Of course we support paying our troops. But the proper way to do that is to fulfill our constitutional responsibility, make the hard decisions, and pass regular appropriations bills.
This bill assumes that the government will shut down. The title of the bill says as much: "Making continuing appropriations for military pay in the event of a Government shutdown". It would not have been introduced if we weren't in the midst of political shenanigans that threaten a shutdown. The House should not get credit for paying the troops by passing this bill when it is political hostage-taking by the House GOP that makes necessary such extraordinary measures just to send our troops a paycheck.
Despite a government shutdown, our troops will continue to serve. This bill claims to support the military during a shutdown. However, while this bill provides them a paycheck, it fails to provide the materials essential for their support: it does not fund the equipment they will need or the training. The bill does not provide funds so that their facilities are properly maintained; it does not provide funds to maintain readiness, to ensure equipment is in proper working order or to maintain the technological advantage of US forces.
Just as our troops are required to serve despite a shutdown caused by political posturing, other brave men and women in the federal government working to safeguard health and safety, protect property, and perform other essential duties will be required to serve as well. Under this bill, pay would not be guaranteed to federal law enforcement agents and correctional workers, to the Center for Disease Control, the Weather Service, air traffic controllers, and others still on the job during a shutdown. The Coast Guard would be paid but others in the same Department of Homeland Security who would still be at work, including the Customs and Border Patrol, would not be paid under this bill. Many other federal workers would find themselves in the same situation.
This bill is an act of political theater. It attempts to "fix" the underlying problem with a rhetorical gimmick. Congress would have no need for a separate bill to pay the troops if Republicans did not threaten to shut down the government in order to get their way on health care reform.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
