FederalDaily - January 3, 2008

Bush Vetoes Defense Authorization Bill

President Bush’s veto last week of the defense authorization bill leaves in limbo an additional 0.5 percent pay raise for military servicemembers. The White House announced the veto Dec. 29, saying the president would not sign the bill because the measure contained language that would permit lawyers who represent plaintiffs seeking reparations against the prior Iraqi regime to freeze Iraqi funds, harming the country’s reconstruction efforts. Although Bush said he was willing to work quickly with Congress to get a new version passed, lawmakers do not return until Jan. 15. Servicemembers still will receive a 3 percent raise that was approved in a separate funding bill, but will not get the additional 0.5 percent raise that was part of the defense authorization package. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, noted that the bill also contained funding aimed at helping wounded servicemembers. “This bill is important to our men and women in uniform,” Levin said. “It is unfortunate that the administration failed to identify the concerns upon which this veto is based until after the bill had passed both houses of Congress.” To see more, go to: http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=289980

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EPA to Surrender Documents in Waiver Inquiry

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attorneys are preparing to comply with a congressional probe into the agency’s decision to block California from imposing limits on tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases. In a memo from the agency’s general counsel, employees were directed to preserve and produce all documents related to the decision—including any communications with the White House, according to documents released Dec. 27 by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Last month, EPA chief Stephen Johnson rejected California’s request to put into effect rules on tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. As many as 16 states would have been free to do likewise if California had received approval. A Dec. 20 letter from Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, cited published reports that Johnson “overrode the recommendations of [EPA] technical and legal staff in making this decision.” The probe sets up an “unusual autopsy of the behind-the-scenes factors for an executive branch decision,” PEER noted. To see more, go to: www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=965.

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Cost-of-Living Increases Kick In for Disabled Vets

Millions of veterans and eligible family members will get slightly larger disability compensation, pension and survivors’ benefits checks this month as part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) annual cost-of-living increases. Beneficiaries will receive a 2.3 percent increase in disability compensation and survivors’ benefits, starting with their January 2008 checks. Under the veterans’ disability compensation program, the tax-free payments generally will range from $117 to $2,527 per month depending on the extent of disability. The most severely injured vets will receive special monthly payments of up to $7,232, VA said. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake said the increase assures that payments to disabled vets will “keep pace with today’s cost of living.” To see more, go to: www.va.gov.

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