Latest Breaking News

NutmegYankee

(16,487 posts)

43. The budget doesn't work like that.

Sat Jan 26, 2013, 01:29 PM

Jan 2013

Congress has mandated that money go to each program/activity in a certain amount. Now they need to hack out 9% but can't shut down any programs or bases without action from Congress. That leaves only 1 solution - Scrimp on Operations and Maintenance. So they furlough employees and delay maintenance on ships, planes, and buildings. And just like most things, delaying maintenance now could cost us a lot more later.

Congress has failed to act by passing a budget making the appropriate cuts, mainly because the Republicans can't accept that the US budget isn't filled with fat. We just don't collect the taxes needed.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

74 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Pentagon�s 46,000 Temporary Workers May Lose Their Jobs [View all] Purveyor Jan 2013 OP

"Firing" ? lexw Jan 2013 #1

Perhaps. Igel Jan 2013 #59

Everywhere I look.... lexw Jan 2013 #70

maybe the should also cut the billion dollar toys annm4peace Jan 2013 #2

Sadly it doesn't work like that... n/t humbled_opinion Jan 2013 #3

but a nice thing to remind the letters to the editor annm4peace Jan 2013 #4

So you support furloughing Civil Servants? NutmegYankee Jan 2013 #21

Like most of the rest of the working middle class in this country. Ask the autoworker about 'pay Purveyor Jan 2013 #24

Do you support pay cuts for the middle class? NutmegYankee Jan 2013 #49

Of course not but that is what has happened especially in manufacturing. eom Purveyor Jan 2013 #50

Employees, including Faculty went through Furloughs in UC Berkeley lunatica Jan 2013 #27

yea, i worked for the state during furloughs too shanti Jan 2013 #65

Our Office Lost Nearly All of our Contractors modrepub Jan 2013 #32

This article is only about the DoD, the other agencies (social) are going to make similar cuts. Hugin Jan 2013 #52

Sorry modrepub Jan 2013 #74

No that is not what I was saying annm4peace Jan 2013 #60

Blame congress Revanchist Jan 2013 #7

Layoffs are a PR gimmick by the Pentagon--they are hiding behind middle class Americans Kolesar Jan 2013 #10

But that would only help the 99% and we don't matter to them. nt valerief Jan 2013 #19

Because the 99% don't have jobs making that stuff. (nt) jeff47 Jan 2013 #40

yes, cut the old junk Rosa Luxemburg Jan 2013 #66

Sell off all those fucking golf courses! SoapBox Jan 2013 #5

Also get out of Nascar! Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel Jan 2013 #11

p.s... SoapBox Jan 2013 #6

How about not picking on those who work and picking on those lunatica Jan 2013 #28

Austerity for workers fasttense Jan 2013 #8

And when they cut the jobs then they should make sure to cut the unemployment benefits lunatica Jan 2013 #30

North Carolina Republicans are all over that. WorseBeforeBetter Jan 2013 #35

Some other cuts: unhappycamper Jan 2013 #9

Thanks for the background links, UHC. n/t Hugin Jan 2013 #16

This could be a tactic to pursuade the Republicans to make a deal. DCBob Jan 2013 #12

and southern states economies will feel the pain underpants Jan 2013 #13

Oh, look... It's a pay cut for Federal Employees. Hugin Jan 2013 #14

Doesn't temporary usually imply that the jobs are not permanent? olddad56 Jan 2013 #15

Those "Temporary" positions are sometimes used to maintain continuity of operations during... Hugin Jan 2013 #17

"temporary" includes things like "you'll do this for us for the next 5 years". jeff47 Jan 2013 #36

The pitfalls of looking to the MIC as a jobs program. Ikonoklast Jan 2013 #18

That pretty much nails it. TwilightGardener Jan 2013 #23

Give me another jobs program that can get through Congress, and I'll happily support it jeff47 Jan 2013 #41

cut Pentagon management pay FIRST. Cut ALL the percs of the Leadership first!! Sunlei Jan 2013 #20

Yeah, slashing the salary and benes of those 6 people will make all the difference! (nt) jeff47 Jan 2013 #42

probably cost us taxpayers a billion a year or more for those 6 people. let them use ss and medicare Sunlei Jan 2013 #53

Math isn't your strong suit, is it? jeff47 Jan 2013 #55

yes with benefits for all his family, his luxury spots vacations, free airfare for all, yes. Sunlei Jan 2013 #57

Um....no. jeff47 Jan 2013 #58

Wow! A $200M a year position in the Pentagon? Hugin Jan 2013 #62

200 Million a year is reserved for defense contractor executives... Katashi_itto Jan 2013 #63

The DoD Civilians I know don't even have Commissary privileges. n/t Hugin Jan 2013 #67

Yup, I am really glad i don't work for DoD, precious few perks. Commissary privileges are a big one Katashi_itto Jan 2013 #73

The first internet bully I ever encountered, during O's '08 campaign, was a staffing recruiter patrice Jan 2013 #22

Are you sure it wasn't a 12 yo in their folk's basement with daddy's login? Hugin Jan 2013 #26

Yeah, account security over at FB isn't the greatest, so I guess the probability is about 50:50. patrice Jan 2013 #31

Well, never the less, I'm sorry it happened to you. Hugin Jan 2013 #34

Thanks. I remember it, because I do think the best most of the time. I know it isn't characteristic patrice Jan 2013 #38

Hey...don't knock the 12 yo in the basement, thats how I started out with a 300 baud BBS. ;) eom Purveyor Jan 2013 #69

Yes, but, in those days it was a level playing field. Hugin Jan 2013 #71

The Pentagon is not a jobs program tabasco Jan 2013 #25

However, these cuts are not directed at the Contracts. Hugin Jan 2013 #29

Contractors got their cuts in October jeff47 Jan 2013 #44

I don't recall a single Contractor leaving in Oct. Hugin Jan 2013 #51

They get paid by the contract, not by the body. jeff47 Jan 2013 #54

You'd have a good idea if unemployment wasn't extremely high right now. (nt) jeff47 Jan 2013 #37

So, you think the Defense Department is a jobs program tabasco Jan 2013 #46

So you're a Republican then? jeff47 Jan 2013 #47

I don't buy into supply side BS. NutmegYankee Jan 2013 #48

My impression was different. sofa king Jan 2013 #45

Turning them into more expensive contractors doesn't solve their budget problem jeff47 Jan 2013 #56

How about closing some overseas bases instead........ think Jan 2013 #33

You'd do that if you had time to decide which ones to close jeff47 Jan 2013 #39

The budget doesn't work like that. NutmegYankee Jan 2013 #43

Maybe it would help if . . . Brigid Jan 2013 #61

furloughs shanti Jan 2013 #64

It's easier to cut temp workers and contractors AnnieBW Jan 2013 #68

The next round of contracts would be affected. DCBob Jan 2013 #72