DoD calls for 7.5% budget increase in ’09

DoD calls for 7.5% budget increase in ’09
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 5, 2008 5:53:16 EST

The Bush administration on Monday unveiled a defense budget proposal that would boost baseline spending by 7.5 percent in fiscal 2009, which begins Oct. 1, the Defense Department announced Monday.

The total of $515.4 billion would be a $35.9 billion jump from the current fiscal year. Most of the growth is due to inflation, a weak dollar and higher costs for fuel and medical care, defense officials said.

If enacted into law, the total, adjusted for inflation, would represent the highest level of defense spending ever, according to Steve Kosiak, an analyst with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

The budget would fund a 3.4 percent military pay raise that would match recent average wage growth for private-sector workers and would boost spending across the board on military housing and food allowances, operations, strategic modernization and family housing and facilities.

For the third consecutive year, the defense budget proposal also includes a call to raise some fees and deductibles under the military’s Tricare health insurance program. Defense officials say the increases are needed to help hold down soaring health care costs that they say threaten the viability of the health care benefit.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/military_09budget_dod_080204w/



uhc comment --> http://journals.democraticunderground.com/unhappycamper/239