Complexity of Army Software Raises Concern

Confusing rules result in weird set of complications

(NEWSER) - Thanks to a confusing system of federal regulations, tens of thousands of war widows can’t fully collect on insurance bought by their late husbands—unless they marry someone else. There’s more: that remarriage must occur when the widows are 57 or older to count, the AP reports . The complications stem from a rule known as the "widows' tax," which says spouses can’t get both the insurance’s annuity benefits and monthly survivor benefits. The latter is subtracted from the annuity payment. More»

Repeal will be part of next year's defense authorization bill

(NEWSER) - A provision repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy will be included in the 2010 defense authorization bill, Rep. Barney Frank says. The authorization would see debate and a vote in spring and summer, and go into effect in October. “'Don’t ask, don’t tell' was always going to be part of the military authorization,” Frank tells the Advocate . “The administration is totally committed.” More»

(AP) - The Senate has sided with the Obama administration in agreeing to cut off new spending for the F-22 jet fighter program. The 58-40 vote today removes $1.75 billion set aside in a defense policy bill to build seven more F-22 Raptors, adding to the 187 stealth fighters already in the pipeline. More»

(NEWSER) - An apparently harried congressional aide picked the wrong woman to threaten with police action, Fox News reports. Marianne Stringer, widow of a Vietnam veteran, was petitioning congressmen to oppose a decrease in benefits for veterans’ spouses. When she politely emailed the office of a reticent lawmaker, the aide shot back with accusations of harassment and wrote he would “report your name and address to the Capitol Police.” More»

Rep. Murphy steps in as bill's sponsor

(NEWSER) - The battle to ditch the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays is being led by the first Iraq veteran to serve in Congress, the Los Angeles Times reports. Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy has taken over as sponsor of a bill that would allow gays to openly serve in the military, and the party hopes the Bronze Star recipient will rally enough support to bring it to the House floor. More»