Troops' Next Paycheck Disappears if U.S. Defaults

Military.Com ^ | Oct 15, 2013 | Richard Sisk

[BulletBobCo]

The troops will get paid on Tuesday, but the check after that could come in the form of an IOU if the nation defaults on its debt obligations, Treasury Department officials said.

Default on top of the government shutdown would cancel out the hastily-crafted legislation that brought back furloughed Defense Department civilian employees and allowed for the payment of back pay, death benefits, incentive pays, re-enlistment bonuses, veterans disability benefits and survivor benefits.

All would be eliminated if Congress and the White House fail to reach agreement on raising the debt ceiling to avoid default on Oct. 17, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said last week.

"The United States should not be put in a position of making such perilous choices for our economy and our citizens," Lew said in testimony to the Senate Finance Committee.

A military coalition of 33 veterans' service organizations representing 5.5 million members planned to hold a rally Tuesday at the National World War II Memorial to protest the looming threat of payless paydays for the troops and cutoffs of disability and survivor benefits.

"It's all because of failed elected leadership in Washington who would rather tell you who's to blame than fix the problem," William A. Thien, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said in a statement.

Working against the Oct. 17 deadline, Senate Republicans and Democrats were reportedly close to a deal on lifting the debt ceiling and ending the government shutdown. However, there was no guarantee the compromise would be accepted by the House.

Defense budget analysts said that the immediate problems of default and the shutdown masked the long-term challenges of getting a budget for the military passed by Congress that will include planning for the spending cuts imposed by the sequestration process.

[lodi90]

Nice to see the leader of the VFW spitting a Dem talking point.

[bolobaby]

Maybe instead of vets marching on Washington, we can have some active duty soldiers show up and solve the problem with our government once and for all.

[Kaslin]

This is outrageous.

[G Larry]

There WILL NOT BE ANY “DEFAULT”!!!

Fricking fear mongers!!!

[Sir Napsalot]

Of course they (leader of VFW) are. They are part of the Big Gov.

[peyton randolph]

Rope, lamp posts, tar and feathers would be a good start to solving this fake default crisis.

[Molon Labbie]

I think it will take more than one missed check for that to happen.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

We have plenty of tax revenue coming in.

If you max out your credit card but don't ask the bank to raise your limit, that's not a default.

[ClearCase_guy]

Well, certainly there is no need for a default. Under all scenarios, we will have the money to pay the bills and avoid default. No question.

But, if given "an excuse", will Obama make that choice? I think he might blow up everything out of spite. He wants full control. He wants a disaster. I think he wants default.

[RJS1950]

We’ll only default if der Fuehrer declares that we will be in default. There is more than enough daily income to cover everything; it just limits new spending.

[G Larry]

Barack want to destroy America.

At this moment the House and Senate aren’t dumb enough to let him......just yet.....

[Mr. K]

THERE IS NO DEFAULT UNLESS OBAMA DOES IT ON PURPOSE

We take in more than enough money to pay the bills

[HollyB]

It is. Especially our troops, All federal workers will not get their pay check in a couple of weeks if this continues and while many here are upset by the fed gov, many of them may live paycheck to paycheck. Its a difficult situation for many these days.

Restaurants probably have fewer customers, shopping down, etc it effects many

[bolobaby]

No no no... the press will easily spin this into “the Republican forced default,” just like they turned it into “the Republican forced shutdown.”

Facts don’t matter.

[Coldwater Creek]

Social Security checks will not be deposited will be the headline tomorrow!

[MrB]

The headline is inaccurate.
It should say “Obama can choose whether or not to pay the troops if the debt limit isn’t raised.”

[KeyLargo]

Politics: White House

New barricades set up at World War II memorial

By CHARLIE SPIERING | OCTOBER 14, 2013 AT 11:34 AM

New barricades were set up at the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., on Monday, a day after protesting veterans tore down the previously positioned obstacles and delivered them to the White House. (Photo: Charlie Spiering/for the Washington Examiner) New barricades were set up at the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., on Monday, a day...

New barricades were set up at the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., on Monday, a day after protesting veterans tore down the previously positioned obstacles and delivered them to the White House. (Photo: Charlie Spiering/for the Washington Examiner)

The new barricades were double-wired together,

Via: http://washingtonexaminer.com/new-barricades-set-up-at-world-war-ii-memorial/article/2537205

Asked about his treatment and disrespect of U.S. military veterans war dead, Obama had this to say:

[PATRIOT1876]

*Troops’ Next Paycheck Disappears if U.S. Defaults*

Very, very hard to believe.

[RedMDer]

Hey Barry! Screwing with our military is not a smart move.