Vetoing your pay raise

[bmackeil]

President Bush said Dec. 28 that he might veto a massive spending bill agreed to by both houses of Congress, which means pay raises and other benefits due to take effect Jan. 1 are now in jeopardy.

Bush’s action, which apparently caught congressional leaders off guard, centers on one provision in the legislation dealing with Iraqi assets. The legislation would permit plaintiffs’ lawyers immediately to freeze Iraqi funds and would expose Iraq to “massive liability in lawsuits concerning the misdeeds of the Saddam Hussein regime,” said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.

“The new democratic government of Iraq, during this crucial period of reconstruction, cannot afford to have its funds entangled in such lawsuits in the United States,” Stanzel said in a statement.

“The administration should have raised its objections earlier, when this issue could have been addressed without a veto,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in a joint statement. “The American people will have every right to be disappointed if the president vetoes this legislation, needlessly delaying implementation of the troops’ pay raise, the Wounded Warriors Act and other critical measures.”

The provision that is causing problems would have allowed the victims of the executed Iraqi dictator Saddam to seek compensation in court, Democrats said. The Iraqi government has warned that former U.S. prisoners of war from the first Gulf War might cite this legislation in an attempt to get money from the Iraqi government’s reported $25 billion in assets now held in U.S. banks, they say.

Unless Bush vetoes the legislation, the Iraqis have threatened to withdraw all of their money from the U.S. financial system to protect it from the lawsuits, Democrats said.

The White House contends the legislation subject to the Bush veto would imperil Iraqi assets held in the United States, including reconstruction and central bank funds.

Stanzel said the administration will work with Congress to get the additional pay raise approved and retroactive to Jan. 1 under a reworked bill.


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...sebill_071228/

Let's take care of the SOLDIERS FIRST then worry about IRAQ'S Money. People do not sign up for just the money the Army Pays but because for most it's in there Blood to serve there country and others. So if a chance comes along to give a Soldier that extra little pay or incentive it should not be considered insignificant. Military pay isn't horrible, but for the Job we do lets put a little more thought into the small little extras that go a long way in making us feel appreciated. We are not in it to get rich. If you are- you joined for the wrong reasons.

[UBOAT]

Another example of the commander in chief supporting the troops.

[SLGAITHER]

The efforts that we have made in Iraq, do not need to be lost by a bunch of over payed men that need to retire. They are the ones that said the surge would not work and I know it was not the only thing that helped but boots on the ground and interacting with the people started most of the programs that have calmed the masses. Take the legal wording out and let the construction begin, do we not tie things in the US with the courts so nothing gets done? Oh I forgot our representatives are lawyers just helping out there lawyer brothers in Iraq.

Sincerly

In the Front!

The WH had no idea what was in the bill? Nonsense!

This government spends too much time out of the office on junkets, speeches, and vacation time.

I'm not so worried about the pay raise, those of us who joined, didn't join to get rich. My concern is the loss of all the bonuses that will keep people in, plus all the other Benies that are being dumped in the mean time. I just wish he would have said something before he decided to "Pocket the program". Congress could have avoided this though by keeping a few reps/senators in the house during the break, and should have known this was a possibility. Sounds like both the legislative and executive branches failed to work things out in advance.

Yeah Bush cares for the troops alright!! If Bush cares about the troops so much why are Republicans and Democrats continuing to slash VA benefits in the most destructive fashion and have been doing it for years!! Medical institutions are way underfunded and VA hospitals are in shambles. Also the VA has a backlog of medical claims and the VA secretary which was probably a draft deferrer in Vietnam says arroganly "yeah it is screwed up," just shows you how hypocritical this administration and the congress are!!! As long as those Washington politicians are not losing money and their pay and benefits ($250,000 a year and up) are not being cut, why should they care!!! You know like Thomas Jefferson once said do not abuse your soldiers too much or they will bail out on you at the time when you need them!! Yeah they give us the equipment we need (half a**ly). If you are going to support the troops support them all of the way 110% percent or don't support them at all!! Just like our senior NCO's and Officers demand 110% performance out of all of us all of the time!! How are we going to give 110% always when our senior leadership in Wahsington don't give 110% for us. Double standard if you ask me and Double Standards only get people killed. But like always now a days shortchange your soldiers to protect those politicians profits!! This country is starting to make me sick and it makes me want to leave more and more everyday!!! Vote Independent 2008!!

I wonder why Americans just do not vote out the whole of Congress by not voting for incumbents for awhile. Then, sit back and watch the fear take hold of those old senators and old members of the house who are rejected by the voters... no power! Then vote into office the best senators and representatives along with a strong leader in the White House... surprise politics! Yep, that's what America needs... new blood in Congress and the White House... the old club has got to go soon. There is too much talk and play and not enough work for the big bucks they are paid! Wake up Americans and vote them out of office in the next four elections!

[technomage1]

Thanks bunches for not working with Congress to iron this out before it became too late.

Not wanting to interrupt yet another vacation, are we? At least this time he's not ignoring the CIA warnings of an impending terrorist attack....

Bush has never supported his troops. He is making a ton of money off this war. He needs to get his head out of his ass and do the right thing by supporting us troops the right way!