In the midst of all the war talk about Syria, you might have missed this story. CNS News reported Tuesday that President Obama has decided to decrease the amount of money our military would receive in pay raises this year.
The article reports:
“This decision is consistent with my fiscal year 2014 Budget and will not materially affect the Federal Government‘s ability to attract and retain well-qualified members for the uniformed services,” Obama wrote.
Federal law says military pay raises must be based on the Employment Cost Index, which is a quarterly measure of changes in labor costs compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Congress came up with the formula to tie annual military raises to private sector pay growth.
And based on that statutory formula, military personnel should be getting a 1.8 percent pay raise beginning in January 2014.
However, the law also says if the president considers the pay adjustment inappropriate — because of national emergency or serious economic conditions — he may inform Congress of an alternative pay adjustment, along with his reasons for such a change.