10 Dem Senators' letter: Bush payraise for troops lowest in 12yrs.

[blm]

John Kerry Leads Military Pay-Raise Effort

Bush’s pay raise for troops is lowest in 12 years
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) led a 10-Senator effort to increase the pay for servicemembers.

The President’s budget specifies a 2.2% increase – the smallest pay raise for our military since 1994.

“Our troops are sacrificing so much, in every corner of the world. Shortchanging them and the families who love them is a lousy way to say thanks,” said Kerry, who authored the letter.

“Our military deserves leadership that matches their service and patriotism. Getting our troops the pay raise they deserve is the very least we can do to show how much we value everything they do for us. I’m going to fight for a fair military pay raise until it becomes a reality, and I thank my colleagues who have joined me in doing so,” added Kerry.

Below is the text of the letter:

February 16, 2006


The Honorable Judd Gregg, Chairman

The Honorable Kent Conrad, Ranking Member

Committee on the Budget

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510


Dear Senator Gregg and Senator Conrad:


As you begin consideration of the President’s FY 2007 budget request, we urge you to include a pay increase that meets the needs and reflects the sacrifice of America’s military personnel and their families.


The President’s budget request includes a 2.2% increase in military pay—the smallest increase since FY1994. Such a paltry increase neglects the value of their service and the very real challenges of recruiting and retaining an all-volunteer military in time of war.


The men and women of the American military are doing everything we ask of them—and more. They are being deployed at historic rates, many serving on their second, third, or even fourth combat deployments. In Iraq and Afghanistan, they are working with local and coalition partners to increase security so that those nations can stand on their own, free of tyranny. They are fighting terrorists and working with partners to win the War on Terror. They are deterring aggression in key strategic areas. We have seen American forces give aid to innocent victims of natural disasters, both here in the United States and around the world. We know they stand ready to defend our country, our allies, and our way of life on a moment’s notice.


Surely they deserve a raise of more than 2.2%.


Last year, the Army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve all failed to reach their recruiting targets. The Army, in fact, fell 6,700 recruits short in 2005—its biggest shortfall since 1979. Individuals choose to serve for many reasons: patriotism, a sense of duty, a desire to defend their country and make the world a better place. But we also know that adequate pay is one of the requirements of maintaining a professional, all-volunteer military.


In recent years, Congress has relied on a formula to increase military pay by 0.5% above the Employment Cost Index (ECI). This year, the administration’s request is only equal to the ECI. Congress must do better.


Sincerely,


John Kerry

Edward Kennedy

Jeff Bingaman

Tim Johnson

Bill Nelson

Barack Obama

Christopher Dodd

Richard Durbin

Mark Dayton

Frank Lautenberg

[DeadManInc]

1. Nothing like a big slap in the face

for all of your hard work. I'm surprised the cheap bastard gave them that much.

[blm]

3. Can you believe that he and his ilk hide behind the troops at every turn

and dismiss their real life needs on a daily basis?

[babylonsister]

2. I'm so very glad they're trying to help the military, and will be

sending this letter around to inform. Thanks.

[globalvillage]

4. Something new to send to Imus

Maybe he'll stop kissing McCain's pasty ass one of these days. Why he keeps propping McCain up as the savior of the troops is beyond me. McCain has proposed NO pro-troop legislation, while Kerry has sponsored this:

S.240 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small business employers a credit against income tax with respect to employees who participate in the military reserve components and are called to active duty and with respect to replacement employees and to allow a comparable credit for activated military reservists who are self-employed, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/1/2005) Cosponsors (6)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 2/1/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.460 : A bill to expand and enhance benefits for members of the Armed Forces and their families, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/18/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 2/18/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.2163 : A bill to amend titles 10 and 38 of the United States Code, to increase and index educational benefits for veterans under the Montgomery GI bill to ensure adequate and equitable benefits for active duty members and members of the selected Reserve, and to include certain servicemembers previously excluded from such benefits.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 12/21/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 12/21/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

S.AMDT.333 to H.R.1268 To extend the period of temporary continuation of basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 4/11/2005) Cosponsors (5)
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 333 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.AMDT.334 to H.R.1268 To increase the military death gratuity to $100,000, effective with respect to any deaths of members of the Armed Forces on active duty after October 7, 2001.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 4/11/2005) Cosponsors (9)
Latest Major Action: 4/13/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 334 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.AMDT.1029 to H.R.2361 Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, for the Veterans Health Administration.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 6/27/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 6/28/2005 Proposed amendment SA 1029 withdrawn in Senate.

S.AMDT.1502 to S.1042 To make permanent the extension of the period of temporary continuation of basic allowance for housing for dependents of members of the Armed Forces who die on active duty.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 7/25/2005) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2005 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 1502 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

And yet McCain is held up as some kind of defender of the troops. I despise McCain, BTW.

Oh, and Bush is a cheap bastard.

Thanks for posting.

[blm]

8. Has Imus' office ever acknowledged the other stuff you sent?

Maybe you can call to make sure it arrived.

[NanceGreggs]

5. A whopping 2.2% raise!

I guess we DUers just don't recognize 'SUPPORTING THE TROOPS' when we see it ...

After all, millions of Bushites have spent their hard-earned dollars on 'Support the Troops' bumper-stickers (the proceeds of which go to China, of course).

Isn't that enough of a sacrifice to make when soldiers are being wounded and dying for you?

:sarcasm:

[jrw14125]

6. Gee, that *almost* keeps up with inflation...

[blm]

7. And just how much of our military dollars are Halliburton execs pocketing

while the military men and their families are living week to week?