[Kaslin]

Here

[Brilliant]

With the Dems in charge, you can be certain this won't be passed.

[LambSlave]

Even routine CONUS duty? Exempt from federal, state, and local? If so, I think I'll go re-up...

[Night Hides Not]

I'm not so sure this is a good idea. I understand the value of making certain benefits tax-free, to include combat pay.

However, to make all military compensation tax-free rubs me the wrong way.

[Tribune7]

Makes sense to me.

[Steel Wolf]

Actually, I've heard a number of people support this, even if it meant a cut in overall military pay. The government is paying military salaries, which are very specific and uniform pay grades. You can factor in almost exactly how much you pay them to pay you back, and cut accordingly. Dropping over a million people off the tax rolls would cut out a good chunk of the IRS middleman, and save the resources needed to help deployed servicepersonnel do their taxes. We'd save money all over, and it not really cost a dime.

[Element187]

Uhhh military pay should already be tax free ... who the 'f' taxes our heros that protect our nation day in and day out ... oh yea... democrats.

[Beckwith]

Would get my vote.

[neodad]

If I remember correctly, in a combat zone, enlisted pay is already tax free. For officers, it was a percentage that was tax free. Other incentives such as imminent danger pay were also tax free.

[xzins]

This should apply to retiree pay as well.

I always thought it odd for the government to give X dollars and then take back some percentage of it.

Where this will be bad, of course, is if they pay scale would understandably be lessened, but then to have a national sales tax implemented.

[Sgt_Schultze]

I could get behind this for the military, but ...

You can be sure that in short order, the government unions would begin to lobby the dems to "treat all US government employees equally." The pressure to make all government employees tax exempt would be irresistible. We would have tax exempt government employees, advocating raising taxes on civilians.

[fireforeffect]

Both my grandfathers served in the Army. My Mother's father served for over 40 years (1900 to 1946, with a break in there somewhere) and two World Wars.

Up until sometime during the 30's NO federal employee paid income taxes BUT they were not allowed to vote either.

I for one could live with that (when on active duty) because it would prevent the billions of civilian federal employees from voting. Just part of the service.

[BuffaloJack]

Our people in uniform make such little money for the service they perform, giving them all tax free status on their pay is a wonderful consideration. The military has a difficult enough time competing for people in the public sector. This provides another incentive to join.
I fully endorse this proposal.

[Piquaboy]

States like mine will not quit the taxing of military pay.

[RFEngineer]

ah....separating the military from the rest of taxpaying America.

Bad idea, in my opinion. The "citizen soldier" concept should never be too far removed in the minds of each military member - the potential ramifications of this idea are significant and troubling.

[Mr.Unique]

Culberson said the bill, HR 1559, which he is calling the Armed Forces Tax Relief Act, “will allow soldiers to concentrate on defending America, rather than worrying about paying their taxes.”

I don't worry about paying my taxes (well...maybe a little). I worry about filing my taxes. Any law will probably require some massive form and accountant and a lawyer anyway.

[ryan71]

Long over due.

[traviskicks]

What about the rest of us?

[Our man in washington]

I completed a four-year stint in the active reserves last year. I have a good job, so the money from the reserves was just gravy. I spent weekends writing reports at a military base. I'm proud of my service, but I was doing safe duty with minimal stress, and I'm not exactly a candidate for food stamps.

Do people like me really need a tax break? I don't think so.

[Silly]

Bill who?

[Fierce Allegiance]

Bill would make all military pay tax-free,

HELL YEAH! As it should be! They should also get free medical care for life at ANY facility, at NO cost, for life! They should get all get better care than illegals!