More military pay freeze talk

Adirondack Patriot emailed us a link from Federal News Radio which stirs up the rumor about plans to freeze military pay.

Fueling speculation on the matter, the co-chairs of the president’s panel on reducing the deficit have recommended a freeze on basic military pay and housing allowances for three years. The panel’s final report will be released Wednesday.

Jeffrey Schogol, a Stars and Stripes reporter sent me a link to his article yesterday about the White House being evasive about a military pay freeze;

The president has called for a 1.4 percent pay raise for troops next year, Jeffrey Zients, of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters on Monday afternoon. But Zients did not answer directly when asked whether the White House was also considering a separate pay freeze for troops, as recommended by the co-chairs of the deficit panel.

“This freeze does not apply to the military,” Zients said before taking another question.

Zients was later pressed by a reporter who asked whether a freeze in military pay was off the table.

“The president will work with [Defense Secretary Robert Gates] and ultimately with the Congress to set an appropriate military pay increase consistent with the burdens of the military and what we’re asking of our folks in uniform,” he said.

It’s difficult to tell what’s on their minds. So I guess we won’t know until tomorrow.

But TSO and I are both going to be in DC tomorrow, but there are eleven other people who have posting privileges here (yes, eleven believe it or not) so if one of you happen to hear anything substantial, don’t be shy.

Category: Military issues