OPEN LETTER

Dear Senator Schumer,
I found your recent comments regarding the situation that some find themselves in with the federal government closure, exceptionally disturbing. I realize you are dedicated to accomplishing your party goals. I also realize that you will do just about anything to do so. What I don’t understand is, that you don’t seem to care about or understand the suffering of some, hence disturbing. Let me enlighten you. It isn’t just a missing paycheck, although that is a serious issue. Military and government workers should certainly not be expected to work without pay and we need them so desperately. They have families, some with children, some with elderly, who are dependent upon them, and some are living paycheck to paycheck in this economy. And then there are those of us like me. it would never have been my choice for my husband’s passing— with me, dependent on government benefits upon that passing to occur at a time coincidental with the closure of the federal government. The process of applying for widow benefits, involves the filling out of many forms, the collection of many documents and a great deal of time. Since Joe died at the beginning of August, I have spent that great deal of time collecting his documents, filling out those forms, and have spent hours on the phone with various government agencies since he retired with both a full retirement as a civilian federal employee, and a full retirement from the army and the army National Guard. I am greatly blessed, Mr. Schumer that my husband prepared for something like this and did not leave me penniless, wanting or needing in the interim it would be before I could get his pensions turned over and given out to me. Did you know it takes between 4 to 6 weeks to receive the forms and then it takes 3 to 5 months once they are received filled out correctly? Probably not because you’ve not had to fill them out and your knowledge would be peripheral at best. Now I face the time frame of 3 to 5 months plus whatever the government shut down causes with the time it is shut down and the time it delays everything because of the shutdown. As I said i’m not in danger of losing my home, vehicle, or having power or water turned off. But Mr. Schumer, I’m sure that there are those who are who are facing those situations because they are without my comfort cushion and so I have to say it shame on you Mr. Schumer for saying that you are more interested in pursuing your party line than thinking that there are people out there who might just might need the government to get off it’s tired, selfish rear end and do something to make their lives continue at least at an acceptable level if not a level of comfort. I’m sure you’ve never missed a meal at least not in recent memory. I’m sure you’ve never lost a home or a car or had to tell your child that meals were going to be smaller or less frequent, or that they need to bundle up inside the house because the heat was turned off, but I’m sure there are those who know that pain because the money isn’t coming back in. so if you truly don’t care, remember this too. Those of us out here, widows of men and widowers of women who served your country, sir, in both civilian and military positions, and we’re not all Republicans. We’re not all conservatives. So think twice about who you don’t care about.
I truly wonder who votes for you. And please don’t forget sir, or allow me to politely remind you if it has slipped your mind—-YOU work for ME.

Pamela Antosiak
Proud widow of an Army Chief Warrant Officer Retired who is a Vietnam Veteran who enlisted without being drafted
And Federal Government Employee Retired with 30 years in both.