Freeze Military Pay? Not so fast.

According to news reports, the "President’s National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform" has suggested freezing military pay, benefits and retirement acquirement for the next three years. In addition, they suggested raising out-of-pocket costs for medical care for service members, amongst dozens of other things. (See the full list of proposed military cuts, here)

I don't even want to begin how ludicrous this idea seems. We are talking about cutting pay and benefits to our nation's freedom fighters. The very people who fight for our right to speak, write, and read in English and get paid in AMERICAN dollars. Of course, we've screwed our troops out of so much already...health care, psychiatric treatment, body armor, even saying 'thanks'. Why not go and finish the job?


So, what is the suggested savings of all this? $200 billion by 2015. That's roughly $50 billion a year. I can think of a MUCH better way to reduce the federal deficit...

Start by cutting congressional salaries and allowances. With 435 members in the House - making roughly $175,000 each per year (averaging the Speakers and other leadership positions raised pay), and 100 Senators making roughly $175,000 a year, that equates to $93,625,00.00 PER YEAR. Over the next 5 years, to 2015, If we cut each members pay down to $125,000.00 each, that would be a savings of over $26 million PER YEAR, or almost $134 million by 2015.

Of course, why would Congress vote to reduce it's own pay? Would you?