thedrifter
03-08-06, 12:55 PM
March 08, 2006
Details of ’07 targeted pay raises unfold
By Rick Maze
Times staff writer
Pentagon comptroller Tina W. Jonas provided a few more details Tuesday on the Pentagon’s plan for target pay raises in 2007.
The Pentagon’s plan calls for 2.2 percent increases in basic pay on Jan. 1, 2007, which would apply to basic pay and drill pay for all service members, with additional targeted raises of up to 8.3 percent on April 1 for noncommissioned officers, petty officers and warrant officers, Jonas said.
The 8.3 percent raise would apply to warrant officers, Jonas said. She was cagey about targeted pay increases for enlisted members, suggesting amounts would range from about 2.5 percent for E-5s to about 5.5 percent for E-9s.
The Pentagon’s 2007 budget has set aside $263 million to provide the targeted pay increases and to provide longevity pay increases for people with between 30 and 40 years of service, she said. Under the current military pay table, the only pay increases after 30 years of service are the annual cost-of-living adjustment on Jan. 1 or for promotion.
Jonas said the pay plan is a “demonstration” of the military’s commitment “to provide a high quality of life for those who serve and their families.”
“Since 2001, basic pay has increased 29 percent,” she said.
Jonas, however, continued the Pentagon’s call for passing on growing health care costs to military retirees by increasing co-payments and enrollment fees.
“Over the past five years, the full cost of provide military health care has nearly doubled, from $19 billion in fiscal year 2001 to $37 billion enacted in fiscal year 2006,” Jonas said. “Unless action is taken to address the rising cost of care, the current program is projected to increase to $50 billion by 2011 and to $64 billion by 2015,” Jonas said. “We are very concerned. Clearly, these rising costs cannot be sustained over the long term,” she said.
Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, the defense appropriations subcommittee chairman and the only senator present for the hearing on the 2007 budget, didn’t ask any questions about the pay raise or Tricare fee increases. But congressional aides said there has been much talk behind the scenes about blocking the fee increases and possibly providing a bigger military raise as Congress works on the budget.
Stevens would only say he expected a lot of amendments from his fellow senators trying to increase money for various defense programs.
Ellie
Details of ’07 targeted pay raises unfold
By Rick Maze
Times staff writer
Pentagon comptroller Tina W. Jonas provided a few more details Tuesday on the Pentagon’s plan for target pay raises in 2007.
The Pentagon’s plan calls for 2.2 percent increases in basic pay on Jan. 1, 2007, which would apply to basic pay and drill pay for all service members, with additional targeted raises of up to 8.3 percent on April 1 for noncommissioned officers, petty officers and warrant officers, Jonas said.
The 8.3 percent raise would apply to warrant officers, Jonas said. She was cagey about targeted pay increases for enlisted members, suggesting amounts would range from about 2.5 percent for E-5s to about 5.5 percent for E-9s.
The Pentagon’s 2007 budget has set aside $263 million to provide the targeted pay increases and to provide longevity pay increases for people with between 30 and 40 years of service, she said. Under the current military pay table, the only pay increases after 30 years of service are the annual cost-of-living adjustment on Jan. 1 or for promotion.
Jonas said the pay plan is a “demonstration” of the military’s commitment “to provide a high quality of life for those who serve and their families.”
“Since 2001, basic pay has increased 29 percent,” she said.
Jonas, however, continued the Pentagon’s call for passing on growing health care costs to military retirees by increasing co-payments and enrollment fees.
“Over the past five years, the full cost of provide military health care has nearly doubled, from $19 billion in fiscal year 2001 to $37 billion enacted in fiscal year 2006,” Jonas said. “Unless action is taken to address the rising cost of care, the current program is projected to increase to $50 billion by 2011 and to $64 billion by 2015,” Jonas said. “We are very concerned. Clearly, these rising costs cannot be sustained over the long term,” she said.
Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, the defense appropriations subcommittee chairman and the only senator present for the hearing on the 2007 budget, didn’t ask any questions about the pay raise or Tricare fee increases. But congressional aides said there has been much talk behind the scenes about blocking the fee increases and possibly providing a bigger military raise as Congress works on the budget.
Stevens would only say he expected a lot of amendments from his fellow senators trying to increase money for various defense programs.
Ellie