[Libloather]

How about cutting teacher pensions by 95%?

[Howie66]

These “lawmakers” had better be updating their resume’s. They will be out of work, soon.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Yep, I want to see any "Republitards" sign on to this.

They had better not have given up their "Day Jobs" cuz they will be returning to them in 2013...no matter WHO they are!!!

[SumProVita]

“Republicans and Democrats alike are signaling a willingness - unheard of at the height of two post-Sept. 11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - to make military retirees pay more for coverage.”

Just wondering if these wonderful *leaders* will lead by example: accept the same health care plan as the military.

[John D]

This sounds like something cut and run Paul would come up with. Is this another on of his bright ideas?

[rbg81]

....arguing that Americans who were willing to die for their country should be treated differently than the average worker

---

The implementation of Medicare Part D (prescription drugs) was unstainable, but they did it anyway. The continuing increase in SSI and unemployment benefits goes unquestioned. And G-d knows how many billions of $$ go to illegals. The point is that there are plenty of places to cut in the budget that would more than pay for this.

But, hey, its okay to take benefits away from Vets. Congress probably feels that they are the safest group to screw because they actually love their country.

[Savage Beast]

What about eliminating the benefits of the Congressthugs!

You think those thugs in Congress are willing to eliminate THIER lifetime health coverage?

Those THUGS in Congress should be thrown out of office and handed mops.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

How about a ten percent reduction in the number of government employees ?
Why not close down the Departments of Energy and Education ?

A round of guberment layoffs would be just what the doctor ordered.

[Dusty Road]

I’ve got mixed emotions on this one. First let me say those that have retired and those that are active should see no cut in benefits. But I do think there are a few things need to change and the first thing would be the treatment of alcoholic’s and those that are prescription drug addicted. My sister and brother in-law are both retired directors from the local VA here and claim that at least 40 percent of their patients fall under that category. They have no service related problems other than they’re addictions and are a considerable drain on resources. Another would be to look closely at staffing and see where it can be cut, we have far too many people at this VA who’s jobs have little to do with patient care, many in my opinion are unnecessary. On the fifth floor of the local VA they have a capacity for up to 60 patients yet they’ve never had more than 25 on the floor at one time, yet they keep a staff of RN’s, LVN’s and aids to handle a full load. It’s my opinion that the VA is being abused by both patients and employee’s at a huge cost to taxpayers.

[verity]

"The government's promise of lifetime health care for the military's men and women"

Not true.

[T-Bird45]

Apples and oranges — teacher pensions do not appear in the federal budget. If you are going to make an argument, it’s generally considered good form to at least connect it to reality.

[Gritty]

Any proposals out there to cut the out-of-control Food Stamp Programs? That’s eating up billions, and a lot of it is going to illegal aliens...

[cranked]

These same lawmakers should be open to changes in reducing their own pay and benefits BEFORE considering changes in military benefits, you think!? =.=

[Gator113]

I see their point, after all, by making these cuts it should make it easier to continue the free medical care provided to the illegal aliens.

We also need those funds to send to other country’s and to support Obama’s special projects, such as “non-war wars”.

Besides, these veterans have never bothered to form or join a union, so screw ‘em.

We should all relax.... this is just all part of the wealth redistribution program and fundamentally changing America.

[teenyelliott]

They should cut their own pay and lifetime benefits (which they shouldn’t have in the first place), as well as EVERYTHING else, before they touch the military.

[Uncle Miltie]

I have a proposal:

New recruits get as many years of free healthcare as they served in active duty.

Current obligations don’t change. Future benefits match service time rendered. (Any injury incurred in the line of duty is permanently covered.)

That seems fair.

(Donning flame retardant suit.)

[algernonpj]

And no one talking about the hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on:

Anchor babies, illegals, new immigrants, and their respective extended families,
Fixing up ramshackle Mexican trucks that will put Americans out of work,
Sponsoring green technology overseas,
Paying college tuition for students from China,
Setting up the Moslem Brotherhood and al-Quaeda in Libya and Egypt,
Setting up CDC labs overseas,
Paying for post doctoral degrees for Indian scientists,
Billions in tax credits for illegals from the IRS,
Subsidizing Palestinian terrorists,
Funding the Taliban and other terrorist organizations in Afghanistan,
Paying Oregon Forestry companies to hire foreign workers

[xzins]

we’ve got millions on the government dole for phantom ailments like ADD and bad backitis, so the idiot lawmakers decide that’s a good time to chop back on LEGITIMATE payments to people they made promises to who ACTUALLY went and did a job at risk of life and limb.

Lawmakers make me sick. I despise every SOB who tries to touch anything either promised, indicated, or even hinted at to our troops for the VOLUNTEER job that they do that none of those sorry-ass welfare clowns would ever consider doing..

I will vote for NO candidate who supports cutting our legitimate debt to our veterans and retirees in ANY way.

[Poundstone]

We’ve got to reform military retirement. It’s simply too expensive in it’s current form to be sustained.

[cva66snipe]

How about complete elimination of all congressional retirement benefits icluding their outragious pay? A perfect idea to encourage term limits.

[hattend]

Congress first

Slash their budgets, staff, pensions and bennies first.