President’s Budget – Fiscal Year 2005

[LiberalAndProud]

President’s Budget – Fiscal Year 2005

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4132403

The President promised to provide members of the Armed forces “better pay, better treatment, and better training.” He has fulfilled that promise to our troops. The purpose of better pay, treatment, and training is simple—to attract the best into the armed forces, to train them to fight effectively, and to give them the incentive to remain in the military.
During the first three years of his Presidency, basic pay alone has increased by more than 21 percent. Many servicemembers have seen much more than that. And, basic pay is only two-thirds of servicemembers’ take-home pay. The increase in basic salary and payments for food and housing has reached almost 29 percent. In addition, the food and housing allowances are provided tax-free, so their actual value is significantly higher. Average compensation is now more than $40,000 for enlisted members and more than $79,000 for officers. Servicemembers also receive retirement benefits and health care for themselves and their families at little or no charge.

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Read on for the President's thoughts on Privatization.

BEWARE THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. - Dwight D. Eisenhower

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Who is the Private Sector Partner?

Privatization: Peace on the Home Front
With soldiers deployed in Iraq, families can rest easy in new homes with amenities such as more bedrooms for children, large storage rooms, covered carports, and fenced-in backyards with patios.

One of the largest Army sponsored privatization projects is at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. The Army initiative allows for a public-private partnership to own, maintain and manage 974 newly constructed housing units and to renovate, revitalize, own, maintain, and manage an additional 4,938 housing units, resulting in a total of 5,912 privatized housing units. The Government conveyed housing units, leased land, and contributed an equity investment, while the private sector partner obtained a commercial loan and contributed equity. Already, over 500 new homes have been built. Every month, 30 new homes are constructed and 40 existing units are renovated. By 2005, the private sector will construct 974 new units and renovate about 1,530 units for military families at Fort Hood.

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Emphasis added.