President Veto's Military Pay Raise Bill

Does this change anything about our BAH raise? Or is that in a different bill?

Nope. BAH is set by a formula authorized by previous law, so it won’t affect the 2008 BAH rates.

It also won’t affect BAS, as the formula for that is also set under a previous law. However, I’ve not yet been able to get my hands on the new BAS rates.

But this was also supposed to include a raise in the hardship duty pay! Is that also out? I hope not, since that was a pretty significant raise.

A nice Happy New Year and thank you to our troops….what a loser!

Get this guy out of the Oval office, please! He thinks that now that his term is over, he can screww the troops. Double Loser!

are u kidding me?? but ask for like 9.5 billion to fund a war effort?!?!? when is his term done neways?

The raise in the maximum limit of hardship duty pay is out, until a new act is passed.

However, I wouldn’t get my hopes up that you’ll see DOD increase hardship duty pay under the new act. The act only sets the maximum limit on hardship duty pay. It’s still up to DOD to determine how much to pay for each location (up to the maximum).

For instance, right now (under current law), the maximum amount of hardship duty pay is $750 per month. However, the maximum amount of hardship duty pay that DOD pays for any area is $150 per month. For Iraq and Afghanistan, they only pay $100 per month.

In other words, DOD could be paying $750 per month in hardship duty pay right now, if they wanted to. Just because Congress increases the maximum amount authorized, doesn’t mean DOD is going to increase what they pay.

The next Presidential Elections are on November 4, of this year.

This is President Bush’s second term, so he cannot be reelected. The new President (whoever is elected) will take office on January 20, 2009.

I don’t know about you but I would like to see our countries mission in Iraq end soon with a big “Mission Accomplished”. The president vetoed the bill because as things in Iraq are looking better each day the leaches smell success and are coming out of their holes. Find out for yourself why he voted the bill.
God Bless Our Troops.

I think this is the worst ever. Our troops should come before anything. Even his pay. From a little old lady who has been around to see alot and this is the WORST.

I think it is important to understand exactly why the President is vetoing this bill before reacting. It is always important to gain full understanding and read the news article in its entirety before making any preconceived opinions. The purpose of President Bush’s vetoe has nothing to do with cutting the pay of people in the military service. That is not his intent. Unfortunately, and he probably very well understands this, the pay is part of that bill. His focus of his vetoe was the Iraqi Asset conflict. His intent has nothing to do with the soldier income. If everyone would look at his efforts in receiving funding for all the troops one would realize that he cares very much for every single soldier and through the tone of his voice and all his endeavors would realize that it is not a political scheme but that it is the true intent of his heart. The Defense Department receives a lump sum and the accountants determine where that money is spent. Also, I find it difficult to believe that one would speak so harshly about our Commander in Chief who also lays his life on the line and to public scrutiny everyday in order to serve us well.

Jonathan,

Are you really that fricken ignorant! Your comment below are that of a blind right wing zealot!!! bush could have easily ammended the bill to include the raise in his Veto!!! he is so fricken calous and stupid, no thought about the welfare of trops and there families when making a decision like his. This is why he so fricken stupid; he doens’t know how to govern and many troops lives have ben watsed because of his ignorance; and people like you have no clue as to what bush has done to our great country. He has taken us into oblivion and we will be stuck there for a long time. How he got away with this is mind boggling. Your comment is mind boggling as well. He has the worst advisors. He is the wrost President in the history our our country. Again, the dummy could have vetoed the bill and still approved the raise. How fricken stupid are you Jonathen!!! Man, you really are a sheep!!! You need to go to Iraq, or go back and put your butt on the front lines with bullets streaming past your brain to wake you dumb brain up!!! Your comment about bush putting his life on the line; you really are among the elite ignorant people out there.

Jonathan writes:

I think it is important to understand exactly why the President is vetoing this bill before reacting. It is always important to gain full understanding and read the news article in its entirety before making any preconceived opinions. The purpose of President Bush’s vetoe has nothing to do with cutting the pay of people in the military service. That is not his intent. Unfortunately, and he probably very well understands this, the pay is part of that bill. His focus of his vetoe was the Iraqi Asset conflict. His intent has nothing to do with the soldier income. If everyone would look at his efforts in receiving funding for all the troops one would realize that he cares very much for every single soldier and through the tone of his voice and all his endeavors would realize that it is not a political scheme but that it is the true intent of his heart. The Defense Department receives a lump sum and the accountants determine where that money is spent. Also, I find it difficult to believe that one would speak so harshly about our Commander in Chief who also lays his life on the line and to public scrutiny everyday in order to serve us well.

Comment by Jonathan — January 1, 2008 @ 1:45 pm

Again the uninformed lash out. I spent twenty years in uniform and have never seen so many uniformed people. It’s the Congress you should be mad at due to all the additional legislation they add on to each bill. This is why bills get vetoed. Also it gets me mad that all you worry about is that additional money for rations, housing, etc. These items don’t mean anything when you retire, only base pay counts. Look, read, listen before you speak and learn the whys of the reasons for these actions.

Sheep Hearder you need to apoligize. A President does not have line veto power. Once a bill arrives on his desk he must either sign it or veto it. If one Congressman adds anything to a bill it gets approved along with the bill. If it says everyone gets a free toilet and it gets approved then you get a toilet. Somewhere you missed learning about how a bill gets approved in school. Probably skipped that class that day or just fell asleep. Just because you saw combat doesn’t make you the smartest in the group. I’ve seen your type in the twenty plus years I spent in the military and was glad when those type got out. Only the best would be aloud in my foxhole.

As I sat here and began to set my budget in play for the next year I was very disappointed with what I discovered.

1st off, those defending the manuever of the president are far off base.

Leaches??? let us not forget that whether or not you joined the military for the pay, benefits, to serve your country, or etc… your life in the military is very dependant on what you do receive once you are in. If the military was really worried about people joining towards the end of the war they would raise thier standards to prevent it from happening. Whether or not you joined after the war is over or while it was going on, you still joined. I know there was a time before when we weren’t at war and people joined. Does that make those service members leaches too? Think about it…
Next, I see a comment that you need to support your commander in chief in his decision, understandable, but I believe that he was appointed to that position by the people to be for the people. (personal agendas aside!!!) Quit using what is going on in iraq as an excuse, to waste american dollars. There are plenty of things we can do right from home to keep these people out of our country. It is the peoples lack of interest in what is going on around them that causes terrorists to squeeze in and out of the country. (why do we have interpol?)
Americans watch the budget for iraq as it continues to climb, but what is the plan for repayment to all the tax payers out there who continue to foot the bill. Our focus in all of this is so blurred, and out of whack. Why do we ignore something that is right in front of our face? The iraqi people said we came there to get the oil, but if that is not what we are after then what is it? The people need to apply pressure to congress and cut the political nonsense forcing them to answer the question. When was the last time some one said stop bull#*)^ting me and tell the truth.

Finally, How are you gonna tease the soldiers and tell them you care and then turn around and knife them in the back. That’s what you do when you publically honor them (Time Magazine), and politically screw them (Promise a raise, then loop hole out of it.). Go Bush!!! Run this country into the ground!!!!

I have 18 year in the Army also, and Bush has promissed “no more than 12 months bioots on ground”, “the war is over”, yet these promisses were not keep. He had good advisors, he just didn’t listen to them, if they didn’t agree with him, he simplely replaced them with someone who does. And after 2 years in combat and another tour around the bend, I have seen both countries and understand the basics. We lost in Feb 2005 when we didn’t start the drawdown. From that point we stated to look meore and more like invaders and less like liborators. Second, from debt free to over 4 trilion in debt, when will it end. Hopefully before we break the USA financila structure. If you think the war and polictics don’t affect the economy, then go back to school. I lost many of my brothers for something I care nothing about, we can strengthen our own borders and international borders, instead of trying to change “them”. We did well after our revolution, let them have theirs.

Sorry, for raging. But until you do some time over in the great cat box, you can’t understand. If you have not served there and done at least 2 years of combat, you don’t have a clue. These people don’t have vision, they look at now and have no sense as to “real” right and wrong. MSN has some good clips that reflect the 10th Mountains struggle to maintain terrain and deal with these people. They have some good clips with an inbedded reporter that tell an honest view point from the Soldier. I implore you to try to see not only the Soldier’s point of view, but understand we are only delaying a revoltionary war, not preventing it. They have to decide they’re own way to govern themselves and work out their own problems.

You people may understand the military, but politics is another cruel game that only those on the inside can comprehend. I can’t unveil my identity but believe me when I say President Bush cares more about you and your family then the press would ever let you know. They filter your news and only mention the good parts of a bill he vetoes. Like someone above said, educate yourselves fully and find out why he vetoed it don’t take someone else’s word. Laus Deo.

>>You people may understand the military, but politics is another cruel game that only those on the inside can comprehend. I can’t unveil my identity but believe me when I say President Bush cares more about you and your family then the press would ever let you know. They filter your news and only mention the good parts of a bill he vetoes. Like someone above said, educate yourselves fully and find out why he vetoed it don’t take someone else’s word. < <

I like to think I understand both. While I can’t speak for the rest of the media, and I do agree there is media bias (both ways), in the article I wrote here, I included the President’s reasons for vetoing the bill, as well as the response from the democrat leaders in Congress (can you say, “fair and balanced?”)

However, when you say Bush cares about the troops more than the media presents, keep in mind that the Bush Administration wanted Congress to grant only a 3.0 percent pay increase for troops this year (the *minimum* military pay raise guaranteed under previous federal law), when they submitted their budget request. The extra 1/2 percent was added by Congress against administrative objections. The Bush administration also wanted to increase Tricare (Military Medical Care) fees for retirees, and raise the cost of Tricare medication “co-payments,” (they tried this last year, as well), but Congress overrode the provision in their bill last year, and in this year’s bill, as well.

So, where is this “care,” you mention?

On the other hand, I agree that the provision of the act that the President has major problems with (the provision which caused the veto), probably warrants a veto. This provision would allow any lawyer, who is representing someone with a lawsuit against Iraq to freeze Iraqi funds located in U.S. Banks (about $25 Billion), even before a court decides on whether or not the lawsuit is warranted. That’s not good law.

For example, someone who feels they were mistreated by Saddam (including former U.S. Military former POWs from the “First Gulf War,” could file a lawsuit against Iraq, and have the funds immediately frozen.

Now, IMO, the current government of Iraq (that we helped get elected) doesn’t have anything to do with what Saddam did. This new, democratic government, just getting it’s feet on the ground, should not be financially responsible for what happened under a previous cruel dictatorship, that no longer exists.

However, we are currently spending billions in reconstructing Iraq. Now, I don’t necessarily have a problem with this. The Iraqi people didn’t ask us to invade them, and we’re the ones that blew the crap out of their cities and infrastructure. They didn’t stand on the roof-tops and shout, “Hey, blow us up!” So, as the “conquering force,” we have an obligation to help rebuild them into a society that is no longer a threat to our National Security (otherwise, what is the purpose of “invading” them?)

However, if they have $25 Billion in U.S. Banks, I think they should use some of this money to help themselves, by contributing to the reconstruction of their country.

Now (everyone), let’s not blow this veto out of proportion…..Military members are still going to be paid. They are going to receive a 3.0 percent pay raise, as of January 1 (the minimum amount required by previous federal law).

They are also going to receive the extra 1/2 percent retroactive to 1 January, when Congress and the President renegotiate HR 1585. There is no way that Congress is not going to make the raise retroactive, and the President has already asked them to do so (which means he’ll support it in the new legislation).

What this whole thing actually means is that (for example), an E-5, with six years of service loses about $12.00 per month in pay, until a compromised is reached, but he/she will get that pay back, once the new bill is passed.

>>and Bush has promissed “no more than 12 months boots on ground”<<

I can’t remember President Bush (or anyone else in authority) ever making that promise, and I track military news matters pretty closely.

Amazing. No words. What a freaking idiot we got in the office We need to end this meaningless war. We need to vote for Ron Paul in 2008 — the only man who understands how poor our foreign affairs are. He has received so far way more military support than any other candidate.

Just to the next tree line. Stay Motivated!Keep your head down.YOU SERVICE MEMBERS SHOULD GET THE BEST. The president of the U.S.A. must support the troops at all costs!

To any CNN watching people out there,

I have spent over two years of my life fighting over seas and i would gladly without a second thought spend two more. Even those who have been deployed as much as me or even more may not have had an opportunity to see the true effects of what we have truly accomplished over in iraq and afghanistan I can tell you right now that there are 10 soldiers out there right now who are still alive because of and afghanistan policeman who gave his life for theirs. I have seen the eyes of grateful local nationals for what we have provided for them ..ie schools hospitals medical treatment jobs and yet many dont see the good in this. I would gladly give my life for the cause in iraq or in afghanistan and I AM SICK OF PEOPLE BITCHING ALL THE TIME YOU CANNOT SAY YOU SUPPORT THE TROOPS AND NOT THE WAR!!!!! JUST SHUT UP!! Bad news sells period you will never stop to watch a show talking about how much good we have done for these people but god knows if you see something like 5 soldiers die in fire fight, you wont turn away to see that. PLAN AND SIMPLE BAD NEWS GOOD RATINGS!! I LOVE THE ARMY AND I SUPORT WHATEVER MY PRESIDENT SEE FIT FOR ME AND MY FELLOW SOLDIERS TO DO. I believe in this cause, this war. Remember 9/11 and how you felt, now imagine having something like that happen in this country frequently, would you not want someone to come help. If we were to just pull out the damage it would cause would be near irreversible , I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND WILL FOREVER BE READY TO GIVE MY LIFE IN ITS DEFENSE, BUT AS A NATION WE ARE THE MOST SELF-ABSORBED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. NOT EVERYONE IS AS LUCKY AS YOU, BEING ABLE TO COMPLAIN ALL THE TIME AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR GOV (OR DICTATOR) KILLING YOUR FOR WORDS YOU HAVE SPOKEN!! If you want the right to speak out fine…go down to your local recruiter and JOIN THE MILITARY!!!!! Than when you get deployed and you see how these people love you and respect and how thankful there are for what you are doing for them….. than you can say this war is meaningless, than you can speak and complain, CAUSE BY THAN YOU WON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT!!

You now alot of people out there are saying oh its just a 10-15 dollar difference. Thats depending on pay grade. For me as an E-4 its like 10 bux a month. Now, I know that alot of people are saying oh ten bucks is nothing. You guys may be right but 10 bucks helps. Especially when what I make pretty much puts me just above the poverty line. And I am supposed to support a family on that. Atleast I have learned to manage my money wisely. It’s sad when some of us can’t wait for deployments just to make the extra money.

What an ass and an idiot!!!!

It is no wonder that the public’s opinion of the military is what it is. I have never read such uninformed and unintelligent comments in my life. I am a retired E-8 and would be embarrassed to have the American public read the above comments. Many of you need to go to school… concentrate your studies in government and English. Jonathan knows what he is talking about… reread his post. By the way, the President does NOT have line-item veto authority for NDAA.

Doc J

About how long will it take for the bill to get passed?

the democrats are trying to sneak things in with the bill, and he don’t like it. so he looks like an ass for vetoing it, and the democrats get to laugh at him. don’t let these democrats in teh office. if they are elected you can kiss our jobs goodbye and the country goodbye

Well the american people put this man in charge of everything, I guess that what we get for electing someone who throws a temper tantrum. Congress wants the Military out of Iraq and Afganistan and questioning his leadership tecniques. How childish!!!

The military works day, night, weekends, holidays away from their family friends and homes. How dare he take a tantrum against the people he should be thankfull for. No wonder our numbers are down on people wanting to stay in the Military or event to take the option to serve.

GROW UP GEORGE (CAN’T CALL HIM PRESIDNET)HE NEEDS TO ACT LIKE A MAN AND A LEADER FIRST, NOT A FORMER DRUG ADDICT (HEOREIN), (METH) BEFORE I WILL SHOW HIM THAT MUCH RESPECT!!!

wow, GB, is running the US to the ground…you people that defend him…are blind or rich republicans..look around you foreclosures, death, and a recession might be on the way for the next president, health care and none of it…..WAKE UP…..

FOR A VOLUNTARY MILITARY, we are taking a bullet from people who dont abide by our values, and for a person who dies at 18-23 yrs of age for our country, why not give him that extra 50 dollars a month….jeez…

This also kills all re enlistment bonus. ALL. I may have to extend just to re enlist when the bill passes. This is just stupid.

Vetoed for the congressional pay raise!! THE IDIOTS THAT MAKE OVER 100K A YEAR!!!! That sit around and pass ignorant laws work less than anybody in the states and get FAT while they are doing it!

“The President intends to veto H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (”NDAA”).

One provision in the bill – section 1083 – would significantly amend current law (the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act) in ways that would imperil Iraqi assets held in the United States, including reconstruction and central bank funds. If enacted, Section 1083 would permit plaintiffs’ lawyers immediately to freeze Iraqi funds and would expose Iraq to massive liability in lawsuits concerning the misdeeds of the Saddam Hussein regime. The new democratic government of Iraq, during this crucial period of reconstruction, cannot afford to have its funds entangled in such lawsuits in the United States. Once in place, the restrictions on Iraq’s funds that could result from the bill could take months to lift, and thus Section 1083 cannot become law even for a short period of time.”
Democrat leaders accused Bush of bowing to Iraqi demands. The government of Iraq raised serious objections to Section 1083. They warned that plaintiffs, including former U.S. POWs who had been held captive during the first Gulf War in the 1990s, might cite this section in seeking compensation from its assets currently in U.S. banks — reportedly $25 billion. Reportedly, the Iraqi government threatened that, unless President Bush veto’d the Defense Department legislation, Iraqi leaders would immediately move assets out of U.S. banks.

Quit your complaining. As a disabled vet I got less than 2%!!

Any word on Congress re-issuing the bill, with modifications?

>>Any word on Congress re-issuing the bill, with modifications? < <

Yep. See my blog entry at: http://usmilitary.about.com/b/2008/01/21/progress-made-on-new-pay-bill.htm

I want to respond to post (19)by usmilitary. I think its appropriate to put the President’s veto of the 2008 Def. Auth Act in another perspective, as it relates to the rule of law. According to Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Geneva, 12 August 1949, Article 131 specifically states, “Art 131. No High Contracting Party shall be allowed to absolve itself or any other High Contracting Party of any liability incurred by itself or by another High Contracting Party in respect of breaches referred to in the preceding Article.”

We should have never gone into Iraq in the first place, Bush IS an idiot and yes, a lot of you should get a better education and learn to spell or at least us a dictionary. I have a son in Iraq and I support him and all of his fellow soldiers, hell I held a marathon cooking session and baked 50 dozen cookies for them for Christmas because I care but I am not anti troops because I don’t support the war or Bush and Cheney. lets have Bush’s record speak for itsself.

Set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind. (http://www.hyperreal.org/~dana/marches/)

Dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.

My presidency is the most secretive and un-accountable of any in US history.

Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. (the ‘poorest’ multi-millionaire, Condoleezza Rice has an Chevron oil tanker named after her).

Had more states to simultaneously go bankrupt than any president in the history of the United States.

Presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in any country in the history of the world.

Created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States.

Set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any president in US history.

First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the human rights commission.

First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the elections monitoring board.

Removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.

Rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant.

Withdrew from the World Court of Law.

Refused to allow inspectors access to US prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.

First president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 US elections).

All-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.

My biggest life-time campaign contributor presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).

Spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.

First president in US history to unilaterally attack a sovereign nation against the will of the United Nations and the world community.

First president to run and hide when the US came under attack (and then lied saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1)

First US president to establish a secret shadow government.

Took the biggest world sympathy for the US after 911, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).

With a policy of ‘dis-engagement’ created the most hostile Israeli-Palestine relations in at least 30 years.

Fist US president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.

First US president in history to have the people of South Korea more threatened by the US than their immediate neighbor, North Korea.

Changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.

Set all-time record for number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling huge investments in corporations bidding for government contracts.

Failed to fulfill my pledge to get Osama Bin Laden ‘dead or alive’.

Failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of our country at the United States Capitol building. After 18 months I have no leads and zero suspects.

In the 18 months following the 911 attacks I have successfully prevented any public investigation into the biggest security failure in the history of the United States.

Removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.

In a little over two years created the most divided country in decades, possibly the most divided the US has ever been since the civil war.

Entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.

Records and References:

At least one conviction for drunk driving in Maine (Texas driving record has been erased and is not available).

AWOL from National Guard and Deserted the military during a time of war.

Refuse to take drug test or even answer any questions about drug use.

All records of my tenure as governor of Texas have been spirited away to my fathers library, sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.

All records of any SEC investigations into my insider trading or bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.

All minutes of meetings for any public corporation I served on the board are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.

Any records or minutes from meetings I (or my VP) attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public review.

For personal references please speak to my daddy or uncle James Baker (They can be reached at their offices of the Carlyle Group for war-profiteering.)