Nine House legislators have sent a letter to President Bush urging that the Administration “embrace the principal of pay parity” between military members and federal civilian workers in the 2008 budget request. Led by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), lawmakers from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia—all with heavy loads of federal employees—signed the Jan. 22 letter, citing “the tradition of pay parity.” They also note the effect that the potential for wholesale retirement of “many of our most experienced employees” might have on recruitment and retention.
The head of AIr Combat Command isn't sure the cost of operating the F-35 will hit the desired $25,000 per hour by 2025, and he's headed out to meetings to see what can be done to make it happen. He's also concerned that China will beat the U.S. to 6th-generation…