Posted on 12/11/2003 6:28:16 AM PST by JohnGalt
Don't want to, besides my vote or lack of it is just as valuable as yours, scary ain't it.
There is a third choice!
A few days ago, I asked
in another thread:
Which course is the moreReal conservatives
rational: elect someone
you know is evil,
and then use all the
checks and balances to keep
the evil in line;
Or elect someone
who is supposed to be good
and who thereby flies
below the radar
of the checks and balances
and can do real harm?!
You mean WJC. And, you managed to insult Methodists and Catholics in one post, above.
It IS scary that you vote, but you always vote for losers like Buchanan and Phillips.
You are like all narrow minded liberals can't believe anybody would disagree with something you believe.
Do you know the meaning of this word, or did you read it in HUSTLER and decide that it sounded neat?
Just a clear thinker who has learned from experience. I've noticed from our past encounters that you are neither.
ping
Good grief...you actually believed the leftist drivel? Yes, there was apparently a statement from the Pentagon saying they were going to cut the combat pay, but it was retracted the very next day (reading between the lines: Bush slapped someone upside the head for making the statement). Bush actually INCREASED the imminent danger pay in April for the first time in more than a decade, from $150 a month to $225. The "family separation allowances" was also increased from $100 a month to $250. He also expanded the Combat zone income tax exclusion. Even when they were discussing a supposed "cut", it was not really a cut, just a return to the old figure previously paid, as the increase was a temporary measure provided until the supplementary bill could be passed, which it was.
Here is what was included in a recent supplemental bill, note that the bold section states that they will be covered through Oct 2004:
¶ Combat zone income tax exclusion: Not paying the IRS income tax can save thousands of dollars. Those who benefit the most are in the government’s highest tax category: unmarried members without dependents or mortgages.
¶ Family Separation Allowance: For servicemembers with families, this helps pay the added housing expenses resulting from enforced separation. In April, Congress enacted a temporary increase, to $250 per month from $100 per month.
¶ Imminent Danger Pay: All servicemembers deployed to Iraq qualify for $225 per month in danger pay, which was boosted from $150 per month by Congress in April. Servicemembers get a month’s worth of this pay even if they were assigned to a designated area for just a single day.
¶ Hardship Duty Pay: All military personnel in Iraq get $100 per month.
¶ Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay: This generally is paid at a rate of $150 per month to officers and enlisted members whose orders require them to participate in “frequent and regular” duties considered unusually arduous or hazardous. The pay is prorated, meaning someone who works less than a month would get $3.33 per day. The pay comes in several categories, such as Crew Member Flight Pay, Non-crew Member Flight Pay, Parachute Duty Pay (“jump pay”), Demolition Duty Pay, Toxic Fuels (or Propellants) Duty Pay, Dangerous Viruses (or Bacteria) Lab Duty Pay, and Chemical Munitions Pay.
The boosts approved in April for Family Separation Allowance and Imminent Danger Pay, which were retroactive to October 2002, expire Oct. 30. But both pays are funded through the end of fiscal 2004 — October 2004 — in the Iraq supplemental bill now making its way through Congress. [Note: the bill was passed]
While lawmakers are arguing about portions of the supplemental bill related to civilian Iraqi development, no one has contested the military request, which accounts for the lion’s share. Meanwhile, if for some reason the supplemental bill does not pass, congressional authorizers may choose to include the pays in their 2004 defense budget as well, a pay and benefits official said Friday.
They are also extending TriCare to Reservists and the National Guard now:
Starting March 10, 2003, Guard and Reserve family members, if their sponsor is on active duty (federal) orders for more than 30 days, will be eligible to enroll in Tricare Prime and enjoy the access standards and cost shares associated with the Prime benefit.
And they got a pay raise for 2003, also concurrent receipt, improvements to TriCare:
Under the two bills, servicemembers will receive at least a 4.1 percent pay raise beginning Jan. 1. Many mid-level NCOs and officers will receive a pay jump of between 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent. The bills call for an increase in the basic allowance for housing to cut out-of-pocket expenses to 7.5 percent. The bill puts elimination of this financial inequity to servicemembers on course for fiscal 2005.
The act also deals with the hot button issue of concurrent receipt. Currently, military retirees who receive Department of Veterans Affairs disability payments have their retired pay reduced dollar-for-dollar by the VA payment.
The act authorizes an enhanced special compensation for military retirees who "incurred a qualifying combat-related disability." The retiree must have received the Purple Heart for the injury or have a service-connected disability of 60 percent or higher incurred as a direct result of combat or training for combat.
The act continues special pays and bonuses for active duty and reserve personnel and expands special pays given to high-demand military specialties. It also increases the bonus awarded to prior-service personnel.
The act makes medical improvements a high priority. The legislation calls on the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs to share assets, especially in regards to pharmacy benefits.
Congress continues to improve the TriCare program. The legislation expands TriCare Prime Remote to cover dependents who remain in remote locations when they cannot accompany sponsors. Congress also expressed concern over the stability of the TriCare provider networks. Many providers complain that claim processing takes too long. Under the legislation, the requirements for TriCare and Medicare are the same.
On death benefits, Bush has a bill on his desk (H.R. 3365 Fallen Patriots Tax Relief Act, passed 11/06/03) that DOUBLES the benefit and exempts it from tax, as well as many other tax benefits:
H.R. 3365 Fallen Patriots Tax Relief Act
I don't want to hear ANYONE say that Bush does not take care of our troops!
Me too, it's one of my biggest issues lately.
But upon closer look it is only symbolic and won't stop a single abortion.
...T-ball at the white house.
It will be interesting to see if he uses that as the crux of his 2004 campaign! ;-)
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