CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
June 30, 2011 – 10:42 a.m.
Military Pay Guarantee Might Reduce Leaders’ Debt Leverage
By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff
A bipartisan and bicameral coalition is pushing legislation to guarantee that the federal government would continue to pay military salaries should Congress not raise the government’s borrowing authority or enact fiscal 2012 spending bills.
Texas Republican Sen.
Hutchison has gathered 80 supporters for her proposal (
In the House, Gohmert said last week he is preparing to file a discharge petition in an effort to force a floor vote on his version of the bill (
“I would like the leadership to bring it to the floor,” Gohmert said June 24.
The bill could provide political cover to lawmakers unwilling to vote to raise the debt limit by shielding them from charges their vote denied military personnel their pay during a time of war. It also could invite a flood of similar measures to preserve the payment of other politically defensible government spending.
President Obama, Reid and Speaker
“Anytime you remove a leverage point out of the equation, it’s a problem,” said Democratic Sen.
During a news conference Wednesday, Obama castigated another Republican proposal (
But supporters said that the bill would remove any doubt that military salaries would continue to be paid if the debt ceiling is not raised.
Senate Armed Services Chairman
But several Republicans want the Senate to act on Hutchison’s bill. “We should take action to make sure we pay the troops. It would help to build the confidence of the troops,” said
Gohmert said he wants to ensure that leaders cannot raise doubts about the payment of military salaries to expedite passage of a debt limit deal or other legislative compromises. He said Republican leaders raised such concerns to win support for a fiscal 2011 spending package (PL 112-10) and avert a government shutdown in April.
Military Pay Guarantee Might Reduce Leaders’ Debt Leverage
“Our military should never be used as pawns in this game to get people to vote a certain way,” Gohmert said