It was 2 a.m. and we were rummaging through empty pizza boxes on the conference table hoping to find a slice that may have been overlooked by others. These kinds of late nights were rather normal in the Navy’s budget programming division, often referred to as the “Bullpen.”
When I served in the Navy, the Bullpen was where we had to balance the Navy’s budget proposal for the President of the United States. We would do these “budget drills” almost every week when an Admiral or Secretary had a bright idea to invest in something new. The challenge was the budget. If we wanted to invest in a new technology, we had to reduce the number of missiles and aircrafts procured, and carefully ensure we did not fall below the economic order of quantity where it actually costs more to produce less. We balanced between capacity (or quantity) and capability (improvements) while maintaining and repairing the aging ships. It’s called “adds” and “offsets” to achieve a zero sum gain.
The twenty-four officers who made up the Bullpen were from all walks of life. We were fighter pilots, helicopter pilots, ship drivers, submariners, medical service corps, supply corps, Seabees, and I was from the special operations community. We were all hand selected by our military specialty communities to represent them in the budget battles. Oftentimes, our boss reminded us to check our tribe pride at the door, but he understood we had to return to those tribes after our grueling two-year tours. I imagined it would be no different for elected members returning to their districts.
The difference between the Bullpen and Congress is that we didn’t take six weeks off for the summer before embarking on the incredible task of balancing a budget, which has not been balanced in fourteen years, with three weeks left before the end of the fiscal year. It always baffled me that October 1st comes as a surprise each year, with both sides threatening a possible government shutdown. It reminds me of the kid in school who woke up and realized there was a final exam after repeatedly not showing up for class or doing any homework assignments.
Over the years, both Republicans and Democrats have threatened government shutdowns because of their inability to work together. They use the military and first responders as pawns in their sick game of chicken. While I prepared for another combat deployment, I had to worry about my wife and whether our savings were sufficient to last until the shutdown ended. For many service members without savings, the Credit Unions were primed to provide interest free bridge loans. We knew we would be paid in the end, but the military didn’t have the luxury of sitting at home. Our country called and we answered. It’s what we did.
Now, it’s time for us to hold Congress accountable. Congress needs to have the same kind of dedication that we did in the Bullpen, but unfortunately, many career politicians and bureaucrats have no loyalty except to their wallets and the special interest groups that stuff them.
When I’m elected to the Senate and I’m required to weigh in on budget negotiations, I believe there should be no “summer recess” or “district work period” until a workable budget is set in stone. I believe members of Congress should go without pay every day they are unable to pass a budget so they understand and feel the pain that working class Americans feel at home. It’s time for Congress to understand the consequences when neither side of the aisle understands how to compromise and negotiate with one another.
Let’s send a new generation of Congressmen and Senators to Washington who are not used to the status quo and will remember to check their tribe pride at the door. Members who understand deadlines and how to deliver for the people they were elected to represent.