Parity Effort Could be More Difficult

The 2.9 percent figure for the military equals the figure indicated by an employment cost index measure used in pay setting. In most recent years, the military raise has been boosted by a half percentage point above the indicated number, and federal employee raises have been pulled up to an equal amount in the name of pay parity. Employee organizations and some in Congress will try to do the same in the upcoming budget cycle, but the task this time could be more difficult. The budget deficit has become a major political issue, and congressional Democrats could be reluctant to break with Obama so early in his administration. While pay parity typically did draw support of some Republicans, that support was led by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., who has left Congress.