Debt limit could threaten military pay
 

Debt limit could threaten military pay

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011...084055?sac=Mil

"........."Reductions in future spending commitments cannot supply the short-term cash needed," Geithner said.............."

The Debt Train just keeps on a rollin' down the tracks.

Propose a budget - well, we're well into this year's budget without a budget - but don't have the money to pay for it and then cry when we can't borrow more.

And speaking of Federal Money? Remember all the "creat of save jobs" talk a couple of years ago. Federal money going to school systems and the stupid school systems used it for teacher pay? I asked back then "What happens when the grant is done?"

From the Fayetteville Observer

Cumberland schools notify teachers jobs are cut, increase class sizes

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/04/04/1083747?sac=

"......Under Till's plan, about 80 teachers who were hired after the first day of school in August were cut outright next year to make up for a $14 million loss in stimulus and other federal funding............"

Also caused by a drop in State spending - but notice once again it's teachers - no other staff or administration positions. Out of 7,000 employees you'd think they could get at least 50% of the cuts from outside the classrooms.

The point of both articles is to show that "You" hit where it hurts the most to get people complaining "Give me my money (Teachers)".

Same thing with the High Sheriff in Cumberland County. Any time he does not get his requested budget money he cuts the school crossing guards. Soccer Moms scream bloody murder and he gets the money.

It's all over folks.

My wife is a school teacher in Cumberland County. She's in her 21st year. The budget's been a hot button issue for awhile now. I was actually surprised that the cuts weren't deeper. I'll give Dr. Till some credit though. Several months ago he told all of his teachers and administrators that he wanted ideas for budget cuts. Then he said, ask your families to submit ideas too. I sent him a lengthy email outlining some hard cuts....and he responded back personally (or maybe through one of his staff members) that some of my ideas had already been looked at.

In the end though, I agree with you, those lost jobs and increased classroom sizes are intended to polarize the community to fight for more money.

Here's something that pisses me off though, the lottery...the "NC Education Lottery" has been in existence for what? 6 or 7 years now? Seems to me we had an Education Budget at the state prior to the lottery. What happened to that money? I don't remember my taxes going down.

As a side note to the government shut down....
 

As a side note to the government shut down....

If all government offices, parks, faclities - everything - is shut down.....

Does that mean Air Force 1 is grounded?

Essential services continue to operate.

TR

Is flying to a fund raiser an "Essential serice"?

It is if you are the POTUS.

I don't like it any more than you do, and think the reimbursement by the Party should be a lot more, but the justification is that in the event of an emergency, he needs the comms suites and security AF One provides.

I didn't believe that the criticism of President Bush was valid when he was using AF 1 for the same thing.

TR

It is not the issue of fund raising. It is the issue of jetting all over the country for fund raisers while the government is shut down (if it is shut down).

Remember all the crap Bush got for playing Golf while troops died? Seems to be a lot of "let them eat cake" in this POTUS & FLOTUS.

And folks - remember this budget fight is over the D's budget from last year. The one that should have been passed well before the 2010 elections. Now is when the congress should be dealing with the budget that starts in a few months.

Military to get pay for 1 week if government shuts down
 

Military to get pay for 1 week if government shuts down

http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011...084378?sac=Mil

"...........If the funding bill expires Friday, it will be in the middle of the military's two-week pay period, so the Pentagon would send out paychecks for just the first week of the pay period, the official.................."

All you with mid-month pay need to check your automatic debits.

I thought President Reagan had some act/bill that would like the Military pay get stopped? I guess I was wrong!

NC State Advance Placement Program
 

I feel one North Carolina School system program that needs to be cut is the Advanced Placement coursework providing high school students to college-level material. This program provides a School System Student to take college-level courses at their local Community Colleges for FREE. The program pays for transportation for any student that cannot afford to get there themselves and each States County High School Students get funding for this program. I say if the state and Counties are both hurting for money. Well are we paying for a program that is not a requirement for students to graduate from High School? Each County and the State will fund it because it is a set program and they don’t want to lose face. But they will fire teachers and teachers aids funding will be cut.

Think about how much gas and maintenance is spent by each County for this program. But for that kid that can get a ride to go to college-level courses at their local Community Colleges for FREE, teacher suffer. You can go on and on with this program and its COST.

Cumberland County Program Page


Yes it is Advance Placement Program, but it is not hard at all to get into this progam. If you kid made good grades in Middle school, they are in staring in 9th grade.

1stindoor - I hope these cuts doesn't effect your wife's job. Tell thanks for what say DOES everyday!!

1 Maybe it really is free, Maybe this is a "loss-leader" to expose quality candidates to the colleges. A classroom is a fixed cost item, up to a point, it doesn't matter how many students are in the room.

2 I have not seen the spreadsheet but again I doubt one (or two) roundtrip buses per school per day is going to add that much to the bottom line.

3 How do teachers suffer? Other then one less "fun to teach" kid not in the classroom?

Yup. So? It is nice to see something for the dedicated, hardworking students. And that IS what it's for -- this is not designed for the bright kids. We have GATE (Gifted And Talented Education). Or shall we have them all plod along at the NCLB pace?

Free for some...
 

It is free for some but not tax payers. D2 took a couple, maybe three and IIRC it was around $110 per test.

Plus when she got to App State the required "electives" bounced them so she had to take their classes anyway. And don't get me talking about the guidance counselor who screwed up her freshman class so they are all scrambling for limited seats in a special required class this summer that they should have taken the freshman year. The ones who don't get in the limited seating will have to take the class next summer - after the rest of the class graduates. And yes the individual is still working there and does stuff like this every year.

Beat me to it. My son is in the program through Terry Sanford. He has been taking honors classes throughout high school and his tests run between $85-$100 as well. There are definitely problems with the program but I firmly believe the advantages are outweighing those problems.

Some of the cost saving measures I suggested to Dr. Till included revamping the bus system, and money and resources spent on HS sports.

On a personal note, I seriously doubt my wife's job is in jeopardy. But thank you for the well wishes, and I'll pass on the thanks to her.

What happens to ROTC scholarships and service academy operations? Is civilian schooling suspended for those students who rely on federal financial aid as well?

Flexible deterrent options have potential in a diplomatic setting when countries take issue with the activities and attitudes of other countries (i.e. putting a carrier off someone's coast, TLAM vessels, fund seizing, etc). Placing a negotiation mark on the wall and ultimatum is old hat when negotiating contracts and business dealings.

I think the immediate, second, and third order effects of something of this magnitude in a stumbling economy while engaged in multiple theaters at once have not been fully considered and the powers that be are soon to find out their political bluff is going to severely deteriorate their own political ambitions and aims.

In short, the potential end state derivation by ways and means is not adequately balanced by the risks incurred.

From the latest message...

Remember, the dims immediately took what was "extra" from the education budget and instead of saving or paying down, spent it on pet projects.

that is why increasing taxes will only encourage more spending. they see and increase in revenue and see that as a green light to spend.

CHARGE!!!!!!!! :munchin

I remember all too well. I've also watched them "borrow" from other funds such as the highway fund...I told my wife not to expect too much from her retirement.

In other related news, I found this "opinion" piece on Fox News. I think there's some merit in a lot of the sarcasm.
As a father to three teenagers...I can attest to the "they'll eat you out of house and home" statement.

And here I am a gov't worker. :munchin :D

I think this pretty much sums up the general mood of the public over the matter...

Richard :munchin

I know this isn't military pay tread....


1 Maybe it really is free, Maybe this is a "loss-leader" to expose quality candidates to the colleges. A classroom is a fixed cost item, up to a point, it doesn't matter how many students are in the room.
I know it works for many kids and their families, but we sates are having to fire or lay-off teachers.. Maybe???

2 I have not seen the spreadsheet but again I doubt one (or two) roundtrip buses per school per day is going to add that much to the bottom line. No it is a Ton of Money that goes out to pay for Students who pareants can't not take them to these Colleges along with the ones that can't pay for courses. I will find out the cost, I was surprised how much it was just for Buses. It's not just Gas, it's overtime for drivers, maintance fees rolled in (Likely BS) and other fees.

3 How do teachers suffer? Other then one less "fun to teach" kid not in the classroom? So we put them into College course to Disrupt that classroom? I don't like this idea if that is one of teh reasons. I don't think it would be, just because most of those kids wouldn't be in a AP school program.

SO I'm sorry, you want to save money for teachers and other pay, cut programs that students don't need graduate. I understand it is great for many students and what they get out of it. I'm talking about overall funds going out.

Military Pay
 

I saw this morning one top Army official and a Congressman confirmed that, if there is a shutdown, troops would not receive pay past April 8 and would have to be paid retroactively once legislation for funding is passed.

So how many times you gotten your back pay done on TIME!?!?! Yeap that's what I think too.

I think you misread what DZ523 was saying - I think he was saying that the students who are most likely to opt for the college courses over their normal high school classes are the students teachers most enjoy having in their classrooms, and when they're gone it just leaves a greater percentage of the class being made up of the less motivated, more disruptive, and needier students.

Richard :munchin

We're getting paid?!!!! My wife is in sooo much trouble right now.

My "Inbox" is filling up hourly by all the emails back and forth about the furlough, the pay issue, leaves, travel, etc.

Very true...there's something to be said for the student that actually does his/her assignments, reads the read-ahead stuff, and comes armed to discuss things in the classroom. Everyone benefits from that kid. Everyone talks about the "curve" being thrown by the egghead...no one mentions the benefits.

BTW...my son is one of the eggheads....but then again he belongs in the Midvale School for the Gifted.

4 guys and a truck
 

Save money in the local school systems?

I'm sure the four guys leaning on the truck watching a fifth mow the grass would fund a teacher or two.

The two guys down at Biscuit Kitchen for the last 2 hours in a school system truck - at least one more teacher.

Half the workers down at the HQ on 301 Business - a couple of dozen more.

Still have the work order system of fixing things? The plumber shows up to fix a leaking faucet. After he's done you show him another one and he says turn in a work order 'cause he has to take a lazy drive to the other side of the county to fix another faucet.

I'm still laughing about the school sales tax vote that we had this week. One district sent home a flyer explaining that voting for the tax would allow the district to reduce the tax burden already in place because they would use the new tax money to accelerate the old tax debt.
:confused: Yeah me too.
The last class the sponsors failed must have been Intro to Logic.

OTOH our superintendent guaranteed his job with the quote, "This is the wrong tax at the wrong time, vote No."

I'm guessing that after the next election he'll come up with the "right tax at the right time."

I used to tell my faculty that if kids come to us (educators and teachers) from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important.

And so it goes...

Richard :munchin

Love that school... my kid is there too.

Richard - Okay I got out of old Muddy Now.. I'm cleaned off. :D

Yes very true and it's almost better at some point before Christmas break (or whatever school systems are calling it now) to move all those kids into on classroom.

Never mind received interest on what the Gov't owes you for TDY or Taxes.....:D

:)

Back to pay being stopped
 

Back to pay being stopped.

The SOB stories have been all over the news. Two big line? Military families and National Parks.

Nowhere in the MSM have I seen it mentioned is that Obama overturned a directive put in place by Reagan to prevent the Military from not being paid. Ah, how long has Obama been in office? Around 2 years? So his directive is fairly new? You'd think that would get a little mention from the MSM.

But the MSM is in the tank for libs.

Seriously Pete,do you really think obama gives a f**k about the military getting paid?.........:mad::mad::mad:

Big Teddy :munchin

It's official, straight from DFAS's mouth

My mid month LES, showed up today...with half. Sounds like a bad Eddie Murphy jokeline.

Sorry fellas, hope it improves quickly for all families affected.

Here's the sad part...I sent several Soldiers to AER to get their paperwork started...they were turned away. Told to come back next week when they've been given guidance and spoke with the Commanders.

A$$holes...I guess AER wasn't set up to handle short term loans to Soldiers in their time of need in order to make sure their basic needs were met.

I heard on the radio that the congress passed a law to keep the military being paid while they sort out the budget, but apparently Obama has no signed it into law.

CINC has the power to ensure his Military is paid.
 

Cutting off Soldiers pay while they are in 3 wars fighting barbarians from hell is the lowest of the low. At least government workers who get cut off in the have a chance to find other work to do and are with their families.

Now we will have Soldiers who have no pay to keep their houses and Dependants fed - and will be able to do nothing about it. The democrat enterprise is pure evil. POTUS is a despicable little man. No Leader, no King would cut his army off like that in a war but little man boy Barry.

Maybe Senator Kerry was right:
"You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."


Maybe if all of us silly uneducated military and government workers werent so much of a burden on the economy, then congress wouldn't have to shut down.



...:rolleyes: for now, I will continue to sit around being terribly 'underwhelmed' by the performance of the goons living it up itside the 'beltway'