To the Editor:
The POTUS and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell will not allow military pay to be left unmolested by the shutdown of the federal government. Once again, The POTUS and congressional leaders have made the military suffer as a result of their political gamesmanship.
The move, occurring in the middle of the night as the Senate debated the shutdown is a change from 2013, when the administration ensured military pay would not be disrupted by a shutdown.
Senator Claire McCaskill introduced a resolution that would have secured pay for service members, she then said, “I don’t want one moment to pass with there being any uncertainty of any soldier anywhere in the world that they will be paid for the valiant work they do.
Despite widespread concern for the issue by all citizens The POTUS and Senate leadership didn’t show any regard for protecting military pay as they moved to shut down the government. Senate majority leader McConnell quickly objected to McCaskill’s resolution.
Will Fischer of VoteVets noted The POTUS was willing to use the military “as a prop,” but when it came time to take substantive action, they dropped the ball. Veterans make up 1/3 of the entire federal workforce,” and The POTUS shutdown meant they would be “hit twice” because they will end up “missing paychecks and having benefits denied or delayed.”
In a statement to media, Fischer explained, “It gets harder and harder to believe The POTUSs wants anything other than a shutdown, when they make military pay a key talking point, but then block a bill to make sure our military is paid, during a shutdown.”
He added, “It’s becoming clear that shutting down the government, and holding people hostage for ransom, is the goal of the POTUS. There simply is no other reason for The POTUS to kill a Democratic measure to pay troops, other than to keep holding our troops and their family’s hostage.
This is disgusting. In 2013, legislation ensured military pay would continue, uninterrupted by that year’s shutdown. Now, with full control of the government, The POTUS has completely abandoned the military. It is a theme that has been a hallmark of this POTUS.. At every turn he and his allies have targeted the armed forces. He refused to honor a ceremony meant to remember fallen soldiers, is pushing to privatize veterans’ health care and upend the VA. The POTUS has shown his cards on the military, and have come down firmly against them. Now, they don’t even want to protect their pay.
Joseph Flynn
Village of Poinciana
