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* SJ-R…
About 13,000 part-time Illinois National Guard soldiers and airmen, as well as more than 1,000 full-time civilian employees, could lose two months’ pay if Congress fails to act by August 1, the state’s adjutant general said Monday.
The potential cuts and furloughs are related to more than $521 million in unreimbursed costs incurred by National Guard forces in Illinois and across the country for security Guard troops provided after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Illinois’ share of the unprecedented shortfall is $31 million, according to Adjutant General Richard Neely, commander of the Illinois Army and Air National Guard.
C’mon, already.
*** UPDATE *** Gov. Pritzker…
Governor JB Pritzker today called on Congress to repay the debt owed to the National Guard for providing security to the U.S. Capitol following the January 6th riots. The governor urged the U.S. Senate to immediately take up legislation that would both make the National Guard whole for the D.C. mission and provide funding for critical safety and security enhancements at the U.S. Capitol.
Following the January 6th attack on the Capitol, thousands of guard members from across the nation, including hundreds of men and women from Illinois, responded to the federal government’s call for assistance. These brave soldiers provided critical security support for the country in a time of dire need. With expenses from the D.C. mission still outstanding, the National Guard is facing devastating prospects if this funding is not immediately repaid, including a reduction in exercises, weekend training, and potential furloughs. This places a significant financial burden on individual members of the guard, putting their monthly drill checks and insurance payments in jeopardy.
“Even as the events of January 6th were still unfolding, heroes from across the nation fearlessly mobilized in defense of their country, and every day that our debts to them go unpaid is an insult to their service,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Congress needs to act with urgency to not only protect the integrity of our National Guard but to do everything possible to prevent another January 6th from ever happening again. Here in Illinois, our Illinois National Guard soldiers and airmen have sacrificed so much over the last 18 months, leaving their homes and families, civilian jobs and universities, dropping their plans and putting their lives on hold – all to respond to the needs of our state and nation. This is about readiness and about taking care of our soldiers and airmen, but even more so, it’s about honor. I urge Congress to act quickly on behalf of the safety, security, and dignity of all Americans.”
Over 25,000 Guard troops answered the call to protect the Capitol following the January 6th riots. Thousands remained in Washington, D.C. until the end of May to provide support to local law enforcement and ensure the safety of the nation’s capital city.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 2:01 am
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Both parties should be ashamed of themselves. This is beyond ludicrous.
Pay Them.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 8:01 am
I say we send the bill to that republican mega-donor billionaire that seems to think the national guard is his private army.
Comment by Commissar Gritty Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 9:30 am
@ Commissar Gritty:
Any hints? I know it isn’t Trump, he’s got no where close to the money he claims.
And Eric Prince has his own mercenaries.
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 9:36 am
Generally:
Why does this stiffing not surprise me?
Would be fascinating to see how chicken hawks like Ted Cruz and “Patriots (banned punctuation)” like Paul Gosar voted on funding this.
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 9:39 am
@Lynn S.
Per the Associated Press, the billionaire is Willis Johnson.
Comment by Nuke The Whales Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 9:40 am
Maybe the costs should be passed on to all of those charged and convicted of insurrection related offenses on a pro-rated basis?
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 9:44 am
You’d think the entire delegation would unite in loudly and collectively to get the monies necessary to make the ILNG whole… I’m not “hearing” that kind of loud chorus from the entirety of the delegation… I mean, Mary Miller was one who made possible the need for the guard at the Capitol, you’d think with that honest stigma to her own reality she’d want the guard reimbursed.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 10:37 am
Half a billion dollars to defend a building.
Imagine how much good, half a billion dollars could do were it not for those insurrectionists.
Comment by H-W Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 10:50 am
==Half a billion dollars to defend a building.==
H.W., while I fully agree with your sentiment (imagine how much good half a billion dollars could do…), I submit that it was not the building that was being protected. It was and is the work that’s supposed to take place there. What kind of precedent would it set if an armed insurrection was met with no countervailing and overwhelming show of force? We’d have armed insurrections every other week.
Still, that much money would buy a lot of vaccine, or beds for the homeless, or treatment for opioid addiction, amirite?
Comment by Dysfunction Junction Tuesday, Jul 20, 21 @ 12:18 pm