RNC Offers To Pay For WWII Memorial Guards (150K for 30 Days)

[big_dog]

Source: CNN

The Republican National Committee is offering the United States government a check to pay for guards at the National World War II Memorial, chairman Reince Priebus announced Wednesday. "We're willing to pay the bill," said Priebus, who was speaking to reporters as he stood in front of a fence at the memorial.

The memorial had been the site of a dramatic encounter Tuesday between visiting World War II veterans and a fence erected to keep visitors out. The National Parks Service argued the government shutdown left them with no personnel to guard and maintain the open air memorial.

According to Priebus, the RNC is willing to pay for five guards who would watch over the memorial, what the party committee estimated to be a $150,000 expenditure for 30 days, Priebus said. Priebus also invited the Democratic National Committee to help pay for the proposed security at the memorial.

The memorial fence has become a flashpoint in the shutdown debate, with Democrats blaming Republican intransigence for forcing all national parks, including the memorial on the National Mall, to close down.



The DNC quickly responded to the Republican proposal by calling it a "stunt." "We've already been working on a plan to open the Memorial - and the entire government - after the GOP caused them to close. It's called a clean funding resolution and it sounds like the votes are there if the Speaker would just call for a vote," DNC Communications Director Mo Elleithee said in a statement.



Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/02/rnc-offers-to-pay-for-ww2-memorial-guards/

[tanyev]

1. No Photo Op Left Behind.

[7962]

2. It doesnt even NEED any guards. Its an open air memorial.

Those stupid barricades were a stunt.

[kimbutgar]

11. I have been there and left unguarded could invite vandals

Remember a couple months ago when the Lincoln memorial was vandalized with green paint? If this stupid shutdown continues on I would bet there would be vandalism to the monuments all over DC.

[7962]

31. Under normal circumstances, its "open" 24 hrs a day with little supervision

The Park Police (who are still working, by the way) were told to barricade the monument. I just dont like it when Democrats do the same stupid shit that the GOP does.

[kimbutgar]

33. When I was there I saw a few security guards walking around this was in April last year

I emailed a friend who has a friend in the Capitol police, he said all the big monuments has 24 hour patrolling.

[Kingofalldems]

35. Democrats aren't doing anything stupid.

[7962]

37. They're even closing parks in VA that dont even use federal funds or people

And since we have control of the administration, then yes, the Democrats are doing something stupid. Dont stoop to that level.
Want more evidence?
The Claude Moore Colonial Farm announced on Wednesday that NPS has ordered it to suspend operations until Congress agrees to a deal to fund the federal government.

According to Anna Eberly, managing director of the farm, NPS sent law enforcement agents to the park on Tuesday evening to remove staff and volunteers from the property.

“You do have to wonder about the wisdom of an organization that would use staff they don’t have the money to pay to evict visitors from a park site that operates without costing them any money,” she said.“In previous budget dramas, the Farm has always been exempted since the NPS provides no staff or resources to operate the Farm,” Eberly explained in an emailed statement.

[Kingofalldems]

39. Republicans shut down the government, they are responsible.

[7962]

41. So they're responsible for closing a park that uses no fed money or employees? Jeeze.

Wow, thats really the "my team right or wrong" spirit, I guess.
We're all too happy to post stupid shit that the GOP does here on DU. I don't like it when the Dems do the same side-show crap. And thats all this is. Oh, it will get the desired result, the people will blame the GOP. I would just rather they get the blame for all the REAL crap they do.

[Kingofalldems]

44. Ah yeah.

And it's not the 'Democrat party' who shut the government down.

[7962]

45. I never said it was the Democrats. I just dont like childish fakery. Let the GOP pull that stuff.

WHO shut the government down has nothing to do with what I'm talking about.

[Kingofalldems]

36. Says who?

[wordpix]

3. and pretty soon the RNC will own the memorial. Just like the R land grabbers always do

[stillcool]

27. yep...and selling tickets..

[yuiyoshida]

4. They next plan to give tours of the Treasury to their friends

along with giving away free samples. Hey, the guards are away, who would miss a 100 dollar bill here or there?

[stillcool]

28. oy...no wonder they've..

already started celebrating! They love to trash the place (anyplace) as they're walking out the door.

[Raven]

5. Shameless! Just shameless.

[lostincalifornia]

6. Good, the idiots won't pass a clean budget, let them pay for it from what is left from the crazies

That support them

If they wanted to end this they would simply pass,THEIR budget as a clean bill, but of course that is not their real agenda is it?

[amb123]

7. A mockery of all who have died for our country.

Pure & Simple.

[texanwitch]

8. What did the men and women fight for in WW2, not this.

They were fighting for a better world.

That the WW2 memorial would be a part of this is something else.

[mac56]

9. It's the buffet approach to governance, ladies and gentlemen!

Sooo... this means that any organization that wants to, can pony up to operate any government service it happens to like?! This opens up limitless possibilities.

[Swede Atlanta]

10. Hmm...I would prefer they donate to

re-open head start facilities for poor children
pay to keep children's access to cancer drug trials running
pay for 800,000 families who have no paycheck

the list goes on and on. They always wrap themselves up in the American flag with Apple Pie and Ice Cream (as long as neither were produced by union labor or by workers that were being paid a living wage).

Reince Priebus should be ashamed of himself.

[azurnoir]

12. Hey here's an idea pass a clean budget bill no blackmail items to get your way

and voila' problem solved, see how easy

[truthisfreedom]

13. The DNC should offer to financially assist WIC

and other social programs repukes hate.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. Pay the damn checks for the NIH clinical trials you have forced to be cancelled

Save lives before you memorialise them. Hell, it's a better photo-op handing a check over to a hospital. Isn't it?

[Iliyah]

15. As we know, these are some sick MFers

GOPers cause the shutdown then swoop in like "it ain't our fault". These type of people are dangerous to the country and the world.

[City Lights]

16. Pathetic.

Their stoopid is showing.

[go west young man]

17. What a callous bunch of shits.

Before funding head start for toddlers they want to pay for a bunch of statues for wars. Talk about having your priorities wrong. If I was an older veteran visiting that site I would be ashamed to walk around knowing that. America has lost it's way with these republican extremists.

[Vashta Nerada]

18. This is absolutely the dumbest thing I have ever read on the internet.

This is nothing but pointless political theater.

Reince Pubic Hair, how about you get the RNC get off their asses and fund the goddamn government?

[Lifelong Dem]

19. What about

All the vets depending on housing vouchers (HUD) when federal assistance isn't there next month. Screw them?

Q: Will PHAs receive November (and subsequent) HAP and administrative fees?

A: This depends on whether Congress passes a budget or reaches a deal on a Continuing Resolution. There are no payments beyond October scheduled to disburse at this time. HUD’s ability to make timely November payments will depend upon receipt and timing of adequate allotments of funds, and having staff available to process funds and schedule disbursements.

Q: In the event of a government shutdown, will I lose my rental assistance if I live in Public Housing, Tribally-Designated Housing, or receive a Housing Choice Voucher?

A: Under a lapse in appropriations, HUD would not be able to fund additional payments to public and Indian housing authorities. The country’s 3,300 Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and TDHEs should be able to continue providing rental assistance for the remainder of the month of October. However, depending on the length of the shutdown, some PHAs and TDHEs may not be able to maintain normal operations. As described above, you should contact your local PHA or TDHE for information related to the status of its operations and business hours.

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?id=HUDContingencyPlan2013.pdf

Just like when they were in an uproar over the sequester cut in WH tours. These games are really pissing people off.

[Paladin]

20. What's the RNC doing about the 250,000 pending veterans' claims?

Other than slowing them down by seeing to 20,000 case workers being furloughed?

[blkmusclmachine]

21. Means that the GOPee is in this for the long haul.

I'm hearing predictions that the GOPee intends to blow up the Debt Ceiling, too. The GOPee will destroy this Country, if that's what it takes.

[frylock]

22. no need to fuck around on the debt ceiling..

Obama's negotiating position should be minting that coin right up front. take it or leave.

[alcibiades_mystery]

23. Sorry...we don't have the employees to process your payment or hire guards or allocate

FUCK YOU VERY MUCH for your offer.

[mulsh]

24. The Park Service politely declined the offer, something about 'the law"?

[link:http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/10/02/park-service-rejects-rncs-offer-to-help-reopen-wwii-memorial/?tid=auto_complete|

[Historic NY]

34. Its a 143 yr old law.....

The Antideficiency Act prohibits federal employees from

making or authorizing an expenditure from, or creating or authorizing an obligation under, any appropriation or fund in excess of the amount available in the appropriation or fund unless authorized by law. 31 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1)(A).

involving the government in any obligation to pay money before funds have been appropriated for that purpose, unless otherwise allowed by law. 31 U.S.C. § 1341(a)(1)(B).

accepting voluntary services for the United States, or employing personal services not authorized by law, except in cases of emergency involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. 31 U.S.C. § 1342.

making obligations or expenditures in excess of an apportionment or reapportionment, or in excess of the amount permitted by agency regulations. 31 U.S.C. § 1517(a).

Federal employees who violate the Antideficiency Act are subject to two types of sanctions: administrative and penal. Employees may be subject to appropriate administrative discipline including, when circumstances warrant, suspension from duty without pay or removal from office. In addition, employees may also be subject to fines, imprisonment, or both

http://www.gao.gov/legal/lawresources/antideficiencybackground.html

Shutdowns have consequences.

[robinlynne]

25. "We're willing to pay the bill." Good. Pay the federal budget bill. It's time.

[Mellow Drama]

26. Today on campus...

A right winger started to spew the nonsense about this crap. I told him that if the cheap GOP bastards would pass the bill, all this nonsense wouldn't even be happening. He told me it's "you f**king lib minorites are sucking everything up from real working folks," like he really worked a hard shift in his life.

My response? I kicked him in the balls. Everyone cheered, including the Iraqi war vet who is vehemently against the GOP himself.

[marble falls]

29. If they get to decide where they get to put their "taxes", can I refuse to put mine into the MIC?

[Earth_First]

32. +1000 nt

[quadrature]

30. is Egypt still being funded? ...nt

[7962]

38. Great question!

[CreekDog]

40. The private sector can't fund a government activity

One of the reasons furloughed federal employees can't work at all, even without pay, is because there are government rules about accepting work for free and the conflicts of interest or appearance of impartiality that occurs when people "give" things or time to pay for a government activity.

No dice Rinse.

[Retrograde]

42. Who's the GOP base?

Last edited Thu Oct 3, 2013, 12:18 AM - Edit history (1)

Elderly white guys, including people likely to have served in WWII (yes, not all veterans are white or conservative, but as a bloc they tend that way), people who worship the military no matter if they served or not - it's pandering to what's left of their base at its most transparent.

[NYC Liberal]

43. Or they could have not shut down the government to begin

with.

They created this problem and now try to act like heroes "fixing" it. Just like how we bombed Iraqi schools and hospitals and then tried to pat ourselves on the back for all the schools and hospitals we built there (which were just rebuilding what we had destroyed).