Administration Objects to DoD Bill Provisions

The Bush administration has raised objections to several provisions in a House-passed spending bill for DoD in fiscal 2007 (HR-5122), in particular the measure’s call to boost the military January raise from the proposed 2.2 percent to 2.7 percent. The White House said it “strongly opposes” increasing the raise across the board and said it prefers to target additional pay to certain high-demand positions—similar to the argument it has used for years regarding federal pay. But supporters of pay parity for civilian federal employees already are using that provision to argue for boosting the federal raise to that level as well. They are eyeing the Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill, which probably won’t begin moving until June, as a possible vehicle. Both the House and Senate have now passed budget outlines for 2007 that are silent on the raise figure.