Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Here’s what really happened around 1AM:
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) would not allow military pay to be left unmolested by the Republican Party’s decision to shut down the federal government. Once again, Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have made the military suffer as a result of their political gamesmanship.
The move, occurring at night as the Senate debated the shutdown, is a change from 2013, when the Obama administration ensured that military pay would not be disrupted by a shutdown.
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced a resolution that would have secured pay for service members, noting that Trump has been trying to divide the country by invoking the military and putting the blame on Democrats if they were to go unpaid in the event of a shutdown.
McConnell quickly objected to McCaskill’s resolution — and instead left military pay up in the air along with the other casualties of his party’s decision to grind the federal government to a halt.
Hit the link and watch the exchange on video.
Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018
Earlier today, Republicans used the military as a prop to attack the Democrats. Moments ago, the GOP @SenateMajLdr blocked a bill on the Senate floor that would have ensured that military personnel are paid during the #TrumpShutdown. pic.twitter.com/Z5PVGDpCeD
— VoteVets (@votevets) January 20, 2018
Veterans make-up 1/3 of the entire federal workforce & are being hit twice by the #TrumpShutdown — missing paychecks and having benefits denied or delayed.
— Will Fischer (@will_c_fischer) January 20, 2018
Claire McCaskill (D-MO) just proposed a measure to guarantee military families get paid even during a #shutdown. McConnell objected, even after moralizing endlessly about the effect of a #GovernmentShutdown on military families#TrumpShutdown #GovtShutdown #GOPshutdown
— Jonathan Riley (@JonRiley7) January 20, 2018
UPDATE: Here’s the clip via Senate Democrats.
Early this morning, @clairecmc tried to pass a bill to guarantee military pay and death benefits in the #TrumpShutdown.
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell: I object. WATCH: pic.twitter.com/n3a7RBaxzi— Senate Democrats (@SenateDems) January 20, 2018