It's amazing, isn't it? When you shut down large swathes of government, sometimes things that Republicans like are affected! Now, you would think they learned this, after the Memorial debacle, denying children access to cancer trials, etc etc. A rational person might put 2+2 together, and realize that the shutdown might have further reaching effects.
This is why the Republicans, instead of soberly thinking through the ramifications of their acts, quickly decided to pass bills on all the shutdown stuff that they weren't a fan of shutting down. After all, the Democrats support those things too, amirite? Therefore, in the genius mind of the Republican, it's compromising.
Today though, a new level of chutzpah has been reached. Turns out that the family members of soldiers who have passed on aren't receiving their $100,000 death gratuities/survivor benefits. These payments are to help the family of the fallen soldier, not only with the funeral but financial stability as well. A military spouse often has to give up their dreams of a stable job in order to support his or her loved one's career. Moving every three to four years isn't really conducive to maintaining a "steady" job. So many of these spouses may not have full-time jobs in order to support their families.
The death benefit is paid out roughly 24-72 hours after confirmation. Of course, due to the shutdown, that whole situation has been, as military folks like to put it, SNAFU. CNN reported that President Obama demanded that administration officials get these back online immediately, but thankfully the Pentagon is working with the Fisher House Foundation.
The Fisher House Foundation is a great charity, which supports many military folks in need. (And I hope they will be getting quite a few CFC donations after this.) They've agreed to help support these benefits for the time being, and will be back paid after all this is over.
As a military member, I have been thankful that Congress is listening to the needs of active duty soldiers; I just wish that they were aware of all the others that are affected.
Of course, some people just don't get it. Like Rep Pitts, who is quoted in the article saying, "The president is the commander in chief. He should not be using troops and their families as pawns in this political bickering," Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pennsylvania, said on the House floor. "He should be doing everything he can to stand up for the men and women of our military. Instead, he is refusing to negotiate until he gets his way."
I apologize in advance; I should've told you to stop drinking anything before reading, as the absolute hpyocritical BS spewing from that quote may have made you spittake.
Representative Pitts, it is YOU and your Tea Party brethren who are using the troops and families as pawns. And not just the military! Every person affected by this shutdown is a pawn to you... people visiting Nat'l parks, people needing healthcare, people performing scientific research, really, the list goes on and on. They are all pawns to the extremist Tea Party. But hey, I'm sure it won't be too long before you find something else that pisses off the American public, so you'll soon be able to craft a little bill to fund that group and have another reason to pretend you care.
Of course, if you really cared, you would think about "negotiating" yourself, do the right thing, and fund the government. But you won't. Here's hoping there are enough affected people in the Pittsburgh district to vote you out 2014. And I hope they refuse to negotiate until they get THEIR way.
