European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                May 2007 stars and stripes Mideast edition Pace id your Money White House planned pay gains too costly the House of representatives passed its version of the fiscal 2008 defense authorization Bill thurs even As the White House urged lawmakers to reconsider a Host of costly personnel Initia Tives added by the armed services initiatives opposed by the White House included bigger pay raises the House voted for a per cent Basic pay increase for Janu that percent higher than proposed by the Bush admin the House would continue a string of annual raises set percent higher than private Sec Tor wage growth through at least a 3 percent raise next january would be enough to keep military pay said the White houses office of management and budget in a statement of administration policy on the released the unnecessary extra Hal percentage bump in pay would Cost million in 2008 and billion Over six budget officials when combined with the Over All military Benefit the presidents proposal provides a Good Quality of life for servicemen Bers and their said the bomb letter to committee both House republicans and democrats Thel Tom Philpott a offered the adopted by the armed services to stretch the string of bigger raises out to the Senate armed services committee will Mark up its ver Sion of the defense authorization Bill next that committee is said to be More supportive of the administrations View that Mili tary pay is competitive now and will stay competitive with a 3 per cent raise in higher Tricase fees the White House is disappointed that the House Bill does not allow defense officials to raise Tricase fees and copayment for retired military beneficiaries under 65 or allow implementation of some new set of cos contain ment actions expected to be recommended soon by the do Dap pointed task Force on the future of military health the administration says fee in creases Are needed to sustain a High Quality health care Benefit by largely capturing the inflation increases that have occurred since Cost sharing was first established in blocking any such initiatives this year will add billion to military health costs in 2008 and More than billion through the House Bill also would re store million in health care spending that defense officials sought to remove through unspecified efficiency wedges imposed on service medical fair pricing1 the administration strongly opposes a provision in the House Bill to require drug manufacturers to give the defense depart ment the same Price discounts on drugs dispensed through the Tri care retail network that they pro vide to base the Tri care mail order pharmacy and a clinics and the White House says Market not government Price is the most effective Way to promote Steve reiterated that argument on the House he said Price setting in Tri care retail pharmacies will eliminate retail Competition in endanger drug discounts for veterans using a health at buyers Ike skel chairman of the armed services agreed to sup port a study of the Impact of the fair pricing initiative on veterans and other Csc expansion the House Bill would open the combat related special compensation program to some disabled retirees forced from service Short of Normal retirement because of service connected injuries or ail Csc for the first time would be paid to chapter 61 retirees if they served at least 15 were forced from service by com Bat related injuries and have Dis ability ratings from the a of 60 percent or their Csc payments would begin if the measure clears the full Congress those eligible would continue to receive their a disability compensation plus a monthly Csc amount based on years for an eligible Retiree who left with 17 years would receive monthly Csc equal to percent of Basic pay multiplied by the administration strongly opposes this and other piece meal changes to Retiree disability compensation Given that Sev eral commissions and review groups Are reconsidering the country responsibilities to those medically separated prior to completing a full military survivor indemnity allowance the House Bill would establish a new survivor indemnity allow Ance of up to a month for surviving spouses who see their survivor benefits fall As a result of the so Pic offset the White House opposes this first step toward eliminating the offset the offset currently reduces survivor benefits plan payments by the amount widows or widow ers receive in dependency and indemnity compensation from the department of veterans but this says the White is consistent with private sector benefits and should not be phased the House it would Cost million the first year and million through fiscal the allow Ance would begin if it clears the full Reserve go Bill the administration also opposes a provision that would Transfer oversight for the Reserve Mont Gomery i Bill from the depart ment of defense to the depart ment of veterans proponents say its a first step toward raising Reserve i Bill benefits and increasing them in future years in concert with vap Rovid de Active duty i Bill the White House says the change would mean Dod loses control of a critical incentive pro Gram for Reserve recruiting and to email write to military Box a 201201111 or visit thursdays Market summary indexes 52 High week Low name last net chg Ltd 52wk chg chg chg nose Dow Jones industrials Dow Jones transportation Dow Jones utilities nose composite amex Index Nash a composite Midcap Russell 2000  amex Nash a most Active or More name last Active or More name last Active or More name vol 00 last chg Micro Cut 454658 Motorola 394260  372280 Tex list 310702 and 290801 Tai Semi 257931 Hal Libens 257639 Alliata 237759 Geneles 234808 forum 228499 968911 ishr2knya 661643 on2tech 241798 spongy 186162 Semi her 149633 Prusha Rqn 138357 oils vat 130344 do Madiam 113136 spend 59718 Goldstro 45608 1113430 pm she Sqq 1031046 Intel 558399 Microsoft 393050 Cisco 361035 Dell Nulf 330077 Starbucks 301202 level3 300126 Sirouss 273153 Apple inc 259790 key defense stocks key Mutual pliant techno system Amor holdings 25 invest Greco Fidelity invest Grolnic Fidelity spartan computer funds a Erlna general dynamics general Century inv Ultra Fidelity invest invest Harris invest lied investments a const communications Frnk a Sec Para aim investments a Raythelon Rockwell 5equa 7 advisor Fidelity advisor Putnam funds a Globe qty Texas text Ron advisor United funds a gig a Exchange rates military rates euro costs May Dollar buys May British Pound May japanese yen May South korean won May commercial rates Bahrain British Canada China Denmark Egypt Hong Kong Hungary Israel Japan Kuwait Norway Philippines Poland saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey new military Exchange rates Are those available to customers at military Bank ing facilities in the country of issuance for South the Netherlands and the United for no local currency Exchange rates purchasing British pounds in Germa Check with your local military Bank ing commercial rates Are inter Bank rates provided for reference when buying All figures Are foreign currencies to one except for the British which is represented in and the which is precious metals new York merc close Gold Silver interest rates prime discount Federal funds Market rate 3month 30year sources the associated Bank of America and sensibility Money tip of the Day to rated tech help Market watch new York whether you own an Dell or he com theres probably going to come a time when you need some computer according to consumer re Apple is tops when it comes to customer but no matter what company your computer is there Are a few ways to get the most out of your tech support make sure you know exactly what kind of support youre entitled Check your warranty does it cover hard Ware onsite help diagnostics be organized when it comes to your personal information and your computer prob make a list of 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