When Parity Isn't Parity

The Office of Management and Budget is still trying to make the strained case that the 2.2 percent proposed pay increases for military service members and civilian employees in its fiscal 2007 budget are purely coincidental, and not an endorsement of the concept of pay parity. Today, OMB's Alex Conant tells

the Washington Post's Steve Barr:

The proposed 2.2 percent 2007 civilian pay increase is comparable to the increases private-sector employees are experiencing. The 2.2 percent military pay raise is the same as is called for by current law.

But what does that "current law" require that military pay be tied to? Increases private sector employees are receiving, as reflected in the Employment Cost Index. (For a full explanation of this, see Karen Rutzick's Jan. 12 Pay and Benefits Watch column, "The Real Pay Formula.")

I really don't understand why the folks at OMB are trying to press this point. There's no shame in deciding to stop fighting a losing pay parity battle every year. But it's a little silly to pretend that parity somehow happened by accident.