Posted on 11/18/2010 11:20:18 AM PST by Nachum
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "There they go again," said The American Legion's National Commander Jimmie Foster about the recommendations of two debt reduction commissions which would decrease military retirement benefits. "Every time Washington wakes up with a deficit hangover after decades of spending binges, those who study the serious problems of our national debt can't resist the easy but unfair route of trying to balance the budget on the backs of veterans. It is unfair and if these ridiculous proposals are passed into law, it will hurt America's ability to defend itself from our enemies."
One panel, chaired by former Sen. Pete Domenici and Clinton administration Budget Director Alice Rivlin, calls for changing the formula to calculate military retirement pay and delaying payments until the eligible veterans reach age 57. Another panel, chaired by former Sen. Alan Simpson and retired Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, recommends that military retirement checks be delayed until age 60.
"Tell it to the Marines!" was Foster response to the proposals. "I want these commissions to look a 22-year-old Marine in the eye and say that if you retire at age 40, after 20 years of service and three, four or even more tours of being shot at in Afghanistan, that you still have not done enough to receive your retirement. I want these commissions to tell the soldiers in Iraq that the benefits they are receiving are too much. America has a huge debt all right. And it is owed to these men and women who protect our freedoms every day. It is a debt that must be repaid."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
They tried this once before - it was a disaster.
I guess they are betting a lot of desperate peole (who else does a liberal think joins the military) would sign up ‘just to have a job’.
I think that humping ruck in a combat zone is a tad more than a ‘job’.
Maybe it’s just me.
They sure should. Especially since there is a lot of waste and pork in that budget which could be cut, like equipment none of the branches want. Here’s a great source:
http://www.cagw.org/assets/pig-book-files/2010/2010-pig-book-summary.pdf
There are a lot of departments, defense is on page 15!
I am losing my sympathy for the old geezers that voted themselves all these ‘entitlements’ to my money
sorry, but I will take care of my children better than tey did
(EXCEPT FOR VETERANS!!!!!!! NO CUTS FOR SERVING YOUR COUNTRY)
Same ploy again and again. Why? Because it works.
God help us in our day, in Jesus name, amen.
Like remodeling a Commissary that did NOT need it, or repaving the parking lot that did NOT need it at the Millington, TN Navy Base? Now I can see repairing or replacing what the May flood destroyed, but neither of these were among the flood damage. And why do we hire private security for the gates? Don’t we have enough Military personnel to handle that duty?
And it is SHAMEFULL!!
No ... the rent-a-cops at some military installations were hired precisely because there weren't enough military personnel to do the job.
Agreed 100 percent! If after they get rid of 100 percent welfare programs, departments of Education, IRS, Commerce, 100 percent Foreign aid, then we can talk cuts in Defense. Oh and don’t forget that pesky UN nonsense.
I can buy that at some bases. Millington’s base pushes papers & records, no training.
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