Roperchicks Rant on Politics

Allison Finch · 03-06-2013, 01:44 PM

Well, the military used to do all of its own logistical work. Remember KP duty?

Whoever (Bush) thought it was a good idea to give a no-bid contract to Halliburton where the CEO (Yikes...it was Chaney at one point) makes HUGE amounts of money as well as the rest of the executives.

This was a very expensive change that has been fraught with horrible fraud all along the way.

Civilians testify to Halliburton fraud, coercion - Wikinews, the free news source

deserthorsewoman · 03-06-2013, 02:13 PM

This is the first time im saying something in a political thread. But I have to clarify what life is/ was like having a contractor hubby.
He got out of the military after 15 years, because the only way of staying in was leaving Germany and 14 horses. He started contracting. 5 figures at the beginning...until it was negotiated between governments that an American contractor had to pay German taxes. That cut income by 56%
So he looker for another contracting job, found one in Italy. I followed, being convinced it would be a long term contract. NOT SO. Again, it was negotiated between governments, that the US military had to hire local nationals to do the work.
So another job search sent him to Korea. The first year there, due to overtime, it was 6 figures for about 7 months.
Every year a new contract is worked out, with other bidders. A company who wants to keep the contract has to underbid the others. Of course, management will not take any cuts. The workers will. Management or the US government gives a rat's behind that the little worker brings home less and less money, but has still two households. And the same cost as before.
So, after 8 years of cuts we finally decided it was enough. Hubby now has a GS position, makes about as much as the last year in Korea, but we're only one household now.
Everything fine and hunky-dory? Nope. Now it's sequester time....let's lose 8 hours a week.....what about the polititians? Do they lose hours/pay???????

Roperchick · 03-06-2013, 02:24 PM

^^^sounds like the military lol only sometimes paid better

deserthorsewoman · 03-06-2013, 02:31 PM

Glad you said " sometimes"....

Horse Poor · 03-07-2013, 01:35 AM

Nancy Pelosi is worth, what, 35 million? Come to think of it, I don't know of any poor politicians.

Deserthorsewoman, it's eerie the similarity between your situation and ours…but we used the Totalization agreement to avoid double SS taxes... Hubby's pay has been frozen for the last 4 years and sequestration has now hit us as well. It's shocking when you think about 1 day a week = 52 working days - that's 2 1/2 MONTHS without pay and without the ability to draw unemployment. I'm not for sure how it is going to shake out completely as he works 4/10s and the new schedule hasn't been posted yet.

deserthorsewoman · 03-07-2013, 01:45 AM

It'll go back to 5/8's then one day scratched..I think. In our case the positive, well, sort of, is $20/week less gas money:-/ gotta stay positive, right?

NdAppy · 03-08-2013, 10:45 AM

And now tuition assistance for military members is now gone...

Army suspends Tuition Assistance program - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Quote:

Army suspends Tuition Assistance program

By Jim Tice - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Mar 8, 2013 7:47:43 EST
The Army’s popular Tuition Assistance program is being suspended because of the budget squeeze, although the many thousands of soldiers currently enrolled in courses will be allowed to complete those courses.
The shutdown will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time today.
About 200,000 soldiers are currently using tuition assistance.
Soldiers will not be allowed to enroll in TA-funded courses after that deadline, according to Lt. Col. Tom Alexander, spokesman for the Army’s personnel chief.
“Soldiers who are in courses now can complete those courses, but they will not be allowed to enroll in new courses,” he said.
“This suspension is necessary given the significant budget execution challenges caused by the combined effects of a possible year-long continuing resolution and sequestration,” Alexander said.
“The Army understands the effects of this action and will re-evaluate should the budget situation improve,” he said.
The Tuition Assistance program is one of the Army’s most popular in-service benefits, with some 201,000 Regular Army, National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers participating in traditional classroom and online courses at 3,100 colleges and universities nationwide.
During fiscal 2012, the Army spent $373 million for tuition assistance payments.
Under the TA payment formula, payments are capped at $250 per semester hour of instruction, for up to an annual total of $4,500.
While the TA program is suspended, soldiers can pursue education goals using their VA benefits, if eligible, that include the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty, Montgomery Bill-Selected Reserve, Reserve Assistance Program and the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Other education funding sources also may be appropriate, such as grants, scholarships and the state tuition assistance programs available to some National Guard soldiers.
Pentagon officials strongly urge soldiers affected by the TA shutdown to contact their local Army education center to assess their options.
Updated information also will be posted by GoArmyEd, the online application for managing the TA program at www.goarmyed.com.

Roperchick · 03-08-2013, 06:06 PM

Yuuuup. For now.

RUMINT is here's a bill going through that the whole "budget cuts" arent allowed to come from TA only supplies and such.

They better fix it soooon. I just now got my CO's signature for it and I can't even use it

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