDGET BATTLE THAN MOST. BECAUSE MARYLAND IS HOME TO SOMANY FEDERAL WORKERSDONNA 11 NEWS LEAD POLITICAL: REPORTER KATE AMARA JOINS USNOW WITH THAT PART OF THISSTORY.KATEKATE: THE ACTION, OR INACTION,RIGHT NOW.CENTERED ON THE UNITED STATESSENATE.IN A SPEECH ON THE SENATE FLOORTODAY SENATOR BEN CARDIN, ADEMOCRAT, SAID KEEP US HERE.LET US WORK ALL WEEKEND.MARYLAND IS HOME TO ONE OF TLARGEST PERCENTAGES OF FEDERALWORKERS IN THE NATION.HE SAID A SHUTDOWN WOULD BE ABIG ECONOMIC BLOW.>> IF THERE'S A GOVERNMENTSHUTDOWN, HARDWORKING FEDERALWORKERS ARE NOT GOING TO GET APAYCHECK, YET, THEY WILL STILLHAVE TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE ANDSUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES. KATE: AND THEN THOUSANDS MOREWILL BE FURLOUGHED, FORCED TO GOON UNPAID LEAVE.BEN CARDIN'S DEMOCRATICCOLLEAGUE, SENATOR CHRIS VANHOLLEN, SAYS THERE IS STILL TIMETO REACH AN AGREEMENT AND GETTHIS DONE TODAY.>> THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TODO A VERY SHORT CONTINUINGRESOLUTION AND OVER THE WEEKEND,THREE DAYS, GET AN AGREEMENT ANDTHEN PASS ITKATE: SENATOR VAN HOLLEN BLAMESSENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCHMCCONNELL AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.WHILE THE LONE REPUBLICAN MEMBEROF MARYLAND'S CONGRESSIONADELEGATION, FIRST DISTRICT REPANDY HARRIS, BLAMES DEMOCRATSFOR THE BUDGET IMPASSE>> WE NEED TO FIND NINEREASONABLE DEMOCRATS IN THESENATE WHO DON'T THINK ASHUTDOWN WILL SOLVE THECOUNTRY'S PROBLEMS.KATE: THE BLA GAME DOWN IND.C. GOVERNOR LARRY HOGAN IS, HAVING NONE OF IT.RELEASING THIS STATEMENT TODAYON THE LOOMING SHUTDOWN.THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, ANDDEMOCRATIC LEADERS AT THESTATEHOUSE AGREE ON THIS,MARYLANDERS CAN'T AFFORD ASHUTDOWN.OUR STATE, IS HOME TO MORE THAN60 FEDERAL AGENCIEAND FEDERAL WORKERS COMPRISE ASIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF OURWORKFORCE.JUST THE THREAT OF A SHUTDOWNCREATES ECONOMIC INSTABILITY.AN ACTUAL SHUTDOWN WILL COST THESTATE MORE THAN $5 MILLION ADAY.250,000 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES LIVEIN MARYLAND ACCORDING TO THECOMPTROLLER'S OFFICE