WALZ ON OPPOSITION TO PAY RAISE FOR TROOPS, SURVIVOR BENEFITS

05/17/2007

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Tim Walz issued the following statement after hearing of the Bush Administration's threat to veto the Defense Authorization bill. The veto threat released by the Administration calls the Democratic proposal to provide troops with a pay raise "unnecessary" and opposes increasing the surviving spouses benefit by $40 per month.

Walz's statement follows:

"President Bush has often stood in front of soldiers for the benefit of TV cameras and photographers, but today he failed again to stand behind our soldiers. Instead of calling for shared sacrifice after September 11th, President Bush asked Americans to go shopping. By opposing the military pay increase proposed by Democrats, President Bush sends a clear signal to the troops that the only sacrifice he's willing to ask for is one shared by our military men and women and their families. As a retired senior noncommissioned officer I am astonished at the President's disregard for our soldiers and their families."

To read the Bush Administration's veto threat on the National Defense Authorization Act, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/110-1/hr1585sap-h.pdf

Excerpts follow:

"Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance: The Administration opposes section 644, which would pay a monthly special survivor indemnity allowance of $40 . . . the current benefit programs for survivors . . . provide sufficient benefits.

"Military Pay: The Administration strongly opposes sections 601 and 606. The additional 0.5% increase above the President's proposed 3.0 percent across-the-board pay increase is unnecessary."