If government shuts down, so would troop pay

[Perrone]

I guess our government has ran out of money.

U.S. troops could be required to report to work without pay if a budget clash in Congress results in a government-wide shutdown, according to draft planning guidance circulating in the Pentagon.

A shutdown could happen as early as next week, as the government is set to run out of money at midnight March 17. A bill that would keep the government operating temporarily has been prepared in the House of Representatives, but it is not clear when or if it might pass.

The government has been operating under a series of temporary appropriations, known as continuing resolutions, since Oct. 1 because of lawmakers’ inability to agree on how much money to provide federal agencies. Budget discussions have become increasingly complicated since the November general elections resulted in a divided legislature, with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats controlling the Senate.

When the government was shut down in 1995, military personnel continued to report to work and were paid, but the planning guidance sent to the services and defense agencies says a shutdown this time will be different.

“All military personnel will continue in normal duty status regardless of their affiliation with exempt or non-exempt activities,” says the draft planning guidance that was prepared for the services and defense agencies. “Military personnel will serve without pay until such time as Congress makes appropriated funds available to compensate them for this period of service.”

DISCUSS

• Possible pay stoppage

Troops would miss a payday only if the shutdown continues through April 1.

Defense civilian workers would be divided into two categories. “Essential” employees would be required to report to work even though they will not be paid; “nonessential” employees would be furloughed, according to the memo.

Troops and essential civilians who report for work without pay would receive back pay when government funding is restored. But whether furloughed civilians would receive back pay could depend on whether Congress specifically authorizes that, according to congressional aides who have been doing their own shutdown planning.

The memo, prepared in early March but never formally issued as guidance, attempts to spell out what defense missions would shut down and what would stay open in the event funding stops.

• Military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan will continue, including preparations for any units scheduled for deployment.

• Operations necessary for national security, safety of human life and protection of property will continue, but operations that don’t meet one of those three criteria will be “shut down in an orderly and deliberate fashion.”

• Recruiting offices, processing centers and basic training will remain operational.

• Emergency repairs and maintenance that cannot be deferred will be done on base facilities and housing.

• Medical and dental facilities will remain open, although elective surgery and procedures will be postponed. Suicide, substance abuse counseling and crisis intervention will continue.

• Dependents schools and education centers for service members will be open for use by private agencies for courses for which payment already has been made.

• Dining halls, gyms and child care centers will stay open.

• Base exchanges may remain open because they operate using nonappropriated funds. But commissaries, which are supported by taxpayer funds, may be closed, although the memo says military personnel might be assigned to replace furloughed civilians so the grocery stores could remain open.

Source

 

[HMFIC]

Uh ya...

I don't think that's going to go over very well at all.

 

[Zombie]

very nice...gotta love it...wonder how many troops know and are saying eff that...

 

[Hawgman]

I did 20 years in the Air Force. They were always encouraging troops to set up allotments as a way of meeting your financial obligations. They always swore up one side and down the other that they (the DOD) would be responsible for making allotment payments. Could they once again be full of excrement? Naawww, couldn't be.

 

[gillman7]

And how much money did we just send to Japan for the earthquake?

 

[Talacker]

The government ran out of money a LONG time ago.

 

[WhiteyMacD]

Didnt we stop slavery back in the 1860s?

 

[gsarg]

It has been reported that the military and other essential personnel would still receive their pay. This is a story looking for a reaction.

 

[Dr. HK]

the sad part is when I was in the service a Staff Sergent (E-6) could qualify for food stamps, WIC, etc. In case any of you dont know on average it takes about 8+ years to get promoted to an E-6. So with these soldiers working without pay, it will cause a HUGE financial hardship as many members live paycheck to paycheck. This is why there are so many pawn shops around military bases.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I really don't get this at all.

because of lawmakers’ inability to agree on how much money to provide federal agencies.

The entire POINT of having winners and losers of elections is that we don't NEED to all "agree" on things. To the victor goes the spoils and the majority rules. Let the majority pass a bill that imposes their budget will upon the losing minority party. If legislators have to AGREE on something to make government run, then we're doomed from the get-go with the most idiotic system known to man in control of the budget process. On every other subject of law under the sun, the majority passes what THEY want to pass - why should the budget be any different?

Something is fundamentally wrong here on this budget process. It's the PROCEDURE that's flawed. Right or wrong, better or worse, the Rs won in November. They should be able to put up a budget bill with what THEY want in it, and muster up a majority to pass it. If the president vetoes, then fine, overrride or pass a different one, just like any other bill.

That's why we HAVE elections, so that we do NOT have to all "agree" upon a budget -only a simple majority has to agree. I just don't get it - I guess I must be challenged.


This a real tangent, but on the subject of shiz not making any sense to me in the last couple days - this is a bit like my new $&&$$#@#$ television. The entire POINT (or so I thought) of getting the fancy new expensive wide-screen style, is so I'd never again have to watch a movie with that %^%&$@!# black strip on top and bottom of the screen, since the wide movie format would now fit the screen perfectly. Then what happens? There's STILL that empty black strip on top and bottom on many movies, making the picture tiny again - WTF?

Life is confusing when you're either stupid -- or actually think things should make simple common sense - I'm not sure yet which I am.