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Turf war hurts families

The 2010 defense authorization bill, on a fast track to final passage at press time, included two important improvements in legal and financial protections for troops and their families.

Both provisions were dropped from the bill because of a petty squabble concerning which committees have jurisdiction over the issues involved.

One provision would give spouses the same residency rights accorded service members. So for voting, driver licensing and tax purposes, they could maintain residency in any state in which they have been assigned with a service member for as long as that service member remains in the military.

The other provision would expand the types of contracts service members could cancel or suspend without penalty when they are ordered to deploy or transfer to a new duty station. In addition to housing leases, this would cover contracts for cell phones, Internet and cable TV, and utilities.

Both provisions are in limbo because the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees say they have legislative oversight of these issues — not the armed services committees that write the defense authorization bill.

This turf dispute is holding up practical solutions for service members. What a stunning example of why Congress is held in such low esteem by many Americans.

Troops and their families could not care less about which committee passes legislation that can make a tangible difference in their quality of life. If lawmakers want to “support the troops,” as they so often say, they must focus on results, not process.

Having snatched uncertainty from the jaws of a sure thing, the veterans’ committees now have an obligation to approve the new spouse residency and contract cancellation rules without delay.