TOPICS
TOPICS
House appropriators approve 3.5 percent military pay raise
A House panel on Wednesday passed a bill granting members of the military a 2008 pay raise of 3.5 percent, a figure equal to the adjustment already approved by the House for civilian federal employees.
The House Appropriations Committee approved the military raise during the markup of the fiscal 2008 Defense spending bill. The increase would be half a percent higher than that proposed by the Bush administration.
Last month, the full House approved a 3.5 percent pay increase for civilian federal employees, and earlier this month, the Senate Appropriations Committee followed suit by approving the same figure for civilians.
Wednesday's approval of the military raise drew praise from federal labor unions, which have been lobbying for parity between the military and civilians, as well as a raise higher than the president's request. The National Treasury Employees Union pushed for a 3.5 percent raise, while the American Federation of Government Employees lobbied for 4 percent.
"NTEU will continue its efforts to turn this bipartisan support into a fair pay raise, amounting to 3.5 percent, for both groups of federal employees, who work side-by-side in defending our homeland and faithfully serving our country," said Colleen Kelley, the union's president.
COMMENTS
- I work with the navy as a dod civilian and deployed over six months a year on the carrier. We do not get tax free on imminent danger area, we don't get paid traveling with our own time on weekends, we don't get overtime traveling back to home even if the trip is over 24 hrs, we do get treated like a stepchild after the job is done, and there is no standard travel regs for us cause the navy intepret the JTR different from every areas. I'll be happy just to get my tax free. voigel Posted November 28, 2007 12:58 AM
- I am a retired SFC Army member. I joined the Army in 61 and made 78.00 a month. You don't know how bad it is to see my retirement pay at such a low level. I make less than 1300.00 a month and my disability of 10% is taken from my retired pay and given to me tax free. While the congress give themselves 5,000.00 a year raise, I sit here am do with 300 a year and congress wants to cut it down more. Where is the justice in that. During the 20 plus years I served our pay was capped by the congress most every year. That was to keep it low so retirement wouldn't be a drain on spending. Lets do away with the retirement of those in gongress and see how fast they fix the problem. Same with SS put congress on SS for their retirement and see how fast they fix that system. Michael Crouse Posted October 16, 2007 9:07 AM
- To Stacey I - Many civilians do not get paid for OT. When I was in the military it was a 24hr job I signed up for. I just got off a tour to JRTC as a civilian, 14 hour days, 100 plus wet heat. Returned on Saturday, got Sunday off. This weekend (Labor Day) I get a three day, all the military I work with get a 4 day. The military I work with get much better benefits than I did 35 years ago, and what they sign up for is in their contract. My dedication to my country for a fair wage for a good job done is wavering. Although to paraphrase JFK - "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" To many now ask "what can I do to get more bucks from my country" gemniii Posted August 31, 2007 5:19 PM
