ABC News: Troops Won't Receive Paycheck if Government Shuts Down

ABC NEWS ^ | 04/06 | Huma Kahn

[SeekAndFind]

Federal Agencies Prepare for Shutdowns, No Hints of a Deal Between Republicans and Democrats.

Soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan will not receive paychecks next week if the government fails to come together on a resolution to keep the government funded and avert a shutdown, senior government officials said today.

Military personnel will be paid eventually but not until Congress appropriates money to the Department of Defense.

"Our military men and women put their lives on the line and sacrifice every day to ensure our security. They should not have to worry about getting paid on time," said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., who co-sponsored a bill with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, that would allow military personnel to receive paychecks in the case of a government shutdown.

Whether civilians at the Pentagon get paid is another story. Since "non-essential" staff is furloughed during a government shutdown, Congress must decide once it reaches a resolution whether to give backpay to dismissed employees.

"We expect a significant number of civilian DOD employees will unfortunately be furloughed if the government shuts down," a senior administration official said today.

Louis Bornman, a DOD employee who has spent 12 years of active duty in the Army, says getting furloughed could jeopardize his entire retirement savings. He says it will also adversely impact the federal government and taxpayers.

"It is very demoralizing to think you're going to be laid off and not paid," said Bornman, based in Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. "People will have to work overtime in the near future, which ultimately will cost the government more money. ... It's very disconcerting that you're looked upon as disposable when you're providing that backup service that the nation depends upon."

[camerongood210]

Probably the first time in recent memory that ABC News has been worried about our troops being paid.

[goodwithagun]

Will welfare recipients receive their checks? What an interesting conundrum. I sincerely hope that our soldiers get paid. If they do not and reliefers do, how bad would this look for Dems?

[Old Teufel Hunden]

""Our military men and women put their lives on the line and sacrifice every day to ensure our security. They should not have to worry about getting paid on time," said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., who co-sponsored a bill with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, that would allow military personnel to receive paychecks in the case of a government shutdown."

So now my clown senator cares about the military? Oh, he must be up for re-election in 2012. This is the first time in 4 years we've heard from him.

[Obadiah]

What are you talking about... “recent memory”?

More water carrying for their Democrat brethren.

[wolfman]

And yet the welfare recipients do get paid.

[Gena Bukin]

Will welfare recipients receive their checks?

I'd really like to know that answer (not that I have anything to worry about).

[HIDEK6]

"It is very demoralizing to think you're going to be laid off and not paid," said Bornman,

Welcome to the club, pal.

[basil]

Rush is talking about this now.

[Carley]

Obama’s choice.

So be it.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[Russ]

I heard earlier today that both the military and social security checks will be paid in the event of a govt. shut down. Is ABC and the Dems using this as another scare tactic?

[Beowulf9]

Welcome to Obamaland.

[Pat4ever]

Why don’t Repubs propose that Congress and the Pres don’t get paid if there is no budget???

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Is ABC and the Dems using this as another scare tactic?"

Heaven forbid! The media would never do that, would they? [/sarcasm]

[kevkrom]

Why don’t Repubs propose that Congress and the Pres don’t get paid if there is no budget???

Because the 27th Amendment forbids any changes to House/Senate pay between elections. Any such bill passed now could only take effect in 2013.

[goodwithagun]

What a gesture of goodwill it would be if Congressional Repubs signed their checks that week over to random military personnel. Just sayin’.

[gardencatz]

The last time this rumor went around my son called and was very worried as were others with family in the military. Several people here called their reps and were told the military would get paid in spite of a shutdown. Guess things change in a couple of weeks.

Cindie

[DTogo]

Perhaps it’s time for the Military to march on Washington DC in order to “uphold and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic...”

[JPG]

This bulletin from ABC News.. "BOO".