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.
we had some looney toon reporterette on the tube talking about how this will be a diasaster for the economy..
“just imagine all the federal workers not able to go out to dinner or take that vacation” she said...
well, i got carry out chicken for dinner today, will take wifie out tomorrow, and am going on vacation (beer hunting) at the end of the week..
i will spend a little more money just because of the ignorant arrogant self centered little communist on the tube..
One of my (liberal) acquaintances posted this to me: But none of this matters - “it is done. It is the law already.”
correct
the checks issued tonight are for past 2 weeks or 30 days and will beat the 1 oct midnight clock
It’s the checks due after the next 2 weeks that are/were in doubt
It just mentions DoD, not the other agencies
Yah and the ban on abortion was the law of the land and so was prohibition, slavery, suffrage....
Laws can be changed.
like the debt ceiling is the law?
Like immigration law is the law?
like DOMA is the law?
like the Bush tax cuts were the law?
(Yeah democrats supported that one all the way)
Every penny of the taxes paid today were already spent years earlier. The only thing they are arguing about is how much more debt they are authorizing to be incurred for the future income taxes to be paid into the Treasury.
A winning strategy. Boehner can then say, "As the President said, we have a duty to pay the country's bills. The House will continue to send continuing resolutions to the Senate ensuring the Country's bills are paid."
” Cool. Now send one out so old people get their checks. - - - “
What exactly does that mean ??? Nothing that I have heard of ~
A House-passed bill to ensure the military gets paid under any government shutdown was approved without dissent in the Senate on Monday.
Wonder if I’ll get my S.S. check tomorrow.”
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security checks will continue to go out unimpeded forever more, as will anything that is already set up in their computer system to pay.
thx for the Update!
One by one. We’ll see every program that the dems are willing to hold hostage. One by one.
Good. Some semblance of sanity for those protecting the nation.
Take the hint house republicans. Pass a bill to fund each thing that should not be interrupted. Let the rest die. Like IRS and EPA.
The cash will go to whoever needs pocket grease.
BUMP, and it will be “Bush’s Fault.”
That was a big talking point Obama just lost. Of course, he’ll still keep saying the soldiers aren’t getting paid.
Local news went right for the heartstrings (school children won’t get to go on their field trips to state parks, yadda, yadda, yadda).
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