Murkowski wants troop pay protected

July 28th 2:06 pm | Alaska Newspapers Staff

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is co-sponsoring the Protecting Military Pay Act of 2011, legislation prioritizing payment of military salaries in the event of a worst-case scenario funding gap.

The Alaska Republican said today that she remains optimistic about finding resolution to the stalemate over national debt and deficit, but while expecting the best, preparing for the worst.

"And that means looking out for our men and women serving overseas who are putting their life on the line defending America and American principles, as well as those serving back home," she said. "We must protect those who protect us."

The federal government is currently in the middle of a debate over the future fiscal course of the nation, while the Department of Treasury has indicated the deadline to raise the nation's "debt limit" is next Tuesday. There are no guarantees that America's military would receive paychecks if the deadline passes without an agreement on the debt limit, she said.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, would also prioritize the United States' debt, ensuring that its creditors continue to receive regularly scheduled payments - to ensure that America's credit rating suffers as little as possible.

"America honors its obligations and pays its debts," Murkowski added. "Failure to do so could undermine our credit worthiness and financial system altogether."

Alaska Newspapers Staff can be reached at editor@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2449

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