The pay promise came in a September 1999 speech by Bush at The Citadel, the South Carolina military academy. Although Congress had just passed legislation to substantially increase military pay for the next six years, Bush pledged more money for soldier and sailor salaries. The White House decision could make a significant difference in the take-home pay of the military next year. On Friday, a White House official told Washington Post reporters that the military pay raise would amount to 4.6 percent. Bush faulted the Clinton administration during the campaign for stretching the military too thin and not providing enough financial support.
Morale is down.
Recruitment is more difficult. Bush intends to reaffirm his pledges to the military this week. Two House members, meanwhile, would give the military more than Bush apparently envisions. The size of the military raise could influence the administration's decision on federal employee pay. Bush's proposal for raising civil service pay will be a part of the White House budget, which will be issued at the end of the month, Ullman said.