“Readiness and morale of our armed forces will suffer. The impact of a shutdown on the department and the military and civilian families – many of whom live paycheck to paycheck – is simply catastrophic.”
– Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young (R-FL) chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, as quoted by the Army Times
As I’m writing this column, partisan politics has come to the forefront regarding the funding of Obamacare in a big way. Republicans in the 113th Congress are demanding Obamacare be defunded, and the levers threatened to be used in the attempt to achieve the defunding goal are firstly, the immediate threat of a government shutdown Oct. 1 and secondly, the threat of halfway through October of defaulting on the national debt.
The Continuing Resolution (H.J.Res. 59) as passed by the House would do, if passed into law, more than just defund Obamacare. It sets this as a priority. According to the House of Representatives Committee on Rules Web site, this priority is set for paying the nation’s bills:
“Fully defunds Obamacare and ensures that the government can make all principle and interest payments on the national debt and ensure the full payment of Social Security benefits in the event that the debt limit is reached. The amendment adds the text of H.R. 2682, the Defund Obamacare Act of 2013, and the text of H.R. 807 (with a modification), the Full Faith and Credit Act, to the underlying continuing resolution.”
So paying down on the national debt and Social Security recipient payments would take priority over all other budget priorities. That includes paying for “food stamps” (SNAP) and head start; that includes paying active duty servicemembers and military retirees and disability compensation for disabled veterans.
“All military personnel will continue to serve and accrue pay, but will not actually be paid until appropriations are available,” Young spelled out specifically for the Army Times. “The mid-month payday would be the first in jeopardy,” continues Young.
On his official government web page, Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) has identified what failure to pass a Continuing Resolution, that the Senate would pass and President Obama will sign, will mean. These include unemployment benefits and veterans’ services. While VA hospitals will remain open, veterans’ benefits could be delayed or reduced – as was the case during the last shutdown.
Just in terms of the military, it appears that on the first of the month the military will be paid, according to Rep. Young. It’s the mid-month payment for actively serving servicemembers that will be in jeopardy. Pay would be accrued, but the disbursement of that pay may be delayed.
It’s less clear for veterans’ compensation. As I’m writing this column it’s not clear if the Oct. 1 compensation checks would be disbursed if Congress hasn’t passed the Continuing Resolution by then.
San Diego is a military town. The City and County have a significant amount of LGBT active duty servicemembers, military veterans and retirees. As a military retiree and as a disabled veteran receiving compensation from the VA, it’s a little bit scary.
I’ve watched Republicans govern in red states when they own both state houses and a governorship, and in my mind their war on women, their efforts on voter suppression, their inability to work toward immigration reform, their work to defund social welfare programs and anti-LGBT rhetoric are reasons enough not to vote for politicians who identify with that party. But now beyond that, the Republican brand is one of allegedly supporting the military and fiscal responsibility – Republicans aren’t even living up to those two key portions of their brand.
I’ve voted for Republicans in the past, but now I can say with assuredly that I’ll never vote for a Republican again. The party has just become unhinged.
