Army freezes bonus payments

[unhappycamper]

President Bush, left, greets troops at Al-Asad Airbase in Anbar province, Iraq in Sept. 2007. Bush vetoed the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 29. Until a new version of the legislation is enacted, all new bonus agreements signed on or after Jan. 1 must include an addendum that stipulates the soldier's eligibility for a future bonus.


Army freezes bonus payments
By Jim Tice - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 2, 2008 16:20:37 EST

The Army has temporarily halted bonus payments for more than 20 enlistment, re-enlistment and service extension programs pending enactment of authorizing legislation.

President Bush, to the surprise of Congress and the Defense Department, vetoed the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 29 after months bargaining with House and Senate leaders.

In announcing the pocket veto, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said the president objected to a single provision of the legislation that would delay the reconstruction of Iraq, and expose the Iraqi government to unwarranted law suits in U.S. courts.

If enacted as currently written, the legislation would authorize $696.3 billion in defense spending during 2008, including $1 billion for Army accession and retention bonuses.

Until a new version of the legislation is enacted, all new bonus agreements signed on, or after, Jan. 1 must include an addendum that stipulates the soldier’s eligibility for a future bonus.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/army_bonuses_halted_080102w/


uhc comment: The shitstorm starts now.