Posted on Sep 25, 2015
"DOD: No troop pay, civilians could be furloughed if government shuts down"
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From: Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON – Troops will not get paychecks and Defense Department civilians could be furloughed if Congress fails to pass a new federal budget and the government shuts down Thursday, according to a DOD memo sent out to personnel.
The department was still holding out hope for a solution on Capitol Hill, according to the Friday memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work. However, if lawmakers do not act by midnight Wednesday, the fallout could be similar to the last government shutdown in 2013, which caused turmoil and temporarily forced about 350,000 Pentagon workers on leave without pay.
“During a government shutdown, all military personnel would continue in a normal duty status. However, they would not be paid until Congress provides funding,” Work wrote.
The DOD has updated its plans to determine which civilians will continue reporting to work and which will be furloughed, he wrote. The letter did not provide any additional details.
“As we saw in 2013, should a shutdown occur, and depending on the length of the shutdown, these determinations may change over time as circumstances evolve,” Work wrote.
The last time the government shut down for more than two weeks – over attempts to defund Obamacare -- about 800,000 federal workers were placed on furlough. But the DOD was able to bring its civilians back to work after about a week.
Troops and personnel were to be contacted by their chains of command with more details on the shutdown plans.
The clock was ticking on Capitol Hill on Friday with a glimmer of hope for a budget deal in the Senate early next week following a fight over defunding Planned Parenthood, but there was major political upheaval in the House with the announced resignation of Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Senators rejected a temporary Republican budget Thursday that would have cut all support for the federally subsidized health care provider, in what was seen as an attempt to appease right-wing conservatives in the party.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was set to introduce a new budget resolution Monday that could fund the government at current levels until December but does not include the controversial Planned Parenthood measure.
“There are two different roads that we can take. One is to insist that no more money go to Planned Parenthood and cause a government shutdown,” McConnell said after his first budget proposal failed Thursday. “The other is to take a slightly longer-term approach, taking advantage of the fact that we have the attention of the country as probably never before.”
However, the effort to defund Planned Parenthood using a federal budget bill may not be over in the House.
Boehner stunned Washington by announcing he will resign from Congress in October, a move that was seen as a victory for conservative Republicans who want to a more hardline strategy on Planned Parenthood and other issues.
“It was my plan to only serve as Speaker until the end of last year, but I stayed on to provide continuity to the Republican Conference and the House,” he said in a written statement. “It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. To that end, I will resign the Speakership and my seat in Congress on Oct. 30.”
Boehner’s ouster showed the power of his far-right foes in the party, who may insist on defunding the health care organization and hold up any budget in the meantime.
http://www.stripes.com/dod-no-troop-pay-civilians-could-be-furloughed-if-government-shuts-down-1.370194
WASHINGTON – Troops will not get paychecks and Defense Department civilians could be furloughed if Congress fails to pass a new federal budget and the government shuts down Thursday, according to a DOD memo sent out to personnel.
The department was still holding out hope for a solution on Capitol Hill, according to the Friday memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work. However, if lawmakers do not act by midnight Wednesday, the fallout could be similar to the last government shutdown in 2013, which caused turmoil and temporarily forced about 350,000 Pentagon workers on leave without pay.
“During a government shutdown, all military personnel would continue in a normal duty status. However, they would not be paid until Congress provides funding,” Work wrote.
The DOD has updated its plans to determine which civilians will continue reporting to work and which will be furloughed, he wrote. The letter did not provide any additional details.
“As we saw in 2013, should a shutdown occur, and depending on the length of the shutdown, these determinations may change over time as circumstances evolve,” Work wrote.
The last time the government shut down for more than two weeks – over attempts to defund Obamacare -- about 800,000 federal workers were placed on furlough. But the DOD was able to bring its civilians back to work after about a week.
Troops and personnel were to be contacted by their chains of command with more details on the shutdown plans.
The clock was ticking on Capitol Hill on Friday with a glimmer of hope for a budget deal in the Senate early next week following a fight over defunding Planned Parenthood, but there was major political upheaval in the House with the announced resignation of Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Senators rejected a temporary Republican budget Thursday that would have cut all support for the federally subsidized health care provider, in what was seen as an attempt to appease right-wing conservatives in the party.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was set to introduce a new budget resolution Monday that could fund the government at current levels until December but does not include the controversial Planned Parenthood measure.
“There are two different roads that we can take. One is to insist that no more money go to Planned Parenthood and cause a government shutdown,” McConnell said after his first budget proposal failed Thursday. “The other is to take a slightly longer-term approach, taking advantage of the fact that we have the attention of the country as probably never before.”
However, the effort to defund Planned Parenthood using a federal budget bill may not be over in the House.
Boehner stunned Washington by announcing he will resign from Congress in October, a move that was seen as a victory for conservative Republicans who want to a more hardline strategy on Planned Parenthood and other issues.
“It was my plan to only serve as Speaker until the end of last year, but I stayed on to provide continuity to the Republican Conference and the House,” he said in a written statement. “It is my view, however, that prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution. To that end, I will resign the Speakership and my seat in Congress on Oct. 30.”
Boehner’s ouster showed the power of his far-right foes in the party, who may insist on defunding the health care organization and hold up any budget in the meantime.
http://www.stripes.com/dod-no-troop-pay-civilians-could-be-furloughed-if-government-shuts-down-1.370194
Government
DoD
Troops
Government Shutdown
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 62
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If there is a shutdown, I'd like for the politicians to not get paid either, seeing as how they caused it in the first place.
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Sgt Nick Marshall
Most politicians, especially at the federal level, are independently wealthy and don't rely upon their federal paycheck.
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Seriously, lets just get a ruler, have them drop trouser and end this contest so they can stop with the antics and have everyone stay working and get paid.
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And according to the weather forecast in DC, water will still be wet and congress still won't be worth paying.
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PO3 Michael Cardinale
If the Government is shut down yet again, it will be over .012% of the budget that is being allocated towards funding a health organization that gives women an alternative cheaper form of health care. Right now there is a video that has been examined and proved to be highly edited and misleading that is causing many people to lose their mind over abortion and willing to shut down our Government. Embarrassing that as a Country we are allowing a small sect of people to hold our Country hostage over their ideologies.
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My thoughts are to defund Congress and President until our military gets pay issues fixed once and for all!
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How about Congress not get paychecks during this period. Let's see how long that lasts.
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Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.
Let's stop POTUS an Cabinet member's pay when military does not get their pay.
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Here we go again Congress! They all need to be voted out and replaced. Along with term limit implementation. Nobody needs to be in an elected position for more than 8 years!
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Of course Congress will be blamed for any shutdown and the GOP leaders will fold like a cheap tent. The Administration will get away with this misdirection because most of We the People don't have a clue as to how spending is accomplished in the District of Calamity. Sad...
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SSgt Christopher Brose
Conservatives aren't any happier when Democrats and social liberals seek to legally impose their moral views. It's a two-way street.
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PO3 Michael Cardinale
CPT Jack Durish - Respectfully, that is simply not factual. The video that has been circulating the internet and a strong talking point of Carly Fiorina has been debunked and proven to be highly misleading and doctored to create fear and anger within a sect of the Nation.
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CPT Jack Durish
PO3 Michael Cardinale - Have you ever done the math? There is a pro-PP meme circulating on the Internet claiming great things for the organization: The numbers of breast exams, counselling sessions, etc (and, of course, no mention whatsoever of abortions). While extremely important to women's health, I'm not certain what breast exams have to do with family planning. But, let's allow them as a legitimate function of PP. Take all of the services claimed and divide that number into the $1.25 billion annual budget of PP (almost half of which comes from govt funding) and consider the cost of each exam, each counseling session. It doesn't sound very economical. Yes, "the video has been proven to be highly misleading and doctored to create fear and anger" or "alleged" by those who wish to support PP. "Proven"? Not so much...
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PO2 Robert Cuminale
CPT Jack Durish - Have you seen the other videos of the PP people discussing the sale of body parts. They claim it's faked but you can't fake the words of these people discussing parts and prices nor the view of them digging through a glass dish looking for certain parts. "Oh look. Another boy"
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GySgt Ray Wyatt
PO3 Michael Cardinale -Come on explain to me, a retired Welfare Supervisor about this. Obamacare was about providing Healthcare that covers everything including women's services. Why do we need PP if Obamacare is providing the same services to women? Is PP "Double dipping" OR is Obamacare a failure?
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PO3 Michael Cardinale
The affordable health care isn't a failure and is improving lives of millions of Americans. Planned Parenthood accepts insurance coverage and offers uncovered procedures at minimal cost. Planned Parenthood is like a clinic, women can go here to receive care. Insurance covers care it doesn't provide it, I hoped that I was able to help you understand how idiotic shutting down our Government is in order to hurt women's health.
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Cpl Tou Lee Yang
Jack,
I must apologize that being Asian and not born in the United States, it has been a burden not only on myself but those around me, especially the "white" Americans. Due to these circumstances I am extremely ignorant and stupid. Although, I would like to considered myself an educated man with a degree from an accredited University. With a degree in B.A.Sc in Information Technology, I believe I have taken a few courses in the studies of American Governments and I did received a decent grade in those classes to fully understand the fundamentals and process of how a government work. So please enlighten me on "your" perspective on this seemingly difficult subject of how the government is supposed to work in order to prevent an inevitable shutdown, which of course bear no responsibility from the Republicans; accordingly to the Conservatives pundits.
I must apologize that being Asian and not born in the United States, it has been a burden not only on myself but those around me, especially the "white" Americans. Due to these circumstances I am extremely ignorant and stupid. Although, I would like to considered myself an educated man with a degree from an accredited University. With a degree in B.A.Sc in Information Technology, I believe I have taken a few courses in the studies of American Governments and I did received a decent grade in those classes to fully understand the fundamentals and process of how a government work. So please enlighten me on "your" perspective on this seemingly difficult subject of how the government is supposed to work in order to prevent an inevitable shutdown, which of course bear no responsibility from the Republicans; accordingly to the Conservatives pundits.
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GySgt Ray Wyatt
PO3 Michael Cardinale - I'm guessing you didn't see the Retired Welfare Supervisor part. PP is a paying its Director more than our President makes and over $14K a day on first class travel accommodations. The taxpayers are funding 41% of the budget in grants. This does not take into account the amounts billed to MediCare or other insurance plans under ObamaCare. All the monies that are to be withheld from PP will be redirected to the clinics that PP refers its patients to. No woman will be denied services, they will get them from another provider...
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