Senate Panel Backs 3.5 Percent Military Raise

The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday approved a 3.5 percent pay raise for members of the military. The committee backed the portion of the 2008 Defense authorization bill containing the 3.5 percent increase during a markup that is expected to end Friday. The 3.5 percent figure, which the House already has approved, is half a percent higher than the raise proposed by the Bush administration. It likely will give federal labor unions an edge in pushing for an equivalent raise for civilian federal employees. This year's civilian federal pay raise is likely to be included in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, expected to be marked up in June.--Brittany Ballenstedt