House conflicted on extra pay for feds called to military duty

[The Straight Story]

House conflicted on extra pay for feds called to military duty

By Karen Rutzick
[e-mail]

In the same week, different groups of House Republicans helped kill, and then resurrect, a proposal to pay federal employees called up for National Guard or reserves duty their full civilian salary.

The House Government Reform Committee on Thursday unanimously passed stand-alone legislation to do so. But earlier this week, House and Senate appropriations negotiators rejected an almost identical measure the Senate had approved as an amendment to its version of the fiscal 2006 emergency supplemental spending bill.

This marked at least the fourth time such language died in conference negotiations after strong support on the floor. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., was the only House Republican to vote to retain the amendment during the conference meeting.

Still, House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., expressed hope Thursday morning that the stand-alone bill passed by his committee would go through. "I'm optimistic we'll be able to see progress," Davis said.

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