2.9 or 3.4, 2010 Pay Amount Still in Question

Question for Congressman Filner

May 22nd, 2009

I read “Memorial Day: Putting Our Troops and Veterans First” by Congressman Bob Filner. In it he describes a number of initiatives congress has completed which those of us who are/have served appreciate very much. I thank him and his colleagues for their actions.

One issue I do have with the article, he mentions, “Politics and partisanship should never be a factor in our support for American veterans or troops.” yet he states, for no other purpose I can see but politics, “Last year, we increased military pay by 3.9 percent – more than President Bush’s request 3.9% raise in 2009…”

President Bush used the Employment Cost Index (ECI) to determine his raise proposal – the exact same method used by President Obama for his 2010 military raise proposal of 2.9%.

There is currently a movement in the House and Senate to increase the 2010 proposal to 3.4% (an additional .5% over ECI) just as occurred for 2009 – Why did Congressman Bob Filner not mention in his article support for the additional .5% beyond President Obama’s proposal for 2010? Politics or is he of the opinion ECI got it right this year and the military is paid enough now?