Pence Blames Democrats for Playing ‘Politics with Military Pay’ in Speech to U.S. Troops
Vice President Mike Pence delivered a speech to U.S. service members near the Syrian border in which he made reference to the shutdown.
“I’m sure you’re all aware of what’s happening in Washington, D.C.,” Pence said. “Despite bipartisan support for a budget resolution, a minority in the Senate has decided to play politics with military pay. But you deserve better. You and your families shouldn’t have to worry for one minute about whether you’re going to get paid as you serve in the uniform of the United States.”
He declared, “The President, the Vice President, and the American people are not going to put up with it.”
Pence even said that they aren’t planning to continue negotiations on immigration “until they re-open the government.”
And in case there was any ambiguity, the Vice President also tweeted this yesterday:
Honored to see troops based out of Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado while refueling in Ireland. They are headed to Kuwait for a six month deployment. It’s disappointing to every American that Democrats in the Senate would shutdown the gov't when we have troops in harms way. pic.twitter.com/xzCh0H3V8K
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) January 20, 2018
Per the LA Times, Senator Claire McCaskill (D- MO) “tried on Saturday to push a measure in the Senate that would guarantee military pay throughout the shutdown” but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked it.
Watch above, via CNN.
[image via screengrab]
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