Quantum Windbag
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- May 9, 2010
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Alarmist nonsense, the military will be paid in the event of a shutdown. They were, last time.
The Examiner's accuracy and veracity has been called into question many times before.
Really?
If government shuts down, so would troop pay - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army TimesIf government shuts down, so would troop pay
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 11, 2011 12:08:58 EST
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.
Yanno.......I was stationed in Newport RI at the Naval War College when it happened. For 3 weeks, the civilians all went home, and we carried the load while they were gone.
Oh yeah.....it also took 3 weeks to get our paychecks (back pay we were owed) and there were lots of people contacting Navy Relief to see if they could get loans for rent.
Nope......and what's worse.......if the government shuts down........that means veterans who are retired (like me) won't get their check, and people like my roomie won't get their unemployment benefits.
Wanna see a French Revolution against the rich? Let the GOP shut down the government.
Guess what, I saw articles like that in the Navy Times during the Clinton/Republican budget dispute. Didn't happen then either. The Army Times is not an official Pentagon news source, it is fully owned by Gannet.
I hereby make a prediction.
If we have a government shutdown that extends into April Congress will pass a separate bill that authorizes any money needed to continue essential services, and no member of the military will miss a single paycheck.