{"id":63754,"date":"2019-07-12T18:09:43","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T18:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/12\/bid-for-a-higher-military-pay-raise-fizzles-amid-partisan-fighting-in-congress\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:25:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:25:50","slug":"bid-for-a-higher-military-pay-raise-fizzles-amid-partisan-fighting-in-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/pay-benefits\/2019\/07\/12\/bid-for-a-higher-military-pay-raise-fizzles-amid-partisan-fighting-in-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Bid for a higher military pay raise fizzles amid partisan fighting in Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A last-minute bid by House Republicans to dramatically boost next year\u2019s planned military pay raise<\/a> to 4 percent and add nearly $1 billion in military personnel spending failed amid partisan fighting over the annual defense authorization bill<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The White House and Pentagon leaders have pushed for a 3.1 percent pay raise for troops next year, the largest for the armed services in a decade. Both House and Senate lawmakers have already backed that figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Donald Trump has repeatedly cited the 3.1 percent increase as evidence of his administration\u2019s commitment to taking care of servicemembers. The 3.1 percent figure matches the long-established federal formula for keeping military pay in line with the gradual increase in private sector wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But on Friday, ahead of his chamber\u2019s final vote on the annual defense authorization bill, House Armed Services Committee ranking member Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, pushed for an even larger raise \u201cto help with recruitment and send a message to our troops that we value them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t