Troops don’t need bigger pay raises, Bush budget officials said the administration "strongly opposes" both the 3.5 percent raise for 2008 and the follow-on increases, calling extra pay increases "unnecessary."
It was so necessary to get the billions to waste in Iraq, but not necessary to raise the pay for the troops.
It was so necessary to get the billions to waste in Iraq, but not necessary to raise the pay for the troops.
The Bush administration had asked for a 3 percent military raise for Jan. 1, 2008, enough to match last year’s average pay increase in the private sector. The House Armed Services Committee recommends a 3.5 percent pay increase for 2008, and increases in 2009 through 2012 that also are 0.5 percentage point greater than private-sector pay raises.
The slightly bigger military raises are intended to reduce the gap between military and civilian pay that stands at about 3.9 percent today. Under the bill, HR 1585, the pay gap would be reduced to 1.4 percent after the Jan. 1, 2012, pay increase.
Bush budget officials said the administration “strongly opposes” both the 3.5 percent raise for 2008 and the follow-on increases, calling extra pay increases “unnecessary.”
“When combined with the overall military benefit package, the president’s proposal provides a good quality of life for service members and their families,” the policy statement says. “While we agree military pay must be kept competitive, the 3 percent raise, equal to the increase in the Employment Cost Index, will do that.”
The slightly bigger military raises are intended to reduce the gap between military and civilian pay that stands at about 3.9 percent today. Under the bill, HR 1585, the pay gap would be reduced to 1.4 percent after the Jan. 1, 2012, pay increase.
Bush budget officials said the administration “strongly opposes” both the 3.5 percent raise for 2008 and the follow-on increases, calling extra pay increases “unnecessary.”
“When combined with the overall military benefit package, the president’s proposal provides a good quality of life for service members and their families,” the policy statement says. “While we agree military pay must be kept competitive, the 3 percent raise, equal to the increase in the Employment Cost Index, will do that.”
"Holy cow, Batman" there's even more this President oppose for our troops!
The Gavel has the $40/month allowance for military survivors that he oppose, he thinks the current benefits are "sufficient."
"Creepers Robin," what kind of message does that send the Troops?
The Gavel has the $40/month allowance for military survivors that he oppose, he thinks the current benefits are "sufficient."
"Creepers Robin," what kind of message does that send the Troops?
18 comments:
For a war President Bush doesn't show any compassion at all for the troops or their families.
Bush refuses to attend a soldiers funeral, after he sent that soldier to his death.
You are so right Larry. I can not see how he can say Democrats are sending the wrong message to our troops, when he seems to be the one doing exactly that.
Compassion is out of the question when you are a regular, poor American... you can only do his bidding and that's it.
What people NEED to understand is that this is NOT a president this IS a DICTATOR! He could care less what the Troops or the American people want, it's ALL about HIM. I for one am GLAD he doesn't attend the soldiers funerals because the last thing the families need is a slap in the face in their time of grief. I certainly wouldn't want that self righteous hypocritical son of a bitch war loving bastard at my childs funeral. Sorry Let's Talk but this completely pisses me off!
I wouldn't want him at my childs funeral because as you said, it's all about him.
There's nothing to be sorry about FTF, I love the way you exspress yourself, I wish I could, just half as good as you, because it pisses me off too.
Bush has no capacity for empathy. A very frightening read is Justin Frank's "Bush On The Couch". He explains some possibly reasons for Bush being the way he is in regard to not being able to put himself in others' shoes. I think he is incapable of viewing the troops as anything but a means to an end.
When it comes to "supporting" the troops, Bush can TALK the talk, but he doesn't WALK the talk!
Thanks for pointing that out LT, I agree with you, and I wish more people would realize what is going on here. And not just with the troops who currently serve, but for those who are veterans who have been injured, maimed and destroyed from war experiences.
Can you believe that Bush okays it for soldiers with PTSD to be sent back to Iraq for MORE torture? That the government wants to close VA hospitals? That the supposed jewel of the VA system, Walter Reed Hospital, was allowed to decline so much? These are PEOPLE'S LIVES you are playing with, Mr. Bush. They aren't pawns, they are people! Arrrgh....
snave, this President has lost his mind... I prefer to say that, then say that this man thinks these troops are, as you say "pawns," being used as a means to an end. I think you are correct.
If there are any rightwingers out there who still think Bush "supports our troops," this should be their final wakeup call. This is beyond sick. Billions for Halliburton and other private contractors, and zilch for soldiers' pay and survivors' benefits. This is a new low.
Who Hijacked Our Country
Unbelievable.
before I retired last year, I was a pshrink -- ok, to be picky, I was a counseling psychologist.
I can tell you right now--Bush is a sociopath: one of those people who has no conscience.
and, it's our [and our troops'] bad luck to be here while he is in the White House-- and be at his mercy-- as if there were such a thing.m
tom harper: This IS a new low, and what makes it so bad is this is not the final wake up call for a lot of Republicans.
J. Marquis: This is unbelievable.
two crows: "it's our [and our troops'] bad luck to be here while he is in the White House-- and be at his mercy-- as if there were such a thing."
you ar right it's our bad luck, two crow.
Hi Let's Talk, I just wrote about this today.
So much for "support the troops"
My point was the willingness of BushCo to shell out cash to PMC's like BlackWater USA who recruit former soldiers and pay them $100,000+ per year yet Bush won't go along with an extra 0.5% pay raise.
It's all the same fuckng money..tax payer dollars.
Why is it ok to give our tax dollars awayt to private corps but the second we want to use some of that money for governmental agencies such as the military, BushCo and Republicans go all "that's wasteful spending" on us?
How do the troops feel right about now? Carrying all that water for Bush, being used as photoprops, and when it comes to an extra $6 per month, Bush says NO
What a fucking asshole.
Oh, and funkytown fighter, he's not a dictator he's a dicktater
PoliShifter I read your post today and left a comment.
Can you believe it; an extra $6 per month and that's too much, what a President.
And they don't want to waste money letting troops see you tube while at the same time they have decided to use youtube as a recruiting and propaganda tool
Yes 1138 I forgot about that... what kind of message is that to our troops.
It's as if they do not want America to know what is really going on in Iraq, but they can use those same tools to boost enlistment.
Despicable.
Chimpy thought GIs were "stupid" when he was younger (and dodging the draft.) His attitude hasn't changed.
The military is turning against him now as a result. The day is coming, soon, when they will start refusing his orders. That day we are in a completely different America. What will it look like? The way we're angering the military right now, it's hard to tell.
One would really think, with all the hundreds of billions spent on the Pentagon and arms, we could give good health care to vets and those currently serving, and that we could give them decent wages. But hey, let's hire mercenaries instead! and let's pay Halliburton millions to serve spoiled food and tainted water! Really appalling.
Political Realm: Yes it is despicable.
JollyRoger: If the Military is turning against him, it's about time.
Batocchio: Welcome to Let's Talk, I agree with you it is just appalling.
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