THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, November 15, 1995           TAG: 9511150006
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   28 lines

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?

``Federal government on brink of shutdown'' (news, Nov. 10) stated that the status of the Nov. 30 paychecks for the military was unsure, but welfare recipients would still receive their benefits if the government shut down.

The men and women serving our country might not get paid, but the people who aren't working can still keep collecting benefits?

Sure, the Navy personnel will be able to go to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society for interest-free loans (for sailors facing hardships, and based on how many children they support), but they also will have to pay back those loans.

President Clinton and Congress need to start working together instead of knocking each other. Maybe one day we won't have to face this situation again.

REBECCA J. BENTON

Virginia Beach, Nov. 11, 1995 by CNB