GOP raises Enlisted Pay $33 month, Pay of Generals Goes Up $1100/month !!

[Dems Will Win]

This is really unfair...

Congress approved an across-the-board 2.2 percent increase in Basic Pay over 2006 rates. Additionally, the law provides for a second, "targeted" raise of up to 8.3 percent for some warrant officers and mid-level enlisted members. Under previous law, military members stopped receiving raises for "years-of-service" once they had 26 years in the military. The new law provides for "longevity raises" for some senior ranking commissioned officers, warrant officers, and enlisted members who have between 26 and 40 years of military service.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/payandbenefits/a/07paychanges.htm

Here is what the enlisted personnel think about it:

Great. The same individuals who got us into this quagmire in the Middle East are getting an $1100-a-month pay raise, and my E-3, who is packing his bags next week for a year of "fun in the sun" Iraq, is to get a whopping $33. Unfreaking real…No, how shameful.

Rick T.
Via e-mail

What is wrong! I don't see any of these flag officers on welfare or getting killed. They have a lot of aides and don't have much to do except make public appearances. They do make the decisions but they get input from those aides.

If they do not like their pay, why don't they get out of the military and work for a living. Instead they’ll become lobbyists or run for office.

GARY YERDON
Senior Chief Machinist Mate, USN-Ret.
Via e-mail

I am not surprised that Congress has enough money to give O-9s and O-10s (lieutenant generals and generals) a huge pay raise but cannot find the funds to support those of us who have paid SBP premiums for over 30 years. I have paid into SBP for 36 years and now will have to wait until 2008 for them to stop .

There is no justice in this congressional decision.

DEAN BATCHELDER
Sergeant Major, USA-Ret.
Via e-mail

I am appalled at the inequity of pay raises voted for the upper ranks while lower ranks are getting 2.2 percent. I know why the services cannot recruit good people; they stay in civilian life where at least they get recognized for their efforts. Should we need even more men and women for the military in the future, the draft will be our only hope.

I will try to learn how my senators and representative voted. If they supported this they will not receive my vote next month.

My husband paid Survivor Benefit Plan premiums for over 30 years before he passed away. It will take me three years to get the level of SBP benefits -- 55 percent of his retired pay – for which we paid premiums all those years. That can leave a foul taste in one's mouth.

I support our men and women in service and will never publicly slander the President or our Congress. I will make my choices known at the polls.

PATRICIA CARPENTER
Rogersville, Tenn.

Thank you for keeping us informed. The military pay raise of 2.2 percent is absurd. But the most astonishing part of your article describing the final defense bill is the effect on officers in pay grades 0-9 and 0-10 with the Secretary of Defense gaining authority to add an additional 2.5 percent to retired pay for each year served past 30. That is preposterous.

The very top grades already receive all of the "perks." They and their wives are given VIP treatment on each and every military installation. Their meals have to be their preference, sent to installations ahead of their arrival. They have Lear jets to ferry them wherever they wish to visit. They have preferred housing anywhere they are assigned. Enough is enough.

WILLIAM B. HATCHER
Master Sergeant, USAF-Ret.
Via e-mail

http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,117537,00.html?ESRC=reservists.nl

AmericaBlog writes:

For the love of God, if you're in the military, former military, or have a loved on in the service, stop voting for the Republicans. They keep screwing you and screwing you and then come election time they tell you how much they love you. They don't love you. They use you. It's time for a change.


Please RECOMMEND. The pay hikes take effect next year...

[Donkeykick]

1. I guess this goes to show you...

why a lot of these Generals love Dubya, huh.:eyes:

[DaveJ]

2. Don't foget

They also get better tax cuts.

[babylonsister]

3. How many generals have been injured/killed in the line of duty

lately? Class distinction at its finest.

[tabasco]

4. Bush corruption has seeped into the military.

Now we see the fat cat brass in the military stealing more money.

The entire philosophy of the Bush administration is steal as much as you can, as fast as you can.

[msedano]

5. Whine, whine, whimper,

quit complaining. EMs are a dime a dozen. All you have to do is walk through the halls of any public high school and you'll see dozens and dozens of candidates for a nice E-1 grunt role. It's the same reason public school teachers earn so little compared to Principals and Superintendents. As that great Unitedstatesian Maxwell House says, "You get what you pay for."

The only thing an EM has to do is salute, shoulder arms, and march toward the smoke. Obviously, being a general is the toughest work the military has to offer. Imagine the feelings of the Generals this week when House Repiglican Leader Boehner faulted the Generals for mucking up Iraq. No one accused the EMs of failing in their duty, no, all the focus was put on the officer corpse.

When I was in the Army, 1969-70, I was grateful for my eighty bucks a month and damned lucky to have three squares, a cot, and warm clothing.

Now, what I'd like is the roll call on the congressholes who AYE'd this payraise.

http://readraza.com/hawk/index.htm

recommended.

[ninkasi]

6. Hypocrisy that has no limits...

Again, Republicans have shown that their hypocrisy has no limits. Is this their idea of supporting our troops? Their actions are a far greater indication of how they feel toward us peasants, ignore their words, because every word they speak is a lie. This administration has abused the military as no other has done. If we point this out, we will be accused of waging "class warfare". Maybe so, but they started it, and escalated it to a truly disgraceful level. I hope the country rejects them next week, so we can start putting pressure on the Congress to repair some of the damage.

[KittyWampus]

7. Awesome information. Explodes the myth of GOP supporting the troops

[sandnsea]

8. Military Needs Citizen Oversight

I started looking up some stuff about the military after the Kerry canard. It's not pretty.

E-1's get paid the equivalent of $7.50 an hour. Their college benefit is only $8400 a year which is barely enough to cover state tuition, books and fees; let alone living expenses.

I just posted an article last night based on how badly we treat our military and whether it being an all volunteer force has anything to do with it.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/

Republicans don't respect the troops.

[CrispyQ]

9. The CEOs of the military.

It is disgraceful.