President Bush Abandons the Troops yet Again with Threatened Veto of Troop Pay Increase Bill

Bill HR 1585, passed yesterday in the House 397-27 is facing a veto by the Bush Administration because of a 3.5% pay raise for US Soldiers and a $40 increase per month in benefits for military widows and widowers, among other provisions. The Bush administration does not believe that the troops need a bigger pay raise- they feel that a 3% increase is enough, and that the current death benefits for military survivors are "sufficient." The Bush budget officials state that the administration "strongly opposes" the 3.5% raise for 2008, which was proposed only to reduce the gap between military and civilian pay (currently, that gap stands at approximately 3.9%). It also opposes additional benefits listed in this bill for surviving family members of civilian employees, and price controls for prescription drugs under TRICARE, the military's health care plan for military personnel and their dependents.

How can this administration, which claims to "support our troops" so strongly, continue to deny the troops equal pay to civilians? That's what the Bush Administration is objecting to. They're objecting to giving our military- our men and women who are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan- what we, here at home, have. They are objecting to giving our fellow citizens, who have suffered the most tragic loss anyone can- the loss of a spouse- a measly additional $40 a month. That's barely a tank of gas with the current gas prices. They are objecting to giving our military the ability to buy prescription drugs at a fair and reasonable cost.

That is truly supporting our troops. Giving them these benefits is supporting them. Giving them equal pay is supporting them. I am outraged that any president would even hesitate for a nanosecond before signing this bill, much less consider vetoing it. The mere idea is repugnant, and goes to show that to this president, the troops are nothing more than a photo op, useful when he needs them, but not worth spending money on.

I vehemently disagree. I believe that our troops are American heroes, and they are worth spending the money on. I think that if this veto goes through, the House should attempt to override it, and show President Bush that our troops do deserve equal pay to civilians. This veto is wrong, and if Bush goes through with it, he needs to learn how wrong he is. We must count on our Congressmen to do the right thing- write your congressman, and urge them to make sure that HR 1585 is passed, no matter what action the President takes.