Bi-Partisan, Bi-Cameral Support for Guard Technicians

State Sen. Tim Solobay this past week joined state National Guard leaders and legislative colleagues to support continued efforts to exempt National Guard technicians from furloughs caused by federal budget sequestration.

“We have to keep the pressure on to protect these men and women who protect us,” Solobay, D-Cecil, said. “After the natural disasters we’ve seen over the past few years, it makes no sense to let our guard down because of partisan politics.”

Arbitrary budget cuts went into effect March 1 as the U.S. Congress failed to reach agreement on how to avoid the consequences of the  Budget Control Act of 2011.

Republicans and Democrats agreed that active military personnel should be exempt from the cuts, but thousands of civilian National Guard technicians are facing possible furlough, causing concerns about preparedness.

“We thank the Pennsylvania General Assembly for their steadfast support and joining us in expressing to Congress and the President that they need to correct this oversight,” said Joel Mutschler, chairman of the Pennsylvania National Guard Associations.

Solobay, Democratic chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee sponsored Senate Resolution 104, urging Congress pass a bill intended to exempt the technicians from furlough and avoid crippling Pennsylvania’s emergency preparedness.  

Solobay’s resolution passed the Senate unanimously, while a similar resolution passed unanimously in the House this week.