Obama Pulls Combat Pay for U.S. Troops

SHARKTANK ^ | Feb 06, 2012 | swampsniper

[LZ_Bayonet]

Dems are always wanting to give money to those with low incomes because they say "they will spend the money, not save it, and therefore boost the economy". [Ignoring the fact that some are poor because they couldn't resist spending.]

So why not use the same rationale for the military. Certainly, if we are going to throw money out of helicopters, the military is more deserving than most.

[AGreatPer]

I don't care how all our troops get extra pay.

They deserve it.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

You think he can’t go any lower, and then he does. And people vote for him.

[SoFloFreeper]

Yeah, but come on, he IS inviting 200 select members to a special “Praise Obambi for pulling out of Iraq” dinner.

[MSF BU]

Is that the case or your opinion? Again, I’m just playing devil’s advocate. A larger question potentially will be if the tax exemption is pulled as well. Normally the two go hand in hand...combat pay = tax exemption. The fact that they are ‘still receiving’ sea pay or jump pay or whatever should be little comfort if indeed both tax exemption and combat pay are removed...the net effect could be tens of thousand fewer dollars per year for many of out servicemen. I wonder if anybody on active duty could lay out how exactly this is getting implemented.

[Lou L]

Unless things have changed since I was in the Navy 20-some odd years ago, it is the case that sea pay and sub pay are pretty standard. There are some requirements of course, and I think the pay is designed more for hardship reasons, as opposed to being in danger. That said, any time someone goes out to sea on a ship or a sub, there is always a chance they won't return to land again.

Back to your point, I can't speak to the tax exempt status of sea or sub pay right now, nor of how hazardous duty pay will be implemented. The added taxes certainly seem to go hand in hand with Obama's philosophy of never meeting up with a tax he didn't like. But surely, you wouldn't expect his administration to argue with it, would you?

[MSF BU]

Yes, the policy also would be in line with his general philosophy of handouts for everybody except those in uniform who are charged with defending the country.