Posted on 09/30/2013 2:56:59 PM PDT by familyop
A House-passed bill to ensure the military gets paid under any government shutdown was approved without dissent in the Senate on Monday — a rare bipartisan agreement as Congress stumbled toward midnight when the fiscal year ends and current appropriations expire.
The measure, now on its way to President Barack Obama’s desk, would also ensure continued pay for civilian employees of the Defense Department and Pentagon contractors whom Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel determines “are providing support to members of the Armed Forces.”
Put forward by House Republicans, the bill is considered good politics for the GOP, since analysts suggest the party could bear the brunt of the blame for any government disruption.
Following the bill’s passage, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took to the Senate floor to offer Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a backhanded compliment, praising the Nevada Democrat for not holding pay for service members “hostage.”
“The soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines who risk their lives for this nation should not have their paychecks held hostage to any government shutdown in Washington,” said Cruz, who has led the charge in urging his fellow conservatives to demand that any bill to fund the government past Monday include provisions delaying Obamacare.
Democrats, meanwhile, said the bill to fund the troops wouldn’t make a government shutdown any more palatable — and insisted they hadn’t given up any leverage by easing some of the potential pain for the military.
“There’s no shortage of pain here,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.).
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), another member of the Armed Services Committee, agreed. “It’s important to the country that we show support for the troops,” she said, “but there’s still going to be pain out there.”
“I don’t think it makes it easier for the Republicans to shut down the government over us not agreeing to repeal Obamacare after we had an election last November that decided it,” McCaskill said.
And Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted the bill was no cure-all for the Defense Department. “There will be many aspects of the military, of DoD, that won’t get paid,” she said.
On Friday, Pentagon officials described the potential effects of a shutdown on the military, saying pay for service members could be delayed and many civilian employees would be furloughed, potentially losing out on their pay entirely.
Senate clears bill to pay military in case of shutdown http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/senate-clears-bill-to-pay-military-in-case-of-shutdown/2013/09/30/13f40e02-2a0b-11e3-b141-298f46539716_story.html
>> “There’s no shortage of pain here,” said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.).
Yeah. You, for example.
Ha! BHO2 is just the type to veto this bill. I wonder how long it would take for an over-ride vote in Congress?
If this is correct, it means the dems and traitors in the US Senate are getting the message. Next, they should send the bill abolishing the medical device tax.
The feds should not be able to close national parks...those are public lands, not federal assets.
What does the government do with the cash? Pile it up until everything starts back up?
Active Duty/Retiree ping.
Update.
Then send one to fund ________ and then __________ and then ___________, etc.
If BHO signs this, Boehner should put the House in Recess for a few weeks... Let’s see if anyone notices that the govt is shut down.
“I don’t think it makes it easier for the Republicans to shut down the government over us not agreeing to repeal Obamacare after we had an election last November that decided it,” McCaskill said.
What the heck? Election decided Obamacare?
What universe are these critters living in?
Exactly, stop trying to lump it all together...piece meal it ...
Game over. The Dems have lost any leverage they might have had.
Let the next round begin!
If the financial guy on the radio last night was correct, it will take about 2 weeks before we see or feel anything.
Or maybe keep the gov't shut down until every single tax-exempt status application submitted by Tea Party groups is APPROVED by the IRS.
And civil service employees. They’ll be paid, too, as per the article.
We need citizen journalists to use their webcams to record what RAT senators and administration fat cats are doing during this time. Will the White House shut down media access to the White House?
CNN just mentioned the possible “historic government shutdown” tonight suggesting it was novel, unique. Another channel reminds that this has happened 17 times since 1976.
Wonder if I’ll get my S.S. check tomorrow. Obama probably personally stopped mine and every S.S. recipient on this forum.
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