Congress is set to move into the next stage of its annual budget process, the writing of the spending bills needed to fund federal agencies for the fiscal year that starts October 1, bills that in many years specify the upcoming year’s federal. Of particular interest is the Transportation-Treasury spending bill, which carries funding for numerous independent agencies, including OPM. While that bill hasn’t been scheduled to move through the appropriations committees yet—the first movement likely will be in the House in a few weeks–supporters of equivalent raises between civilian and military personnel are once again eyeing that measure as a possible carrier of “pay parity” language. President Bush has recommended a 2.2 percent raise for both groups. The full House Armed Services Committee has approved a boost to 2.7 percent for uniformed personnel, but the Senate counterpart committee has approved a 2.2 percent military raise. Since it typically is set first, the military raise acts as the parity target figure for the civilian raise. However, it’s unlikely that the military raise will be finalized before the appropriations process starts, unless an amendment favoring 2.7 percent is accepted in full Senate voting.