House, Senate panels back a 3.9% pay raise for 2009

The House and Senate budget panels are backing a 3.9% increase in military base pay for 2009, while the President is backing a 3.5% increase for next year. The goal of these increases is to provide for a cost of living adjustment as well as make military pay commensurate with civilian pay for similar jobs. While the increase sounds nice, it hasn't been signed into law yet, because the Congressional Budget is far from being finalized, and if you recall how the process went this past year, don't count on seeing it until February. Hopefully though, a lame-duck Congress and a lame-duck President can get their work accomplished quickly and prevent unnecessary inconvenience to military families.

Of course, we all realize that with the increasing costs of fuel, food, energy, and housing this 3.9% increase will really be a small pay cut, but that's a topic for another day.