Is Tricare Fee Hike Dead?: The House Armed Services Committee backed its subcommittee on military personnel in prohibiting the Pentagon from increasing Tricare fees for military retirees under age 65—at least until Dec. 31, 2007. The committee added $735 million to the Administration’s 2007 budget proposal to offset what the Pentagon cut. House authorizers say delaying any fee increases until the end of 2007 will provide time for outside reviews and creation of a “comprehensive policy and fiscal basis” to sustain the Tricare program. Senators appear headed in a similar direction on the Tricare issue.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…