paxetaurora,
"The argument that liberal cuts in defense spending, or the desire for them, are responsible for the cut in combat pay is completely ridiculous. Bush is not a President, nor is the current Congress a legislative body, who bows to political pressure from the left. Whatever the reason for the cuts, liberal wishful thinking was not it. Most liberals I know, regardless of their position on the war itself (and let us not forget that some liberals supported the war), do not support the underpayment of our uniformed men and women."
Most of the opposition to George Bush's annual pay increases for uniformed men and women came from the Democratic party. These are based on annual pay and dwarf any cut being made right now in combat pay which itself is not much to begin with. The cut in combat pay is most likely the result of the Pentagon not planning for having this number of troops on combat duty at this point in time.
Republicans would gladly vote for making up any decrease in Combat pay in next years budget to include an even bigger pay increase than the one George Bush set up early in his administration. But there will be opposition to that and that opposition is going to come from the Democratic party.
Over half of the Defense Budget is devoted to annual pay, benefits and training for the troops.
"The argument that liberal cuts in defense spending, or the desire for them, are responsible for the cut in combat pay is completely ridiculous. Bush is not a President, nor is the current Congress a legislative body, who bows to political pressure from the left. Whatever the reason for the cuts, liberal wishful thinking was not it. Most liberals I know, regardless of their position on the war itself (and let us not forget that some liberals supported the war), do not support the underpayment of our uniformed men and women."
Most of the opposition to George Bush's annual pay increases for uniformed men and women came from the Democratic party. These are based on annual pay and dwarf any cut being made right now in combat pay which itself is not much to begin with. The cut in combat pay is most likely the result of the Pentagon not planning for having this number of troops on combat duty at this point in time.
Republicans would gladly vote for making up any decrease in Combat pay in next years budget to include an even bigger pay increase than the one George Bush set up early in his administration. But there will be opposition to that and that opposition is going to come from the Democratic party.
Over half of the Defense Budget is devoted to annual pay, benefits and training for the troops.
