Senators push to make up for reservists’ lost wages

Senators push to make up for reservists’ lost wages

Despite continued Pentagon opposition, a bipartisan group of senators is pressing on with a proposal to have the federal government make up any salary losses for federal employees in the National Guard or reserve who earn less when mobilized than they do in civilian life.


Supporters announced May 26 they are undeterred by Defense Department objections and hope to attach a provision to the Senate version of the 2006 defense authorization bill.

The Senate plan also would give a tax credit to private employers as an incentive for them to cover half of any salary losses for their reservist workers, along with up to $6,000 to hire a temporary replacement for a mobilized employee.

The chief sponsors of the bill are Sens. George Allen, R-Va., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Richard Durbin, D-Ill.

However, the originating sponsor is Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., who introduced the bill in April 2003. He has gathered 82 co-sponsors and the support of major military associations, but the House Rules Committee has blocked him from bringing the legislation to the House floor for a vote.

The House version of the 2006 defense authorization bill has a different income-replacement plan. It would have the Pentagon pay up to $3,000 a month to any mobilized reservists — federal or private-sector employees — whose military salaries are less than their civilian wages.

However, payments would not begin until a reservist spends 18 months on active duty, which Lantos said is “not good enough” because families need help from the start of a mobilization.

White House budget officials object even to the more modest income plan, and have asked congressional leaders to kill the plan before passage of the defense bill.

About 120,000 Guard and reserve members work for the federal government, with 43,000 mobilized since Sept. 11, 2001, and some 17,000 on active duty today, Allen said.

Most reservists lose money when called to active duty, with an average loss of $368 a month, Allen said. “This is $368 that goes into putting food on the table, paying the mortgage, the utility bills and making the car payment,” he said.

Landrieu said reservists who volunteer to fight and possibly die for their country “shouldn’t have to sacrifice financial stability.”

As to complaints about costs, she said that is just a matter of priorities. “We have voted time and time again to hand out relief to corporations for far less important reasons,” she said.

Retired Army Maj. Gen. William Matz Jr., president of the National Association for Uniformed Services, said having the federal government make up pay losses for activated reservists who are federal workers “sets a fine example and will encourage more civilian employers” to do the same.

Also, providing tax credits for employers who voluntarily make up pay differentials will be a boon to small businesses that lack large financial resources, he said.

Lou Leto, a spokesman for the Reserve Officers Association, said activated reservists need help. “Reserve component members who are experiencing a pay gap as a result of mobilization are taking extra financial sacrifices,” Leto said. “Their families are finding it much more difficult to make payments on their home mortgages and the rent.”

And employers who want to help reservists need help themselves, he said.

[Grimmy]

I'm so split on this issue. I do believe that reservists and NG families deserve assistance in such times...but having reserve troops being paid according to their peace time job standards while on active would, not only, be a major accounting issue (each Soldier, Airman, Sailor or Marine reservist or Army NG would have to have a completely seperate pay work up) but it'd also be a major kick in the teeth for those on active duty doing the same work and taking the same risks for hella lot less pay.

[Curt]

The military has never been compensated for the risks they take and the work they do. Seems no one but the military people and their families have any concept of what is done by them for everyone in this nation.