Military personnel hurt by budget game playing

Allow me to express my opinion regarding this continuing situation regarding our Congress not being able to reach a budget on a timely basis. My displeasure is the threat of "payless paydays" for active-duty military members and their families.

I've been fortunate to visit our daughter, who is a civilian employee of the Department of Defense, at a couple of her assignments in the Middle and Far East. During these visits, I've seen military families going about their daily lives thousands of miles from home. I believe, for the most part, these families live "paycheck-to-paycheck" like many other Americans.

I feel the subjection of these families to the stress caused by the uncertainty of being able to meet financial obligations while budget games are being played halfway around the world every few months is morally wrong.

At the very least, active-duty personnel that are deemed "essential" should be paid on a timely basis during a "government shutdown"- much like military retirees will receive their pension checks during such a shutdown.

John Schmitz

Bloomingdale