Congress divided as shutdown again threatens troop pay

Stars and Stripes ^ | 9/28/16 | Tritten

[pabianice]

WASHINGTON — It was Obamacare in 2013 and Planned Parenthood last year.

Call it déjà vu all over again – Congress is risking a government shutdown that could freeze troop pay and squeeze civilian defense workers, this time over the water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

Senate Democrats and Republicans, who were unable to craft an annual budget on time, were still fighting Tuesday over aid for Flint and a stop-gap measure to temporarily keep money flowing after Friday to the Defense Department and the rest of the federal government.

A year ago, troops were also facing a pay freeze and civilians were warned of furloughs as Congress tangled over a Republican effort to defund Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit reproductive health care provider that backs abortions. A funding emergency was averted at the last moment, but a 2013 shutdown over attempts to defund Obamacare resulted in 350,000 Defense Department workers being furloughed without pay for about a week.

The Pentagon said Tuesday it had not yet warned employees of a possible shutdown, which could indeed cause a hold on pay checks and furloughs, because its congressional liaisons believed Congress could still solve the funding dispute. Active-duty troops would likely be entitled to back pay if the government shuts down.

With just four days left, Democrats in the Senate dug in Tuesday afternoon and scuttled two attempts to hold a vote on a temporary spending bill crafted by Republicans because it lacked money for Flint.

[Paladin2]

Why can’t PRyno get the gov’t funding process under control?

[COBOL2Java]

The Pentagon said Tuesday it had not yet warned employees of a possible shutdown, which could indeed cause a hold on pay checks and furloughs, because its congressional liaisons believed Congress could still solve the funding dispute. Active-duty troops would likely be entitled to back pay if the government shuts down.

I understand about the back-pay, but our troops don't deserve this. Their families have bills to pay.

[ClearCase_guy]

Democrats in the Senate dug in Tuesday afternoon and scuttled two attempts to hold a vote
Democrats in the Senate dug in Tuesday afternoon and scuttled two attempts to hold a vote
Democrats in the Senate dug in Tuesday afternoon and scuttled two attempts to hold a vote

Can't be said too many times.

[Donglalinger]

Do nothing for 11 1/2 months then rush through budget because you ran out of time. SOP.

[Starboard]

There’s no leadership in the congress and it has become an irrelevant side show.

Congress goes on recess all the time and nobody notices. What does that tell you?

[IYAS9YAS]

A funding emergency was averted at the last moment, but a 2013 shutdown over attempts to defund Obamacare resulted in 350,000 Defense Department workers being furloughed without pay for about a week.

Maybe if they were contractors. Actual federal employees all got back pay for the furlough. Every last one of them.

[sparklite2]

Since the Democratic Congress ran for years without a budget, why are we considering punishing the troops for one now?

[rlmorel]

This is the way liberals operate, especially liberals with an Alinskyite bent, such as those in power (and one angling to get elected)

Solving the problem or finding ‘middle ground’ is not important...what is important is finding an issue, and exacerbating it, ripping at any scab, poking it, cause it to fester to cause pain, anger, and anxiety, to bring the situation to a head so you can get the solution YOU want, not the one that is best or right.

That is the way liberals operate. A pox on all of them. All of them.

[I want the USA back]

Why do they choose to make the troops suffer? the ones who should stop getting paid are the members of congress!

[stocksthatgoup]

Ryan and Mitch to the rescue.

[AF_Blue]

Fear-mongering. Troops will continue to get paid at their CURRENT pay scale. New budgets normally mean a miniscule pay raise, which won’t be distrbuted until the new budget is passed. When the new budget is passed late, the troops get cumulative back-pay DIFFERENCE from January to when the budget takes effect.

If soldier makes $100/month, and gets a $10/month raise in the new budget, which goes into effect in April because the budget was passed late, soldier will receive $100/month in Jan, Feb, and Mar, then $140 in Apr, which includes the new $110 rate for April, plus the $10/month raise for Jan, Feb, and Mar. Then in May will resume $110 new rate.

[rjsimmon]

Why is there always threats against troops paychecks? Why not EBT? Congress? The President? SCOTUS? Any and ALL cabinet members?

[bankwalker]

Why is there always threats against troops paychecks?

On the local level it's a threat to lay off police with all the signs on the front lawns. Are there no other ways to cut costs?

[Laser_Ray]

I’m hoping this is their usual blustering, because unpaid soldiers are likely the #1 cause of revolutions and coups throughout history because they have ready access to effective weapons and the training to make full use of them...hint, hint.