Fine with me. House votes to nix military bands at dinners, dances

[cali]

WASHINGTON — The next base Christmas party might not feature any active-duty flutists or tuba players.

The House on Thursday passed legislation sponsored by former A-10 pilot Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., that bars the military from using its many troop bands to entertain at dinners, dances and social events.

The bill limits performances to formal military ceremonies and funeral honors.

It is the latest attempt to cut back the roughly $500 million that the Defense Department spends annually on bands, which date back to the birth of the country’s armed forces but have recently run into criticism as Congress wrangles with tight budgets.

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http://okinawa.stripes.com/news/house-votes-nix-military-bands-dinners-dances

[JHB]

1. Never fear, there's outside contractors ready to step in...

...at about double the price.

[cali]

2. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[JHB]

4. It all depends on your sodium intake...

If it's too high, tears will help get rid of some of the excess.

Otherwise, crazed laughter.

[Else You Are Mad]

5. Bingo.

Each band member will be making $100,000 or more a year and the final cost will be MUCH higher than $500 million... But we all know the GOP is more concerned about privatizing everything than ACTUALLY saving money or any reduction in spending.

[JHB]

7. No, the band members won't be making that much...

...though the contract holder will bill the government for that amount. The musicians are mere subcontractors.

[Else You Are Mad]

11. People that work for military contractors

Tend to make a good amount of money. I read somewhere the contractors in Iraq were making $100,000 or more.

[JHB]

12. Those guys weren't playing in a band

Members of a contractor band would make more than their service pay, but the real money would still go to the overall contractor.

[AgadorSparticus]

15. Sadly, you are probably right.

[matt819]

19. Absolutely

Follow the money and you'll find that this fraud is connected to musicians. Is Big Music a thing?

What's the move going to save? A few million dollars. How about the f35 or gr long range standoff weapon. Those two programs alone are likely to run to more then 60 billion over their lifetimes.

As with airport security, this is simply theater.

[CincyDem]

3. Yes. When I have $500 million to cut, I always start with the band.

And when asked to list all of the actions she took to save money for the country, at the top of her list will be:

"I replaced the live band with a DJ"



Yeah - that'll make a dent.

[AwakeAtLast]

21. That's what happens in Education

Sports? Never.

[CBGLuthier]

6. I would rather they spent ten billion on bands and half a billion on guns.

Oh well, 'merica gots its priorities.

[3catwoman3]

8. Damn...

...right!

[monmouth4]

10. WINNER!!!!!

[uponit7771]

13. +1

[dmr]

18. Damn right, & stopping the hoooge war profiteering.

Argh ....

Maybe I lack understanding of this issue, but I would imagine it would be quite an honor to perform before their President - the Commander & Chief - and his/her guests.

And, why shouldn't the White House utilize, and honor a band or chorale that is at his/her disposal.

If the Republicans really wanted to save money, then they need to do away with shit like the 50-some votes to disband the ACA, cut out the multiple & useless investigations that have repeatedly been determined as non-issues - year after year after year ....

They want to save money, then they need to do their fucking job, and work on something that will benefit American society.

[cherokeeprogressive]

9. So much waste in government... everywhere. Seems like an odd place to start but it's a start.

Now how about mandating every federal building have solar panels and extending the service life of every vehicle the government buys by two years, barring accidents and catastrophic failures.

[L. Coyote]

14. Now they can campaign on having cut military spending.

[mrmpa]

16. Well there won't be enough musicians in the future..........

anyway, due to the lack of funding for the arts in public schools.

[pangaia]

17. Musicians in US military bands, most if not all of them as far as I know,

are generally not paid per service. Each musician has an annual salary and benefits, the same as all service members do.

[tavernier]

20. The House voted?????

What craziness is this? Poor babies must be exhausted!!

Will wonders never cease! Next you'll tell us they haven't voted themselves a raise for next year.

[AwakeAtLast]

22. They will now take an extended recess

To rest up.