White House opposes 3.5 percent pay raise for military »
Posted by: bubba2 1 year, 3 months agoTroops don't need bigger pay raises, White House budget officials said Wednesday in a policy statement laying out objections to the House version of the 2008 defense authorization bill. They said the administration strongly opposes both the 3.5% raise for 2008 and the follow-on increases, calling extra pay increases "unnecessary".
Read Full Story at armytimes.com
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bubba21 year, 3 months ago
And here it is - a shining example of how the Bush administration "supports the troops" ... hypocrites!
The pay raise amount is "unnecessary".
Then so are the lives being stolen and the permanent injuries being suffered by our troops in Iraq, and by the innocent men, women, and children in Iraq.
Bush and his cronies don't support the troops at all - they let the VA treat them shabbily and they don't want to give them a decent pay raise or pay them decent wages, but they want them to fight and die and be maimed and emotionally damaged and homeless and bankrupt, all in the name of their "war", which is really only in the name of their PNAC agenda.
I am so fed up and angry over this - and over the children in Iraq dying and sick and starving and on drugs and in prostution and working for insurgents to support their families - that there are no more words to expess it!
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mcgrievysr1 year, 3 months ago
You said it well. The liberals want to support our troops by getting them out of unnecessary harm's way. The conservatives argue semantics by saying that we lose if we withdraw and they want our easily identifiable troops to stay in the fatal crossfire of a civil war. Bush goes one step further and says let's put more troops in the crosshairs, but more pay is "unnecessary. Ha! Who is really supporting the troops?
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GregD1 year, 3 months ago
You don't honestly believe that this administration would support our troops do you? They didn't support the troops in the first place by doing their homework before invading Iraq, why should they start now?
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JasonVA1 year, 3 months ago
Such a disgrace! The individuals who risk everything they have for this country are treated like a write off. They deserve so much better than what our government allows them. This makes me more mad at Bush than the calamity in Iraq!
They are our most valued citizens and they get substandard health care, horrible living conditions during recovery, pushed past dates of enlistment or retirement by a back door draft called Stop Loss, multiple deployments, and now coming to light, not deserved of a pay raise for risking their lives.
What is more ridiculous is when the government cuts money from programs to save money, the first thing they cut is VA funds.
Bless our soldiers. I hope they don't hate the American people for the way our own government treats them.
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darth-chris1 year, 3 months ago
I can understand how the White House views the pay raise as unnecessary. The troops in Iraq already get combat pay, and with their tour of duty raised from 12 months to 15 months, they'll be getting more than enough to compensate for not getting that extra 0.5%. And it's not like they can't just leave once their enlistment is up, right? They could just quit and walk away, it's not like there is some sort of policy where they have to stay in. And many in the armed forces could go into the National Guard when they get back, that would be some extra money, right? Two weekends a month and two weeks a year? Now that's some kind of gig.
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texangelwings1 year, 3 months ago
This needs to broadcasted on all the major news medias. Wow, I just can not believe this administration!
Our soldiers are not receiving enough pay for risking their lives. They deserve a payraise every year as long as this war is going on!
How much of a raise did the office help get in the WH this year?
This is just not right!
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texangelwings1 year, 3 months ago
MSNBC; Countdown w/Keith Olbermann is discussing this issue.
(05/17/07)
Most of our soldiers both officers & non-officers are having to exist on food stamps for their families!
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bubba21 year, 3 months ago
Here is a URL that shows the pay scales for soldiers. Especially look at the "Enlisted members" pay scales in the charts - use the links on the right side of the page.
http://www.armytimes.com/benefits/pay/
And hardship pay is an extra $100, to be in a place like Iraq ... ooh, whee ...
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JohnQPublicComment removed: User banned.
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abntv1 year, 1 month ago
I dont know what branch you served in but our hazard duty pay was one hell of alot less than anything on that list in the article, and our starting pay was a whopping 99 bucks a month..also according to the article the hazard duty or iminent danger pay is higher than 100 bucks
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HannibalBarca1 year, 3 months ago
Pretty bad when you consider a secretary can get $200'000 a year
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Harbeas1 year, 3 months ago
Come time for congress to vote on raises for themselves do you think they will vote it down? When men start having babies maybe!
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time4change1 year, 3 months ago
Hypocrites indeed !! Forcing these troops to put their lives on the line for a "Bush" war....keeping them in danger for over 4 years, extending tours, canceling orders to return home...and forcing them to be backdrops for Bush's "op moments" is deplorable !! Support our troops.....Bring them home NOW !!
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JohnQPublicComment removed: User banned.2 Replies
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miklkit1 year, 3 months ago
Not only does this administration think the soldiers are overpaid, they are also against the "Made in America" provisions in this bill. That means we will be depending on foriegn governments for our national defense material. I would hate to see China suddenly stop sending us ammunition.
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ciera-marie1 year, 3 months ago
mikkit:
"Not only does this administration think the soldiers are overpaid, they are also against the "Made in America" provisions in this bill. That means we will be depending on foriegn governments for our national defense material. I would hate to see China suddenly stop sending us ammunition."
That is outrageous and a slap in the face to all our vets. That means that the privatizing of our military is really, even now more than ever, becoming a reality. By depending on foreign governments of our national defense material this administration is showing what they really think of our service men and women.
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vvv63vvv1 year, 3 months ago
the way bush spends there is money for everything else but this
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lifesalad1 year, 3 months ago
as a Navy wife I want to thank-you all for at least caring enough to speak up... supporting the troops is keeping them home. I'm not sure there's enough money to say it's all worth it, but it would be nice to be appreciated, especially for all those at sea and in the war zones. Not to mention all the spouses and children left behind for months, years.
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ciera-marie1 year, 3 months ago
lifesalad:
First thank your husband for serving our country. Second, thank you for serving as well. You serve on the home front and are also making sacrifices as well.
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Sabretooth1 year, 3 months ago
I would also agree with you Maam that supporting the troops is about keeping them home except in the most dire of times which i do not believe we are at yet. It is incredibly sad for an Administration to run around claiming to support the military and then do things like this. I worry about the mental health of these guys fighting...how hard must it be to not know the enemy? If they were defending on American soil it would be much easier to find the enemy and they would have the strength of the country behind them. In my humble opinion, if the government can find the money to hand out no bid contracts and drop billions in cash with no accountability, then they bloody well can fork over some serious cash to those who are risking life and limb and leaving their families behind to fight this battle. If they cannot find the funds then maybe the fight is not as important as they imply.
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bubba21 year, 3 months ago
Yes, thank you! And thank your husband for us for risking his life for his country!
I just pray that he will come home safely to you as soon as possible.
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fotoman11334061 year, 3 months ago
Guys,
Georgie, stop hoarding all the money! Your butt 'aint on the firing line(with real bullets), these guys are. Your butt is only exposed to the "hot air" of politics.
SO LOOSEN UP THE "PURSE STRINGS" OF YOUR WALLET.
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NelsonR1 year, 3 months ago
Bushites equate to moronic, despicable and uncaring fatcat American elitist who deserve to be put on the streets of Baghdad at night armed with a knife to fend off attacks.
Despicable American elitist who would not properly pay those who defend their lunatic agendas.
Pay the President and his administration what a private receives for risking his life. Guess how many political hacks would appear on the streets of Baghdad then.
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RedstateLib1 year, 3 months ago
Yet Wolfowitz can arrange a $60,000 pay raise for his girlfriend and "W" has no problem with that. He doesn't even qualify as a horse's arse. He a flat out Jack Arse.
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ciera-marie1 year, 3 months ago
I find this very funny that no neocon, conservative, republican or Bush supporter in 22 hours has commented once on this story. Not once.
I also can not believe someone sunk this story. Great way to show any current servicemen and women or vets how much you support them. Sarcasm off.
If I as a taxpayer could vote to give the servicemen and women a pay raise and not any politician (unless it could be proved that they are living only on their government salary.) I would do it in a New York minute and a Texas two step. I would also include whatever they needed when they got home (without it affecting their service records) by way of PSTD counseling, medical etc. It's the least we can do. If we can't pull them out of Iraq and send them back to Afghanistan then can we at least give them what they need, including a pay raise?
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Sabretooth1 year, 3 months ago
Yes Ciera, it is indeed funny that the Cons are not falling all over this story and calling for heads since their stance to any believers was that they support the troops. I was a bit sceptical mind you since their idea of support was to keep them in harms way as long as possible even though Generals were saying that the fight could not be won militarily. As an outsider it really is hard to follow your system where it is all about supporting a party with lies, treachery and deceit and to call anyone who questions the corrupt, a traitor. I have many American friends but i must be honest, as a Canadian i do not envy your system of profit above all, even honesty. I know we are to socialist for you and we pay too many taxes and have too much government at times but it is nice for us to just boot out our government when they get caught in the cookie jar.
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NelsonR1 year, 3 months ago
Sabretooth - Myself I would prefer the Canadian and Scandanavian country models for governing. It will eventually occur with our abysmal health care system and other social ills, but for now the five percent moneygrubbers in America rule the roost. The Bush family represents these corporate fatcats but the tide will turn.
Pendulums have a tendency to swing back and forth and for now the illiterates have power but the swing is changing.
The Bush administration and all the disclosed corruption cannot have a positive impact for continuation of what is.
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ciera-marie1 year, 3 months ago
Sabertooth:
You have a perfect understanding of American politics.
True you are taxed more than us, yet ALL of your citizens have health care. In America we are paying more for health insurance, getting less, more going uninsured (who are working), and waiting just as long to see specialists. Think I'm wrong? I have to wait six months to see the eye doctor.
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RedstateLib1 year, 3 months ago
A privates pay would probably not cover either of the twins bar tabs. I sure wouldn't cover what they spend on clothes.
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Gatsby1 year, 3 months ago
So much for supporting the troops. Words fail me on this one. That administration has no soul.
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HMMace1 year, 3 months ago
Bush. Cheny, and the republican party are the most evil people in the world..it is now legal to come here with out papers and get a job as scablabor, and stay here legally.. Now, the door is open for any one in the world to come here,and do the same as the southern felons have done...All because we have greedy businesses, and greedy, and crooked politicians..Politicians who are bought and paid for even before they are elected..
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bubba2
I'm OUTTA here! The new format S-U-C-K-S! (Recent activity due to some online time while staying with my mother in the hospital ...)
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