Thread: IF there is a US Govt shutdown...

Last time the military had a budget for the year, they were haggling over other appropriation bills.

This time, no one has a funding bill...

They canceled the training weekend.....

I will not be drilling this month.

It is hard enough to get prepared to go, but we also have people who fly in to participate.....They're out the cash!

Ive heard statements to both sides of this. "We WONT get paid", and "thats crazy, of course the military will get paid".
My opinion, It would have been nice to get an official warning with ample time if we are to go 4 weeks without pay.....backpay or not. I first heard of this about 3 weeks ago. That gives the average soldier one paycheck to budget & prepare.....not possible. Keep in mind the average sidleir I see is about 21, consumes alot of beer, and makes about $2k a month before taxes....minus life insurance and any TSP donations, etc.
This morning I poked around the net before reading this thread and came across articles on The Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011, officially called House Resolution 1297. HR 1297 search results came up with "beer" something something.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.1297:

Civilians will most likely NOT get paid!


No back pay for furloughed feds predicted
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=47523&dcn=e_gvet

Originally Posted by RealMoneyIssues

Last time the military had a budget for the year, they were haggling over other appropriation bills.

This time, no one has a funding bill...

Thanks RMI. Believe it or not I thought of that on the way to work this morning, but wasn't sure what happened in 95.

If nothing else gets done, I hope 1297 goes somewhere. It doesn't appear to have moved for a week.

The rumor mill is running amuck over here, yet nothing offical has come down through the chain.

My take: The military will get paid period. You won't have soliders not meeting their financial obligations, it just won't happen, so don't freak out about it.

Just had a meeting with upper management. Military are required to work and military pay will be delayed. Pay for the 15th will be on time but the rest is uncertain. They are hoping that something will be resolved by then, but as it stands right now...expect delays.
Tell that to the fighting troops with families to support back home. This is disgraceful!

Originally Posted by JTH

The rumor mill is running amuck over here, yet nothing offical has come down through the chain.

My take: The military will get paid period. You won't have soliders not meeting their financial obligations, it just won't happen, so don't freak out about it.

Originally Posted by jpcavin

Tell that to the fighting troops with families to support back home. This is disgraceful!

Like I said, it's not going to happen.

Regarding a potential military pay stoppage-

Don't worry- you'll still eat. Go google the 1861 Feed and Forage Act, passed during the Civil War, providing that local Military commanders can go out, and round up cattle to kill and feed their troops, and buy forage for their horses. I kid you not.

That's what it meant in 1861 when it passed. It has since been used in more recent budget emergencies to make sure the Army can stay in the field-



Soldiers won't go hungry even if there isn't a budget bill passed.

Read more about it here:
http://www.ombwatch.org/files/budget...dforageact.pdf

An extract:

Historical Examples of the Use of the Feed and Forage Act

Despite its age, the Feed and Forage Act has been invoked in a modern context. Generally, this authority has been used for ongoing conflicts, rather than to initiate an offensive action.

4 The following are recent examples of when it has been invoked and/or used:

•

In 1968, 1969, and 1972, the Department of Defense used it to support the Vietnam War and other military operations in Southeast Asia.5

•

In 1990, the Department of Defense, under Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney's leadership, invoked the act to make obligations during Operation Desert Shield – the military action leading up to the start of the Persian Gulf War. A total of $1.6 billion was obligated.6

•

In 1994, the act was invoked to support a mission to restore democracy in Haiti. DOD obligated $126.3 million more than was appropriated for the year. $123 million was obligated under Army operation and management, which is an account in the DOD budget that covers a wide assortment of expenditures, while about $3 million helped activate Army reservists.7

•

In 2001, the Bush administration invoked the act immediately after the September 11 terrorist attacks occurred, as Stan Collender wrote in his May 8 column. However, Congress acted swiftly enough that an appropriations bill was enacted prior to DOD obligating any funding under the act's authority.8

More on the 1861 "Feed and Forage Act":
http://www.ombwatch.org/files/budget...dforageact.pdf

Originally Posted by JTH

Like I said, it's not going to happen.

I agree with you, There will be a Continuing Resolution, if only for the military. No congressman will allow military personnel go unpaid while in combat. This is just trying to get more of the public to get involved to add pressure for a decision to get made. Just like saying US Customs will not be watching the boarder during a shutdown. Just my 0 cents.