Kaine says military, vets need to press for budget agreement

At today’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Sen. Tim Kaine said people connected with the military need to tell a high powered Senate and House conference committee to get moving nail down a budget deal.

His comments came as the Joint Chiefs of Staff testified on the impact of this year’s sequestration on the nation’s military.

“Whether you’re active, veteran, or just a patriot, tell the budget conferees … get a budget deal by the 13th of December. Because what you need is certainty and a path out of sequester,” Kaine said.

At the hearing, Kaine asked Gen. James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, to comment on the impact of the sequester cuts on civilian employees, including tens of thousands of Virginians.

“I’m ashamed of the way we’ve treated our civilian marines,” Amos replied.  “As I look back at how we went through the furlough and how we went through the government shutdown - the professionals that are working on our airplanes, our ships, our tanks, our equipment…when I look at them in the eye, I’m embarrassed. I’m ashamed because I think they are every bit as patriots as we that wear the uniform are.”

Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner are members of the Budget Conference Committee. The committee was set up as part of the compromise that ended last month's government shutdown.

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