linked from militaryforums.com WASHINGTON - Republicans failed Tuesday to block a major defense bill that included a pay raise for military personnel when one of their own, retiring Sen. John Warner, rallied senators to advance the legislation out of respect for U.S. troops at war. Republican opponents objected to $5 billion in pet projects that Congress added onto the bill. But proponents characterized "no" votes as showing disrespect for military personnel - a charge no candidate wants, especially seven weeks before Election Day. Check out Congress' Proposed 3.9% 2009 Military Pay Charts. "This bill means everything to the men and women in the armed services and it should mean everything to us," said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin of Michigan. It survived a test vote 61-32 - barely clearing the required 60-vote threshold. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Senate will take a final vote Wednesday night. The measure would permit $612.5 billion in spending for national defense programs, including $70 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also includes a 3.9 percent pay increase for military personnel, half a percentage more than President Bush requested. The House passed its own version in May. If the Senate approves its version, the two would have to be reconciled before they are sent to the White House for Bush's signature. The vote to advance the bill, called cloture, surprised even some Democrats who just before the roll call were predicting it would fail to attain the 60 votes required. Seven senators were absent, including three running for president - Republican presidential nominee John McCain of Arizona and Democrats Barack Obama of Illinois and Joe Biden of Delaware. Warner, 81 and on the cusp of retirement, called the vote one of the toughest of his five terms in the Senate. Ultimately, he said, he chose to vote in the bill's favor out of deference to current military personnel and his own service in the Navy during World War II. "So I could not have this being almost the last vote that I'll cast in these 30 years in any other way than being consistent with my conscience that I've tried to do the best and will continue to do my best on behalf of the men and women of the armed forces and their families," Warner said. A dozen Republicans voted with him, including some in tough re-election races like Sens. John Sununu of New Hampshire and Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina.
cool thats good!!! but i personally think everyone in the military is too under paid. I think our troops defending our way of life deserve alot more.
here is a link for the proposed 2009 raise http://www.military.com/military/benefits/0,15465,Senates-Proposed-2009-Military-Pay,00.html#epay
I believe disability goes up a little each year...well at least it has been that way for me. My little 10% seems to have gotten a tiny bit bigger every year so far.
This happens every year. Inflation goes up higher than our raise. Meanwhile the fucksticks on Capital Hill are making their own raises and over 6 figures a year. Go figure...
Hope it goes to base pay and not all the others like BAH, Sea Pay, etc... that way us "older" folks can see it as well...Lol! Even some of us that are almost as old as Nev!
the only increase i've seen is after i got married and clamed the wife. I still need to go and do more paperwork so i can try and get my last 20%
Keep at it, my neighbor just got his up to 100%, they also gave him 11,000 towards his new truck, and a 7,000 bicycle (trike).
I can't agree more with us not getting paid enough. It is pretty bad when you cross your fingers and prey you get some kind of raise. That goes for everyone. Then again, some of the benifits we get can out weigh the amount of pay. Still I would like to get paid more.
