President Donald Trump incorrectly told troops in Iraq on Wednesday that he gave them their first pay raise in more than 10 years -- a falsehood he has repeatedly told.Everyone in the audience had to know what pay raises they received in past years and at the beginning of FY 2019. As to why Trump would stand in front of the troops and lie to them, you are free to speculate.
Speaking to troops at Al Asad Air Base during his surprise visit to Iraq, Trump told troops: "You protect us. We are always going to protect you. And you just saw that, 'cause you just got one of the biggest pay raises you've ever received. ... You haven't gotten one in more than 10 years. More than 10 years. And we got you a big one. I got you a big one. I got you a big one."
In fact, military pay has increased every year for more than three decades. It was raised 2.4% in 2018 and then 2.6% in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. The 2.6% pay raise is the largest in the past 9 years.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Something's Wrong With Trump
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Just an FYI, for those interested:
1 January 2007: 2.2%
1 April 2007: 0.5%
1 January 2008: 3.5%
1 January 2009: 3.9%
1 January 2010: 3.4%
1 January 2011: 1.4%
1 January 2012: 1.6%
1 January 2013: 1.7%
1 January 2014: 1.0%
1 January 2015: 1.0%
1 January 2016: 1.3%
1 January 2017: 2.1%
1 January 2018: 2.4%
The part that really got me was the brag about the big 10% raise after saying the military had not had a pay increase in 10 years. So, had everything else been true, he figured that was a big favor to the troops? I have the numerical kills of an earthworm and even I can figure out that would be a shabby raise. I'm beginning to think his arithmetic ability is on a par with his reading skills.
The last 10 years, the troops have received a net 21.61% increase.
Inflation over the same period is about 19.85%.
Federal employees over the same period have received 10.21%.
The Coasties are really getting the shaft, as their 1/1/2019 paycheck is not happening, while most Federal employees are getting some form of check about 12/31/2018. After that, all bets are off...some are owed money that will be paid "in the future", some are furloughed and may see pay or may not.
OPM actually put out suggested letters that included this gem:
“the possibility of trading my services to perform maintenance (e.g. painting, carpentry work) in exchange for partial rent payments.”
Surprisingly, this particular letter is now removed from the linked sample letters. But I'm on the phone to my mortgage company Monday to tell them I'm gonna clean the toilets at home and hope they'll knock $100 off my payment due.
Good news, the Coastie's are getting paid tomorrow. In an 11th hour change, the Coast Guard announced it had found a legal way to issue the 12/31/2018 paychecks. The cynical among us would note that not issuing the paychecks would have opened the doors to a minimum wage violation suit, like happened in 2013, that would have cost the Coast Guard at least tens of millions.
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