The president and Congress often disagree on fundamental issues, and the federal pay raise is no exception. The two sides perform an annual dance around the issue choreographed according to political interests. This year, President Obama is dealing with a morbidly obese budget deficit and many lawmakers are facing tough reelection races. So, natch, Congress wants to give federal employees more money in their fiscal 2011 pay raise than the president is offering.
The White House last week formally opposed a congressionally supported 1.9 percent pay raise for service members in fiscal 2011. Obama is sticking by his 1.4 percent proposed boost for both military members and civilian employees.
"The administration values the service members of the U.S. armed forces and believes that the president's proposed 1.4 percent pay increase is appropriate in light of other benefits and other forms of compensation, is targeted to avoid hindering the [Defense Department's] ability to focus on recruiting or retaining for key skills, and will ensure the availability of financial resources needed to sustain our combat power at a time of war," the White House said in a statement of administration policy on the fiscal 2011 Defense Authorization Act, which contains the pay provision.
That seems like a reasonable justification, but still, a difficult one to make in light of a stagnant economy and two wars being waged by an all-volunteer military.
What do you think?