Time for a big sigh of relief. Right?
Congress was able to avert a complete government shutdown last Friday night. But it wasn’t because they finally agreed on a 2011 budget; it was yet another continuing resolution – number seven to be exact – which will continue to fund government operations through April 15. Of course, we all hope that we will have a budget signed by that date.
While Sen. Reid and Speaker Boehner pat themselves on the back for avoiding the shutdown, the truth is that the whole thing can still come unraveled. So what happens if the deal agreed to on April 8 falls through?
The one thing that must come out of this whole ugly deal (besides a 2011 budget) is a law to protect military pay from future shutdowns. Even Rep. Bachmann, a staunch budget hardliner, said that “…our troops should not be used as pawns in political negotiations.”
Bachmann said, “I am planning to introduce legislation so that our men and women in uniform are never again in the situation of wondering whether or not they will receive a paycheck in the event of a government shutdown.”
If you agree that military pay should be protected from future political brinkmanship, then contact your elected representatives to tell them to support Rep. Gohmert’s H.R. 1297 or similar legislation.
Update: DFAS issued a press release explaining that servicemembers will get two deposits on April 15. Read more.
Why does mypay only show a weeks worth of pay still???
See latest post – It will show the partial payment until the LES is released later this month – on or about April 22.
read the login page on mypay it explains there will be more then one deposit to your bank account
Well that's not the case. My husband's commander gave him a letter from Lt Gen Schultz showing pay until the 8th! They will not be giving the balance owed or any additional pay until and "if" it's approved by Congress! So, we are the pawns in this situation! What are families who are dependent upon their pay for their daily expenses! Huh, what now?
Your husband should login and check again. I got an email less than an hour ago saying that service members will be getting two deposits by the 15th. A full account of the April pay will post on or around 22 April.
you can get a job, thats what i did and we are not worried as much because i make enough money to provide food for our 2 year old and pay our water and electric…im an army wife too and it really upsets me too, but people who don't work and depend on their husband and dont contribute shouldnt complain
I am a nurse. I choose to stay at home with our children. Staying at home and raising them is my full-time job right now. Don't judge someone who chooses to stay at home with their children.
You cant say we dont contribute…..fact of the matter is i tried to get a job but the cost of child care has gone up to an extreme . I tried to get a job the only jobs i could find would not even cover tho cost of childcare for my two kids, even with assistance. I personaly am not worried because we budget and save for instances like this. But just because you choose to work and can find a job that will cover childcare doesnt mean everyone else can so try not being so judgmental. And btw i contribute plenty i care for my kids my house and my husband. So you can get off your high horse and try seeing another side of things!!!
You have some nerve!!! Who are you to judge those of us that have chosen to stay home with our children. I chose to raise my children myself and pay someone to do it. I guarantee you I work harder taking care of three children than you do at your 8 hour a day job. The bottom line here is that we have sacrificed so much, so that my husband could support and serve his country. I am completely embaresed and still in shock that the very country all these military members work so hard to protect would even THINK about taking away our pay. Thank goodness for now it’s all worked out. I think you owe all of us stay at home moms an apology. Your comment was just down right RUDE!!!!!!
Couldn't have said it better myself…thx!
some of us wives have have to depend on there husbands support
to take car of them so no one should judge them and it is very worrying even if you do have a job cause the government has raised everything up it takes to pays sometimes to get by on
Getting a job for everyone is not an option. parents with kids that have disabilities it is hard for them to find a job. not many day cares take kids with disabilities especially those of the kind mine have. so it is not an option for everyone. I would love to get a job just to get out of the house but its not an option so I agree with Donna you cant be judging someone when you dont know them or theirs situations. try going to work when you have a child who has been through mutiple 18 hours surgries. Military families are suppose to be family to all not judgers of another.
I just hope you keep your job. I work and we still deserve our husbands pay. It would hurt us if we didn’t have his pay. My husband is deployed and I do all I can to keep things going. It’s about family’s in whole not just one. You don’t know the finances of others. The economy has hurt lots of people who are or were well off. Thanks for your support to fellow military wives. Karma happens. You just may need one of us one day.
WOW! I am shocked that you could say that. I too have a job and contribute financially but… The contribution a stay at home mom makes to her family is immeasurable. I am lucky that I have a friend to trade babysitting with because God knows that affordable child care just does not exist. Not to mention the fact that It’s a scary world out there and the longer we can protect our kids the better. The threat of no/half pay was scary (even for a woman that “contributes”) but money isn’t everything. I say good job stay at home moms! You have your priorities right and I hope to join you in a few months.
Some people HAVE to stay at home with their children. I do not trust people I dont know to watch our baby girl. If there are army wives who cant contribute money then its probably NOT because they choose not to…its because they have to take care of their children.
don't worry there's going to be 2 deposits on the 15th. One for Apr 1-8 and the other for Apr 9-15.. it'll show on the end of month LES. It was too late for them to change it and with all the stuff they had to do it was just easier to make 2 deposits.
My husband that is serving over an Irqa country has been shorted 700 dollar , also his battle friends has been short 800 dollar on his check, well all i know is this government needs to figure out what there doing and fix the solider checks back rigth. Thank u.
i know, and now our bank account is showing that we are only recieving a weeks worth of pay also!! the sort of crap is this!!???
We are about ready to go through all of this again. All should remember the following:
The Republicans in the House offered to pass a bill that fully funded the military without any of the riders until the end of this fiscal year. Rep Bachman stated that the military should not be used a pawns and that we need to take the military off the table for such negotiations and fully fund our troops. Obama called it a "Distraction" and Dem Harry Reid refused to even bring it up for a vote.
In less than two years in office Obama has doubled what it took Bush to run up in 8 years.
Obama's budget for next year was calling for even a bigger increase in spending. The Dems despite controlling both houses of congress and the Presidency didn't even bother finishing a budget that was due October 2010 for this year. The 2011 late budget is want they are fighting about now, not the 2012 one. Not to mention that last year the Obama administration and the Democratically controlled congress and Senate increased government spending by more than 25%.
That is just a plain fact, period.
In addition, many Democrats have made numerous statements both recent and over the years that would lead any reasonable person to believe that the Democrats think of us as just other welfare recipients and not professionals that earn their pay and benefits.
"despite controlling both houses of congress and the Presidency" …weak. Everyone knows you need a "filibuster-proof majority" to really control anything. Never had it.
"In less than two years in office Obama has doubled what it took Bush to run up in 8 years."
And how much of that increase is just the continuing cost of the wars GWB kept "off the books"?
Nice regurgitation of the Faux News talking points though.
Wrong… Yes the Democrats did have a filibuster proof Senate. They had 61 votes in the Senate after the 2008f elections. They didn't need that anyway with RINOs like Senators Snow and Collins.
You may not like the facts but that is just what they are, facts.
So if you still want to support the mindless spending of the Democrats then just say so instead of continuing to blame Bush. And remember that the Democrats took over a sizable majority in the House in 2006. Also remember that it is the House that is the only one that can appropriate money for the Government to spend.
No talking points here just facts. You can get mad about it and you can banter about it but it won't change the facts.
FOX News isn't Faux News, that is what you get from ABC, NBC, etc. FOX gives you FACTS.
Lies…yes the republicans drafted a Clean rider free bill, it is bi-partisan and would pass easily, but they stuck it in committee and refuse to bring it to the floor. Did you watch the house vote for HR1363 today??? 1363 has the planned parenthood, the EPA, the 12 Billion in cuts riding it. When the democrats asked to send 1297 (clean bill) the repubs said no. They voted to send the 1363. And no Dems did not have filibuster control for financial appropriations. You don't think they would have jumped at being able to write their own budget???? Complete safeproofed funding for obamacare. Educate yourself.
Wrong…. your talking about the original bill. After Obama said he would veto it and Sen Read said he wouldn't bring it up for a vote the Republicans offered a clean bill that just funded the Military through the end of the fiscal year.
Obama called it a "Distraction" and Sen Read stated that he would not bring that one up for a vote either.
Try getting your facts straight and when your watching CSPAN try a figure out what day they are broadcasting. You were watching last weeks events.
You need to look up S 724. It was initially brought up by the Republicans in the House last Thursday. This is the bill that Obama called a Distraction and Sen Read refused to bring up for a vote.
Here is the link. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s11…
Please do a little research before you speak.
uh, wrong on the clean bill. it was chock full of riders, hence the refusal of majority senate agreeing to it. and it was full funds for DOD for FY2011 and only a stop gap for rest the US govt for a week. what was finally agreed on but not even drafted let alone voted on was a near clean budget. with most controversial riders were removed but not all and it funds every branch of govt with cuts of course which are gonna hurt but better than a shut down
Wrong…. your talking about the original bill. After Obama said he would veto it and Sen Read said he wouldn't bring it up for a vote the Republicans offered a clean bill that just funded the Military through the end of the fiscal year.
As the story stated Rep Bachman with full Republican support wanted the military fully funded through the end of the fiscal year. She said that our military should not be used as pawns in these negotiations.
Obama called it a "Distraction" and Sen Read stated that he would not bring that one up for a vote either.
Bottom line… Take the military off the table period and make the Dems take the cuts our country desperately needs. We have been spent into oblivion and it needs to be handled now or there won't be enough money to do anything with including Military support, period.
You need to look up S 724. It was initially brought up by the Republicans in the House last Thursday. This is the bill that Obama called a Distraction and Sen Read refused to bring up for a vote.
Here is the link. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s11…
Please do a little research before you speak.
Hey there Danny, it's clear that you have more time to troll these forums than most working people do. Why is that. You are basically wrong about most things so keep fooling yourself. It's very intertaining.
First of all what is "basically" wrong? You said it now point out what is untrue with my statements.
Second I'm a 25 year Army retiree and after spending a year in Afghanistan as a contractor I'm taking a break.
That ok with you?
Also I'm a Va 90% combat related on top of my 25 year paid for over 26 E8 retirement . Although I can barely get through CRC now I work as a contractor because the money is good and I believe in what we are doing.
And you???
Oh if your wondering what kind of skills I bring to the table being 90% VA.
Well Lamont… being in the Airforce you would just not be able to understand it.
Everybody KNOWS that it costs double to fix something that was screwed up than what it originally cost to screw it up to begin with. IN OTHER WORDS…if it cost 2 trillion dollars for Bush to screw up our economy, it will cost the next 2 Presidential terms 4 trillion to fix it, (plus the cost of inflation, the cost of continuing this screwed up war Bush created and the cost of supporting more people due to loss of jobs, (Bush)).
Bush, Bush, Bush……..
It has nothing to do with with Obama stating during his campaign that gas needs to be $5 a gallon for his "Green Initiatives" to be viable and installing policies to bring that about.
It has nothing to do with his and Pelosi's Congress spending hundreds of billions of dollars more this past year than last.
It has nothing to do with the Congress being in control of the DSA and Progressive Caucus since 2006, can you say Pelosi. Thank God that was ended in the last election.
It has nothing to do with Obama spending billions of dollars on "Stimulus" that just so happens does not start until next year during the election and with an overwhelming amount of it in "Battle Ground States".
No it is none of that… Becaouse it is just Bush, Bush, Bush……..
Did I mention that the DSA and the Progressive Caucus (Pelosi) took over the House of Representatives in 2006. The only part of the Government authorized by the Constitution to appropriate and spend money. Remember the Economy started tanking in ….. the end of 2007.
emmmm????
Uh uh! During 2007. Let's don't lie now.
C'mon, it's much more Dems. This Ryan fellow wants to screw with Vets retired pay and the VA. Don't blame the Dems. Remember the Repugnuts said"jobs, jobs, jobs", and now look at what they're doing, wasting time on Medicare, Planned parenthood, and whole lot of stuff unrelated to jobs. They just want to stick it to Obama. LIARS!
Go search "how many Repugnuts served in the military"?
I don't care who has done what. We have men and woman risking their lives everyday. Now you don't want to pay them. That should never come up in any conversation. they are the only thing that is keeping this country from being a third world country. All of the wars that are going on overseas is because Our military prevents it from happening over here. Delce Marine Veteran 0331 machinegunner for life. OOH-RAH
You should care who is doing what. That is why we are in this fix. People not caring and not holding our leadership accountable.
We "finally" have some Republicans with some backbone trying to do the right thing. We need to encourage them and if they turn into another big spender Dems like the bunch we had in there before get rid of them like we did in 2006 and this last election.
Also you should care about who is who is up on Capital Hill. Research the DSA and who they were before they created the DSA. Also look at the "Progressive Caucus" and match names with who those on the DSA list. Look and see what political party that members of the DSA and the Progressive Caucus are affiliated with. That'll prove why you should care.
Recently, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives considered two deficit reduction bills. One bill would defund National Public Radio and save the government $3.2 million a year. The other bill would bring our troops from Afghanistan home within a year – and save the government $113 billion a year – 40,000 times more savings than the defunding NPR bill.
But the Republicans voted down the war bill – and passed the NPR bill – thus passing more needless legislation that does nothing to help the deficit, unemployment, or our nation’s economy.
Don't bother complaining – it doesn't help.
Survey after survey now show politicians only respond to those that bring serious $$ to the table. You can call, write, and vote, but if you aren't a fat cat corporate donor, you are ignored in D.C.
Just look at how much more $$ went into buying politicians in the mid elections since the supremes ruled on Citizen's United. And wait 'til the next presendential election. We'll be lucky if :
a.) China,
b.) Big Oil, or
c.)Walmart,
doesn't just throw in a billion and buy the whole darn electorate.
So stopping the Democrats from pulling the rug out from under the feet of our Soldiers in combat is a bad thing and big Oil and Walmart are our enemies.
Big oil the ones that make it possible for us to go to work, turn on the lights and get the kids back and forth from school and then Walmart…. the largest employer in America. A company that provides jobs right here in the US. They are the enemy and not the policies of the liberals and RINOs that have spent this Nation into near bankruptcy.
I think I saw the same statements being made on the DSA website.
emmmm????
Those ass holes still would not let me in but I still support simperfi with with all my heart OOH-RAH.
Now here i sit with a 100% disability and don't know if i will be getting a check or not. Thanks Obama (nation).
I'm almost right there with ya brother. I'm 90% and since it is combat related I doing ok.
As I understand it we'll keep getting paid. But personally I would suck it up if it wasn't that way. I'm truly worried about our nation and my kid's future. I've made plenty of sacrifices. I left my family not once but three times not thinking but knowing that I wouldn't be coming back. Things didn't turn out that way but that is what I was thinking when I turned and got on the plane. Bottom line is I still turned and got on the plane. I'd do that again if it means that my family will have some kind of future better that what the Dems are leading us into.
Don,t blame Obama. Your Republician friends put us in two wars, and a recesssion.
Obama had nothing to do with the US being bankrupt, you need to thank the Bush Nation which you clearly supported. Obama is trying to fix all of the mess that the BUSH'S created!!!!!! Get it right!!!!
I am not believing what I am reading here. Could you REALLY be that ignorant?!?!?! Yes, Bush got us into trouble, but the FIRST thing Obama did when he got into office was to bail all of the banks, etc that were going bankrupt out of their responsibilities and debt. Who the hell do you think is footing that bill? It's not Obama….it's US, the taxpayers. Keep on going thru life with your blinders on. Meanwhile I'm just praying that we can get rid of the WORST PRESIDENT IN US HISTORY come 2012. Unfortunately, it's folks like you that will put him back in office, and by 2016 don't be crying when you, and the nation, are totally broke!
Allen you will still be getting your SSI pay! My husband is Air Force and our son is disabled, if this shut down does still or had gone through the only income my family of four would have had is the money for my son! How does the governent expect me to feed 4 people and buy diapers and formula with $494?
The same way they expect my family to when the cut my disability after they transfered us to GA and took away my disability and now want 3/4 of my husband pay check every month to pay back my last years disability checks because our transfer that the goverment did and paid directly to the moving company was a gift so they took my ssi and now want 3/4 of my husbands pay every month to pay it back leaving us a family of 4 about $500 dollars a month to live off of. Yes I am appealing it but still I did not ask for my seziures to come back so out of control. Which is the whole reason my husband went in the military to begin with.
Too bad no one as noticed that the USCG was left off the CR that ensure the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines will be paid. I'm the wife of a CPO in the USCG and have been calling Representatives and Senators telling them that the USCG was left off. S 724 protects the USCG but it has not gone to a vote and won't unless the budget is not passed. How is it that the USCG if forgotten?
our pay system is under same as dod now so if they get paid we get paid is a good bet
Because the USCG is part of the DHS druing peacetime. So if the shutdown happens Semper Paratus
The USCG doesn't fall under the DoD budget, they are paid with Dept of Homeland Security money, none of this applies to where the CG is paid from.
Military pay should NEVER enter into ANY budget arguement. It sould be hands off forever! Shame on those people. What made me mad the most is that they were prepared to stop the Military pay, but continue to pay themselves. That is unforgivable!
and don't forget that welfare recipients still get their money, while we in the military get shafted, too. It's uncalled for.
I agree fully.
so… I have an email from MyPay, telling me that we will be receiving full mid-month by 15 April, it will just not show 8-15 April on the LES right away. But two different deposits will be made into our accounts for 15 Aril equalling the entire mid-month pay due.
Cheer up guys, we are getting paid.
has anyone thought about the fact that 2 pay checks mean you guys pay out taxes on both of them so what it comes down to is your getting shafted anyway. Taxed on the first check and taxed on the second. And how is that going to work for those of you who make many payments as allotments?
You do realize that the amount taken out of a check is determined by the amount the check is for, don't you? So if each check is about half the norm, they should take about half the norm out of each one, so together it all balances out to be the same as it always is.
I don.t know what the house Bill is that is being talked about but the protection of military pay should include the VA Disability and SS
s
I was waiting to see if someone said this. Thank You!! We need to protect Active, Reserves, and Retired pays across the board. All people currently serving will be out one day remember. Then what? No pay or big cuts because they’re not doing anything for Uncle Sam today? Not right! That’s a way to get a bunch of PTSD troops, really upset, really quick. Doesn’t fair well for Americas heroes !!
They wont stop the militarys pay because it is the military soldiers that are standing guard preventing them from being attacked or killed from some pist off citizen. by stopping the military pay they create a breach of contract with those providing their protection making thousands of pist off professional killers standing around them with guns.
and how many times does our mililitary have to be attacked by washington before they just stand by or lead the charge of the people against them? our military is not the same one that taft used to kill strikers (in pittsburg i think). our military should be doing something towards our government for some of their unconstitutional acts. we all swore an oath to that document not the politicians. imo some examples are detailing our withdraw stratagey, obamacare, and the latest war front w/ lybia to name a few. and for those who believe bush started unconstitutional wars he got congress and the un to approve both of them.
Good point
Not so, the contract that is signed when you enlist states that you will work, whether paid or not. I know this sucks, but I just wanted to straighten out the facts, this (unfortunately) would not be a breach of contract on the part of the government to our soldiers. I do, however, believe that should not be in the contract at all… but it is.
no one in their right mind is seriouslly dumb enough to piss off the people standing behind them with a loaded gun. if they do they have what is comming to them and creating an event like that is likely to start an uprising such as that covered by article 16 of the constitution. me im out so im not affected by the military pay stop but i know for a fact you cut my battle buddys pay and your going to start a war. Military is already mistreated by politicions and the higher levels of command. poke the caged mistreated animal one too many times your going to lose an arm. so do everyone a favor and fight for military rights we work way too hard and get shafted more then you will ever know. everything we do goes for some asshole officer to get his next rank no one cares about the lower enlisted anymore and there are not enough NCOs like me when i was in to keep the men in order and prevent a revolt or a mass walk out. just immagine if every man and woman of arms all at once dropped their weapons and said screw you. where do you think we would stand?
So agreed! Navy Wife, I understand I think people on welfare get more and are given more of an understanding. So many are under the influence that the Military gets paid big bucks family of five and as all the Military families i know it's check to check and hard to keep a savings account unless you are upper rank or an officer..
i don't know about anyone else but if our brothers and sisters in uniform rise up im going to do what ever i can to support them and let washington fend for themselves.
AMEN TO THAT! At least some people understand our frustration. I am a 17 year old enlistee who ships in 2 months, and I joined for the job and the benefits and if I don't get what i enlisted for, I doubt things will be any good.
If we all left, this country would no longer be a free country. Honestly, If our pay gets cut down one bit I am going to be pissed ( and I am sure a lot of other people will be).
I was wondering, does this affect military retirement pay?
During my whole time in the Service (15 shutdowns), there was never a Government Shutdown that effected me or my family. Matter of fact, I can not remember any time that I was never "not" paid on time.
Just for your information, from 1977 – 1996 there has been 17 Government Shutdowns.
1. 12 of those shutdowns were under Republican Presidents.
2. 05 of those shutdowns were under Democratic Presidents.
To sum things up, I don't defend any political party and at all times I attempt to be neutral unless I see lies that are posted. I am anti lies and pro truth.
Should there be any mistakes in my calculations, just let me know and I will make the needed changes.
I love it thanks Charles some people just need to get there Facts right.. keep being a Fact checker .. thanks
You might want to add who controlled the Congress as well
The President merely signs or vetos the budget. Congress is the one that actually creates it.
**** people read the main page of mypay. It says we will be getting paid full paycheck on the 15th. The les shows only half but we will get the other half also. READ THE MAIN PAGE!!!! Geez
Chris why get so huffy about it? Maybe some people are confused. Try to
be more understanding, you are showing your ignorance when you low rate people.
Be alert. Protecting our selves from harm is a never ending battle
While I agree that the military should continue to be paid during a shutdown (ret. military myself) I have to say all of these whiny threats about having pissed off soldiers with weapons really rubs me the wrong way. Do you really think you're the first to ever suffer these hardships? Grow up.
I think we should all write to Congress and thank them for doing such a great job. Especially averting a shut down which would affect the pay of our military who are protecting their sorry butts. I have to wonder if their own pay would have been affected. I'm sure it wouldn't have been. We all gripe and complain but how many actually voice their thoughts to their elected officials thinking that nothing will be done and it would be a fruitless effort. If enough people write, protest and continue to do so…(and NOT re-elect the same people over and over, perhaps something woudl be done.
all i get in return is form letters form my congresswoman. guess my voice just falls on def ears. but at least i can say i voiced my say and can only hope by some act of God she listens.
I think we should all write to Congress to let them know they can all be replaced. Congress and Government is why we are in this mess.
All reading this post:
You need to look up S 724. It was initially brought up by the Republicans in the House last Thursday. This is the bill that Obama called a Distraction and Sen Read refused to bring up for a vote.
Here is the link. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s11…
Please do a little research before you speak.
We will be going through this again here very shortly. You need to know who is doing what.
Please find out who is who on Capital Hill. If you want to know why we are in this mess look up the DSA. It is the one that starts with Democratic. Find out who they are and what they used to call themselves. Look up who in Congress is a member and their party affiliation. Also look up the "Progressive Caucus". Check their membership list with the one from the DSA. Compare the DSA's "Politics from Around the World" also check out http://www.cpusa.org. Check and compare the agendas of all three, the DSA (remember who are the members), The Progressive Caucus (again remember the listed members), and then check out cpusa.org and their agenda. That will answer a lot of your questions as to why we are in this fix.
Things will work out in the near term. I lived with active duty ups and downs through several administrations. There have been a mix of majorities and it really doesn't make a difference which party the president is in. The congress and senate have control and the President leverages influence. The problem with this particular administration is that they want to borrow a couple trillion above the current debt limit. Our economy is gonna go totally bust if we as a nation do something about the wild spending and we must have a tax increase along with the cuts to fund those areas that gets severely cut. Our pay increase as a total force has been almost frozen and we get the axe when it come to health care because it puts Obama care to shame when it comes to cost and manageability. I really wish they would just leave Tricare alone and allow the military enjoy what we have now. I would enjoy seeing some of those hope and change promises become a reality.
I agree with much of your statement. I think most posts are over-reactions to the political reality. Military pay was never in real jeopardy, because it would make no sense politically for either side. As a veteran and current employee of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, I would advise those on active duty to enjoy their protected status while they can. All federal employees are now under a two year pay freeze. Sure, we are still getting paid, but as inflationary pressures are bound to increase in the near-term, we will be likely to feel the pinch soon. Most federal employees I know, however, are not complaining much. We look at it as a small sacrifice we will pay to help our country be stronger.
Why are some corporations that make billions and billions in profits not paying any taxes at all, but still get subsidies. Most of the farm subsidies, I think over 70%, go to a relatively small minority of huge ag corporations, many of which are owned by foreign investors. Some of those subsidies are millions of dollars a year. The small farms that need help get very little. And that's just one industry. There are the banks, the pharmas, the energy companies, and the rest of them.
The military pay should be off the table, period, and that goes for active, retired, disabled, everybody! The people that really run this country, the working people, are being ripped off every time you turn around. Both parties are responsible, and this has been going on for a long time, though administrations of both parties.
Doc Stewart is correct It’s long overdue the actions needed by us as voting citizens make our Reps, all parties responsable to all work in the best interest of the USA if they don’t, REPLACE THEM
If we fail to accomplish our assigned task we get relaced. Our Reps DEM/ Republicans must be treated the same way How can people who has never served in the military and with the best retirement plan on earth decide that the military
benefits must be cut They don’t have a clue
Education is the top of the list for cuts America this is our future we are already far behind most nations
We must get togather Other Countries are looking at how some are disrespecting the office of the President it;s sad
Being a pround wife of an American solider i, feel badly disrespected that if there was a government shutdown that they would stop all military pay, my husband is an the army right now serving in Iraq country, me as an wife an a new mother to our beautiful baby girl , wonders every day is my husband comming back home safely, being that the gvernment ever has a shutdown should horonly never disrespect or proud serving hard working American solider, with a non pay of check, or less pay of money, thank you .
I think all government Officials pay and pension plans should be placed to a vote by the American people. They should never have a say in setting thier own wages & benifit packages. It would make them more productive as thier jobs and continued salary would depend on the actual job they do as seen by the General Public.
My question start off saying why havent the government stoped welfare checks or at less cut there check way low, i feel strong that why california cant reach there budget and the why were in this dedut in the frist place , because to many people are on welfare getting free money from the the government, free food stamps, free med care, free housing section 8 housing, and more, my problem is that why give so much free money to someone that has 1 baby after another just to get more free welfare money from the government. I proudly belive that our government shoud consider that as one of there problems, instead of taking hard working proud Amercaican soliders pay checks or cutting there pay checks low. Thank you.
If you did your homework you would know that a lot of those welfare checks go to military personnel. Don't judge people when you don't know there circumstance.
why do they even thinking about taking our money away we fight this country and this is thanks that we get same on them
Part of the problem as I see it, is that the military has been privatized to such an extent that it functions as a tool of the White House without any sovereignty . Halliburton gets some crazy amount of pay for stuff the military use to do (and even better I might add) and with a lot less expense on the part of the military. So for the White House officials both sides to say we have no money for you or your family while you risk your lives for our benefit, I say get rid of the contract hires for starters.
The same goes for medical care. On the outside if your employer puts you in harms way on purpose and you carry insurance then you can bet you pay a higher premium for being a "high risk" individual. This should never happen even as a hypothetical. Some in office might see our men and women in service as pawns for other interests such as the stock market .. ( 24 Jul 2009
JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have strengthened their positions as the top mergers and acquisitions advisers to the pharmaceuticals industry after landing their fourth multi-billion dollar mandate of the year. It means the Wall Street giants have worked on all but one of the five largest deals in the sector since January.).,,Our service people will die and be injured no denying this. But the majority joined for AMERICAN ideals which recently have proven to be very disappointing in the White House.
There is talk at IMF of possibly using a new currency called BANCOR (it won't happen in the near future) but this makes sense within the context of all this financial maneuverings, you have to get everyone off the government tit in order for this to work in the long run. A central bank calling the shoots (notice all the bank failures going down?). Control is what it's about and to say that the security enforcers of our country aren't worth paying but are held legally by contract is not a democratic society but a totalitarian ambush.
The military has always been a separate part of our nation with it's own community, court system, and mission with appendages tied to the White House, but the Pentagon has lost a lot of it's power through privatization in the military. Originally the military stood for more than the strong arm for obtaining resources and reorganizing the middle East. It actually stood for upholding the integrity of our United State (not States).
I agree write your representatives and let it be in unison and LOUD.
CONGRESS MIGHT WANT TO RE-THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE TRAINED US TO DO, BEFORE STOPPING MILITARY PAY,
So what's you point? Are you saying the citizenry should fear its military?
the point is that Congress authorized the members of the military to be trained to kill. DAVE is saying that Congress should remember that before thinking of cutting military pay, because the military may turn on Congress if its pay is cut.
I agree that Military pay for combat soldiers should not stop because of poor planning on the part of our government to inact a budget plan.The military pay should be off the table, period, and that goes for active, retired, disabled, reserve , guard .
Amen Scott!
Amen Bruce!
I first would like to say that I am a military brat, wife and retired spouse. So I have been in the military all of my life as a member on the support side of Active duty. Please tell me if I am mistaken, when all is said and done, the Military is a government installation, Yes? So if the government shuts down does that not force the Military to shut down… call me dumb in the Political realm, and sometimes glad that I am (Not bragging, just factual) Won't a Government shut down create all government offices to suffer and shut down, even their own, and if not why are they protected. How can you shut one down and the others not fall. Is there a dam that blocks this from happening? I am deducting, by all that I have read on the blogs that some where "the buck STAYS here" not everyone in government will be effected. Well Wonderful Men and Woman and those that support the same…the obligation lays in the hands of the King…Obama and we may not be European but he is the King of this country to care for his people. Yet Historically this is not always true. The King will reap what he sows and get what he grows into his life and has a great responsibility. Honestly would not want to be him right now. It would be like doing my own surgery. I know this, that he, the President is accountable here and in eternity for every choice he makes, and even now there is a God, or Higher power if you like, in control even though in rough times it may not seem like it.
I thank each of you for your input I have learned much reading your blog. Thanks to those who keep us safe as a nation…the Soldiers of this Great Country and Country made great because of you!!
I Agree. If they can't come up with a budget then their pay should be the first to go.
Well congress cant help if they get paid or not, its out of there control. It swriiten in the US Constitution that its mandated that all members of congress gets paid no matter what. It sucks I know, i wish our salaries were that secure. But what can we do.
I am the proud mother of 2 sons in the Air Force and as all parents feel, you want your children to be able to make it on their own. Military Pay should never be a factor in discussion unless its to give them a raise. They fight in these God forsaken wars, loose their lives or watch a team member die.
Those whom have a wife and children to support, what would they do?
I Pray for our Nation of Leaders, God have mercy on their soles.
I respectfully disagree.
The 19th Century Robber Baron Jay Gould once said “You can always hire half of the poor to kill the other half." (In the movie “Gangs of New York” this quote was attributed to Boss Tweed). We’ve seen this tactic employed across the nation by those in power and many on this blog are buying into it now.
Because the military is the most respected institute in America, it is difficult for politicians to attack them. If you exempt military pay from a government shutdown it is easier to go after the less noticeable government workers (park rangers, VA doctors, administrators, etc…) Congress should appropriate the money to pay for the services we want and not pit one against the other. If we have too many civil servants or military, conduct a RIF and reduce the numbers.
I'm agree
This is why we should have a savings account ready.. I don't have one but i'm going to start. This was a good wake up call..
We only got half pay…. How do we support 2 households when our spouses are in another country on a hardship tour ? We are not gonna make it this way…..
IF THEY DO NOT PASS THE BUDGET BILL THIS THURSDAY, DOES THAT SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT, AND IF THEY DONT PASS IT, DOES MILITARY STILL NOT GET PAID OR WAS THAT SETTLED WITH THE STOPGAP BILL. i KNEW THE STOPGAP BILL WAS SUPPOSE TO FUND THE MILITARY TILL SEPTEMBER BUT I DIDNT KNOW IF IT WAS STILL DOING THAT.
How about this. I’m a retired disabled veteran who works a GS job aka federal job and my husband is AD Navy, and I have two kids who go to daycare. So if the government was to go into shutdown two financially responsible hard working adults would of lost everything! All of our income. Every penny would of been on hold!!! Thank God all of our credit cards are paid off, maybe we could of used those, but it still would not have paid our mortgage and car payments. I’m sorry but that is total lack of doing their job on the government’s end as it’s not fair to vets and AD military that give themselves selflessly to lose everything due to a bunch of politicians bickering like children!!
Scott, i agree and secondly should be welfare. They getting their full checks with no interuptions,
I think it is important to point out that for the first time in our history the military has been declared "non-essential" government employees for this shutdown.
It is also important to know that the President stated he would veto any bill to keep paying the military during the shutdown.
The Goverment scares the people and then put themselfs down as heros makes me sick. They wanted to stop the pay BUT yet every Military men and women still have to show up for work and still have to fight the war overseas. With little or no pay they have to get to work somehow and with the gas prizes going up every week does not help in any way.
Here we go again, the question is what you can do for the Goverment and NOT what the goverment can do for you.
Ok, this is the deal. I am only a SPC. I have a wife and daughter. I have 2 dogs and 1 car. I have no debt because I do not spend more then I make. I do not spend %75 percent of what i make. Do have a brand new car. NO!! do I buy off-brand food that has the same nutrition as the name brand food, YES! Do i buy used furniture and and shop around for the best bargins that i can find and ask my wife to do the same, YES!!! I also invest a percentage of my money in my retirement. I then invest in a large purchase fund. Car, home, etc. I then put money in a savings account for the rainy day. Such as the possible up comming one. The question is, Why can't any of you do the same. SPC pay is sad. I make 3K a month with BAS and COLA. I have no housing cost, I have no electric bill, I have no water bill. The army provides for these things. If YOU chose to live above your pay and do the same thing as our Gov then you should fire yourself.
On the other hand, If I fail to pay my bills then I stand to be dishonorably discharged from service. That being said, Hold our congress to the same flame. Over the next 6 years remove EVERY ELECTED Person in our Federal Gov. by not voting them back into office. They MUST be held accountable for their actions and for those that came before them if they themselves did not fix it. This would show future "Political Leaders" that they must show the discipline and responsiblity that we expect of them.
The position that they hold is one of Honor and they must live up to that honor and follow the constitution and what it stands for. They must NOT! bow down to the corprate giants that promiss that they will bring work to their towns if they vote to give them a huge tax break. If you give a corperation a tax break of 200 million dollars and the create 10,000 jobs at $30,000 a year. 10K x $30K x %35 =$150 Million in taxes . That is foolish math and = I DON'T GET PAID AND HAVE TO SPEND MY HARD EARNED AND WISELY SAVED MONEY TO GET BY. instead of continuing to become more finacially secure so, i don't have to beg help from Uncle Sam in the future and futher add to our Gov's economic problem
I will make it too if the Goverment decides to shut down but that still doesn't make it right. And just because you and many others budget their money and don't live above their needs it's great too but don't put down the people who don't. They WORK for there money and whatever they do with it is up to them and not the Goverment.
And don't throw out how easy it is for you and your family because people are already thinking that the military is getting overpaid.
Average US family income = $43,460 to $45,113 per year in 2010. my average income. Which is accually the Army's average income = $36,000 annually. Now, most junior en-listed soldiers do not have a degree beyond High school. Average income for only a highschool degree = $32,000 a year and Bachelor's degree is roughly around $55,000. Those do not include housing, Cost of living allowances, Education Assistance in the form of TA for $4,500 a year while in service. allowance for food, Tricare, not to mention, the many other MWR and ACS services. This Difference is that we are on call 24/7 untill our contract is up. They can quit. We can not. I have to be elbow deep in a persons abdomen to stop them from bleeding out and they do not. I have to have someone elbow deep in my abdomen to stop me from bleeding out. They do not. is what we recieve fair compensation, not really. Is it enough to get by on and build for a future, Yes. This isn't about how much soldiers get paid though. THIS is about people and elected persons being Fisscally responsible.
I will not vote for anyone who not pay the military for fighting a war that congress started. They will not buy my vote, they have to earn it. Hasta la vista Baby.
President Obama stated last Thursday, "If the House and Senate pass a Military Pay Bill so the Military gets paid during the shut down, I will Veto the Bill" Did make any other comment on why.
What a MORALE booster from our Commander in Chief.
Gohmert is a Goober dud!
I can see it now…………If our Gov ever does stop Military Active pay or ret,Vet pays…Every American affected would be Marching to the white house,It wouldnt be a pretty site im sure and the outcome would be worse then any war in our nation in history.
u got that right I got diabled in the army and never asked for anything untill now because it is so hard to get around and they wanted to know why I am just coming foreward and I said bacause as of lately I could get around withoutaxtream pain but not now with out pain. what I want to know is why they think we lie about being this way when I got a medical discharge .let congress pay for every little thing they need to live on with what we get and they might get it but not likely