Editorial: Bill, veto unfair to troops

[unhappycamper]

Editorial: Bill, veto unfair to troops

President Bush gave service members a rude holiday jolt Dec. 28 with a last-minute veto of the 2008 defense authorization bill.

The veto was aimed at a provision that would give victims of terrorism or their survivors the right to petition courts to freeze U.S.-held assets of nations that support or have supported terrorism, and then seek monetary damages.

The White House fears this could bring lawsuits against the current Iraqi government for the misdeeds of the Saddam Hussein regime.

Unfortunately, Bush’s veto puts a huge crimp in pay and benefits provisions authorized by the bill. The 2008 pay raise, for example, shrinks from 3.5 percent to 3 percent, while payment of several bonuses and special pays is frozen.

With Congress not due to return to work until Jan. 15, it may be well into February before the dispute is ironed out.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/community/opinion/army_editorial_veto_080114/