Budget negotiators looking at military pensions

[unhappycamper]

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/budget-negotiators-looking-at-military-pensions-100847.html



Budget negotiators looking at military pensions
By DAVID ROGERS | 12/8/13 4:47 PM EST

Can savings from military pensions be part of the solution to avoid deeper cuts from defense next month?

That’s an important question facing House-Senate negotiators as they try to close out a deal this week to avoid another round of sequestration in January and restore some certainty to the appropriations process for the remainder of this Congress.

The two sides appear close but Democrats are anxious about the level of savings being sought by Republicans from civilian federal workers. Finding some money on the military side of the equation could lessen this burden and make the package more equitable too from a political standpoint.

Indeed, the Pentagon has the greatest stake in some agreement and faces a further $21 billion cut in its 2014 budget if nothing is done. There is a greater recognition too –in Congress and among the Joint Chiefs— that it must come to terms with personnel-related costs, which are eating up more and more of what money remains.



unhapppycamper comment: Other military budget related news:

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/changes-slated-for-army-s-tuition-assistance-program-1.256677
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/military-families-keeping-up-with-dod-proposal-to-shutter-commissaries-1.256675

[Swede Atlanta]

2. Ah yes......

if I were a betting man I would expect them to do nothing about the income and benefits of officers, especially those at the very top. They will do nothing to try to reign in the defense contractors that suck at the public teat. They will go after the pay and benefits of the airmen, sailors, soldier, marines and coast guard personnel and their families.

The Joint Thiefs will do nothing that would jeopardize their pensions or benefits. It is just the "little guy" that fights the wars that deserves to get cuts.