Catherwood LibraryILR School

The House Budget Committee will meet today to work out a plan for federal spending in the year 2003, with much of the discussion likely to focus on the inequality in the raises President Bush has proposed for civilian and military employees. The Bush administration has continued to argue that the almost thirty-five percent difference in raises for military and civilian personnel is justified by current military operations in Afghanistan. Many member of Congress, however, have argued that in light of the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, and subsequent anthrax attacks, past efforts to keep military and civilian raises on par should be continued.