Hill Disappointed by President's Veto Threat of Defense Authorization Bill

Press Release

Hill Disappointed by President's Veto Threat of Defense Authorization Bill

The President issued a statement today outlining his Administration's grievances with the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill, H.R. 1585, which was overwhelmingly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. In the memorandum the President lists various reasons for vetoing the bill including a pay raise for the military. Congressman Baron Hill is extremely disappointed by the President's pointing to the military pay raise as justification for vetoing the bill.

"I am very disappointed by the President's decision to veto a bill that not only boosts the strength and readiness of our Armed Forces and National Guard and Reserves but also provides enhanced benefits for our troops, their families, and veterans," Hill said.

H.R. 1585 provides a 3.5 percent pay increase for military families - 0.5 percent more than the President had requested. According to the statement issued by the President, the nominal pay increase is "unnecessary." The other objection to the pay increase is money - that the raise will result in huge additional costs.

The President's own Office of Management and Budget (OMB) calculated that the 0.5% difference would cost $7.3 billion from Fiscal Year 2008 through 2013.

To put this in perspective, the President's tax breaks for the top 1% of wage earners for the same period (FY 2008-2013), total $536 billion. This is 70 times the amount he is threatening to deny military families by his veto of the Defense Authorization bill.

"Our troops and their families have sacrificed immensely to protect our lives and freedom but the President will not sign a bill that gives them a larger pay increase than he wanted," Hill said. "I am very disappointed by this decision and find it hard to fathom that the wealthiest Americans get tax breaks but the military cannot get a pay raise."

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