I am appalled that Speaker John Boehner and Republican House members keep pushing us toward a government shutdown, when it is clear that troops and military families will be among those hurt.

While our troops will be asked to continue serving, they won’t be paid for their sacrifice until the government shutdown ends. Though they will receive full back-pay when the budget is resolved, troops and military families who depend on their bi-weekly paycheck will not be seeing it on time. For troops who have spouses and kids on the homefront, even one delayed paycheck could cause huge problems for them in this economy. It simply isn’t right to ask our military families and troops who sacrifice so much already to give up their paychecks because of Republican obstinance. Shutting down the government isn’t responsible.

President Obama has already proposed $33 billion in budget cuts, but Republicans won’t give up on some demands like cutting tens of millions from housing for homeless veterans. It is time for Republicans to act responsibly, and spare our country and troops and their families from a shutdown of the government.

Gail Glosser
Everett