WTF is this mess

I forgot about that one until this...like a walk down memory lane.

So how long did it last? And did it have something to do with essential/non-essential? Did you actually go so long that you missed a payday? Or was it more of a no funding to operate equipment?

I'm just asking because I think you might be talking about the same period of time in 1985 that I wrote about earlier, but I don't remember us doing anything differently or not getting paid. Just wondering if it had varying effects across the DoD?

Most importantly though, your closing statement is right on the money! Don't everyone start panicking over this; the idiots in Washington will sort it out and push through a budget. Don't let the media hype get you anxious.

 

We did not get pay for about a month...so, we missed one payday. But, on the next payday they made up for most of it, and the balance on the following month. Civilians did not have to come to work, but GI's did. Since the Army needed to let the military families get food, they had to keep the grocery store open. But, it was just the basic items after things ran out. Meat, milk, bread, cheese ect. I believe it was in 93 or 94. We did not have any equipment to run. I was assigned to a military prison where we had American servicemen and women incarcerated. On our post, we had infantry and CH46 helo squadron. I dont remember seeing the helos flying much during that time, so it's possible they were grounded. I know that the civilians that worked on the choppers did not come to work. They used to take there beer breaks just outside the barracks I lived in. We used to laugh at the german mechanics drinking beer two to three times a day, and working on our heavy lift helicopters...glad I only flew in them one time. We gave the GI's that were their support personnel a hard time telling them, "oh poor you....now your going to have to fix your own aircraft."

 

If there's going to be a government shut down, then let's shut down ALL federal government services. No SAR by the Coast Guard or Air Force. No air traffic control. Close all the interstates. No Boarder Patrol or Customs Service. Social Security checks stopped (with no back pay). Stop all payments to A-76 scabs. No Secret Service protection for anyone. Nothing. Let all these A-holes that hate the government do without!

 

Good idea Chief!

 

The government has been operating under a Continuing Resolution Amendment (CRA) since the beginning of the FY on Oct 1 ,2010.
Congress has extended the amendment several times & more than likely will do so again.
Here is the lastest amendment:

Basically it releases limited funds based on the General Budget Office (GBO) guidance & planning. CBO was founded on July 12, 1974, with the enactment of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act.

This typically happens though not to this extent as in this year. Lots of factors play into it but it starts with projections, previous distributions, changes in offices etc.

Yes essential and non-essential work is identified within all Federal Agencies.
The last time this happened to my knowledge I was on AD, in either 1999 or 2000, they sent all non-essential fed employees home for a couple of days. We all worked. Our pay was not effected.

All the gory details are outlined on GBO's website or govexec.com, OPM.gov, USA.gov. FWIW, a private publishing company, Gannett Co., owns the Army, AF, Navy, Federal times.

 

I know of people who keep having kids to keep getting welfare. There should at the least, be a limit as to haw many they can have and after that they are shut off. It is cheaper to prop up these people to a small degree because not doing so will cost ten times more in the long run (medical, jail & court cost,overall expense to the state over time). It kills me that we pay out so easily and people take advantage of it. It happens everywhere. In business as well, look around and you will see people abusing the system some way. Unemployment is so high because company's figured out they didn't need all the workers they had on the payroll. They now get more from less workers. If we want to dent the debt, we need to get out of the world police business.