Shutdown Stops Military 'Death Gratuity'

Did halting medical trials for children with cancer not outrage you enough? Now, military families are up in arms after the government shutdown put a stop to the $100,000 wired to families in the three days after a death in order to cover funeral or travel costs. Known as the death gratuity, it would normally have been sent to familes of the 10 servicemen and women who died abroad over the weekend. Last week, Congress agreed to pay military during the shutdown, but the Pentagon determined it was unable to cover the costs of death gratuity. Republican aides say they are drafting legislation to restore the funds, which could be voted on as soon as Wednesday.