Approving the cuts are Sen. McCain, Sen Levin, Sen Patty Murray, Sen Jeff Miller, Sen Richard Burr and Sen Bob Filner. Looks like dems and republicans both support the cuts. This is the beginning with more to come
“The individual letters signed by Levin and McCain were far more ominous, because they both agreed with proposals President Obama announced last month to create a commission to examine the current military retirement system, and to alter military TRICARE benefits for those retirees age 65 and older. The president also wants to increase pharmacy copayments for military dependents and retirees of all ages, but both senators suggested the proposal needs further DOD review.
Regarding the military retirement system, Levin wrote the commission should expand its scope to “encompass all aspects of military compensation, including the current system of basic pay, allowances (including the housing allowance), special and incentive pays, and health care, as well as the tax treatment of the various components of military pay.” Levin also agreed with the president’s proposal to institute a $200 annual fee for military retirees age 65 and older who are enrolled in TRICARE for Life, but he would link future fee increases to the percentage amount of a retiree’s annual cost of living adjustment. The president’s proposal has no such linkage, and if approved as is, TRICARE for Life fees would rise from the recommended $200 in 2012 to $295 in 2013. This would be in addition to Medicare Part B payments they must already pay. “
Did he not hear who got elected president back in 2008?
I have been waiting almost 8 months to get a disability to get the VA to treat a service related problem. I would hate to have a serious problem and have to wait and wait not knowing when they would make a decision.
BTTT
My first reaction to this was:
I wouldn’t mind paying $200 a year to help my nation...
My second reaction was:
That’s what they’ve been doing to the military for years. They just keep whittling and chipping at our benefits until there isn’t anything left.
When my husband joined, there were no fees for veterans’ healthcare. We were promised health insurance for the both of us for life.
Then they said that we had to pay something. Fine. Then a little more... and more... and now more.
But now they’re cutting commissary benefits. The fees for the SBP have gone up so that it’s cost prohibitive for many retired couples.
A hundred here... four hundred there... fifty over there...
Now they’re talking about the medical stuff not kicking in until retirement age. Well that puts us on Medicaid! Why bother?!
They won’t stop!
bttt
come on people, stop it!!
I will NOT support any candidate for any office who does not support full veteran and retiree benefits. It could be my own Dad, and I’d given him a thumbs down.
Nobody is balancing any budgets. period.
The worst part is that there won’t be any savings. The money they “save” screwing the vets will be squandered somewhere else, plus more deficit spending. Probably given to those who would burn the cities if they don’t get their fix.
There’s a lot of bullshit going on with some vets collecting PTSD payments who were never in combat.
I know a few.
One example. You tell me: You served on a carrier in the Gulf War guarding Iraqi prisoners, and the VA gives you 100% disability payments for PTSD.
The answer is simple: the VA bureaucrats need to use their budget or lose it.
The scant money the VA has to help veterans must go to those veterans who deserve it.
There’s a whole bunch of cleaning-up that the VA needs to do.
If the budget is balanced (and I don’t think it will) it will be on the backs of everyone. Vets, non-vets, taxpayers, workers, non-workers, SS recipients, etc. etc. etc. “You first” is not a workable plan.
Only Ron Paul has come up with a workable plan so far and he has no chance of becoming president.
can't cut illegals' benefits.
Can't cut foreign aid.
Can't cut UN dues.
Can't cut the thousand pounds of fat in the govt for every pound of meat.
No, all they can cut is the military and personnel. Disgraceful.
Eventually we're going to get to the point where we'll have to institute a draft 'cause young people are just going to figure, "Why bother?"
as far as Veterans and the currently serving?
Yes...give them as much economic support for vets and economic and equipment backing for currently serving as they need to do their job...
but lets start thinning down our PRESENCE around the world...
as far as I am concerned we SHOULD leave...both Iraq, and Afganistan...
but do it right...declare victory and leave.
Bin Laden is Dead....KSM is in jail....Anwar al-Awlaki was just killed by drones in yemen.
let these 3rd world, dark age idiots, live and die by there own hands...and ban any future Islamics from moving to the USA.
we are not wanted nor loved in Europe, Japan and Korea....
so pull them out...we have enough nuclear weapons to prevent a major attack...BUT not a stealth attack across our borders
SO...finally take all remaining military and place them along our southern border (and if necessary our northern border and coasts)....
The backs we’re really putting this all on are those of our children, and unborn generations. We’ve blown through all our own credit and are now destroying theirs.
Any discussion of the debt which starts with a cry about curtailed benefits is a non-starter IMHO. We need to stop robbing those who have no say in the matter just so we can prop up an illusion of prosperity.
“No taxation without representation!” was a rallying cry at the founding of this nation. We’re taxing future generations. Who is representing them?
I think we should stop using the phrase, “balancing the budget on the backs of . . . “
that is something that president messiah says constantly. that’s reason enough to strike it from the conservative lexicon.
Cuts are inevitable. No one wants to see them, least of all veterans, but they are inevitable. Across the board. On EvERYBODY’s backs.