The SASC Crazy BAH Proposition

Smart people learn from their mistakes.

Congress is just doomed to repeat them.

Leo Shane III of the Military Times reported on Saturday that the Senate Armed Services Committee has a draft proposal “to overhaul how BAH is paid out [to] troops. Instead of flat fees based on rank and ZIP code, the new system would refund only what troops pay out in rent and utilities costs, stopping troops from pocketing leftover stipends if they find cheaper housing.”

Those of you who have been around the block will remember that this is exactly how we used to handle BAH, over 20 years ago. Commenters on the Doctrine Man Facebook page, the new KeepYourPromise home, remind us that:

William Sommer

But politicians have short memories. So it is our job to remind them.

Let’s get one thing straight – those of you in uniform CAN contact your elected officials about this matter. This isn’t like standing on the stage to benefit a politician or taking a stand on a national security issue. Each and every man and woman in uniform has the right to contact their elected officials. And so do their husbands and wives. And their mothers and fathers. And their friends.

Best ways to contact? There are none – we suggest that you try all and see what works best for your Senators. Most offices mark each and every contact. Therefore a phone call and an email from the same person are two contacts. Today, we also have Facebook and Twitter. And a few Senators even have Instagram accounts. Use them all and let us know what is working best for you.

Currently, this is just a proposal in the Senate Armed Services Committee. That means making a call to your Senators might be frustrating… the poor staffers who answer the phones may have no idea of what you’re talking about. But we’re suggesting that you call and write anyway. Your Senator may not sit on the committee but you better believe that your Senator knows someone who does. They can apply pressure as well.

The most important Senators to contact at this time are those on the Senate Armed Services Committee. A call and an email to these people has extra umph… you thought it was just your Senator that had added power because of their place on the committee but your ability to contact them as a constituent gives your voice more power than someone with just an average Senator.

And just to help you out, here are some main points to make.

Cheat Sheet (thanks to comments by Gabriel Muller, Malcolm Cole, Jo Hickey Russel, and Michael Kearnes)

The proposed changes to the Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) will require increased manpower hours at a time when the current force structure is undergoing downsizing in all branches of the Armed Forces.

Paying for the increased manpower hours, whether to active duty military or to a contract, will negate any savings from refunding only the rent paid rather than an average BAH.

Requiring active duty service members to turn in receipts for rent and/or for utilities adds yet another requirement to an already filled duty day. Furthermore, imagine trying to turn in those receipts while deployed overseas or on temporary duty stateside.

The current system of BAH was designed to save the government money by not requiring the Department of Defense to keep housing available (but empty) in times of low troop strength.

If BAH changes to refund only the rent paid then troops will search for the most expensive house they can afford rather than attempt to find a lower rent option and keep the remainder. Over time, this will drive rental prices up in military markets.

Have a point to add? Let us know in the comments below. Or join the conversation at Doctrine Man.

Some links that might help out: