Unable to pay soldiers due to $101M budget shortfall, National Guard units in Nebraska, Iowa....

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/news/military/unable-to-pay-soldiers-due-to-m-budget-shortfall-national/article_ca3a2b52-7b2a-54f1-a7d9-70bf3347d22b.html




NEBRASKA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
With funding for their paychecks unexpectedly used up, National Guard soldiers like Spc. Kodi Classen of Fremont will have their training delayed as the Guard waits for Congress to approve a fix.

By Steve Liewer / World-Herald staff writer

A $101 million shortfall in the Army National Guard’s personnel budget has forced units in Iowa and Nebraska and elsewhere in the country to delay planned weekend drills for several weeks because they can’t afford to pay soldiers.

Efforts have begun, though, to redirect other National Guard funds to cover the personnel shortfall. That would require action by Congress, which reconvened this week for a short two-week session before leaving again ahead of elections.

The shortfall will mean delayed paychecks for hundreds of Army National Guard soldiers in the Midlands, and for tens of thousands nationwide. That delay will last until Congress takes action. Air National Guard units aren’t affected.

The Iowa National Guard has moved all of its drills to the end of the month, said Col. Greg Hapgood, an Iowa Guard spokesman. The change affects 7,200 soldiers.

FULL story at link. I hope terrorists don't find out about this.

[Lurks Often]

1. I hope those National Guard members don't need those checks to pay bills

and that Congress does something when they get back.

[randome]

2. It's in Congress' hands now. (We're fucked.)

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]

[Aerows]

3. Congress is a clown show. n/t

[valerief]

4. Not really. Clowns make us laugh. Congress makes us weep. nt

[Aerows]

5. LOL I stand corrected. n/t

[Dirty Socialist]

6. The 1 percenters need their tax break

I hope the people concerned about Nebraska's and Iowa's security would understand.

[madville]

7. This happens almost every September in the federal government

September is the last month in the fiscal year. When I was in the reserves almost every September we either had drills delayed, rescheduled, or outright cancelled.

Same at my federal civilian job, about the end of every August there is no more money to ship/mail parts, travel to outlying offices, etc. It's actually on purpose there though, they make us spend every dime we are allotted by the end of August and then we are usually broke until the end of October when new fiscal year funding is released.