Benedict Ryan smiles.
Posted on 12/17/2013 6:07:16 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
A provision cutting the pensions of military retirees in the bipartisan budget deal that the Senate will vote on this week does not exempt disabled veterans, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.
Disabled retirees were previously thought to be exempt from the changes to military retiree pay, which could cost servicemembers up to $124,000 over a 20-year period.
The Free Beacon previously reported that military retirees under the age of 62 would receive 1 percentage point less in their annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the plan crafted by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D., Wash.).
The section of the U.S. code that has been altered also applies to disabled servicemembers, many of whom have been wounded in combat.
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R., Ala.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, called the change “unthinkable.”
“It has been asserted that the controversial change to military retirees’ pensions affects those who are ‘working-age’ and ‘still in their working years,’ with the clear suggestion being that these individuals are able to work,” Sessions said in a statement. “That’s why I was deeply troubled when my staff and I discovered that even individuals who have been wounded and suffered a service-related disability could see their pensions reduced under this plan.”
“It is unthinkable that this provision would be included in a deal that spares current civilian workers from the same treatment,” he said. “An equivalent amount of savings and more can be easily found, and I hope the Senate will move to address the unbalanced treatment of our servicemembers before considering the legislation any further.”
An original copy of a summary of the budget agreement, obtained by the Free Beacon, explicitly stated that disabled veterans would be exempt.
“This provision modifies the annual cost-of-living adjustment for working-age military retirees by making the adjustments equal to inflation minus 1 percent,” reads the summary, which was sent on Dec. 10. “This change would be gradually phased in, with no change for the current year, a 0.25 percent decrease in December 2014, and a 0.5 percent decrease in December 2015.
“This would not affect servicemembers who retired because of disability or injury.”
The summary now posted on the House Budget Committee website removed the sentence relating to disabled retirees.
The Ryan-Murray deal affects Chapter 71, Section 1401 of the United States Code, which deals with the pay of military retirees.
As the code is currently written, servicemembers can be eligible for early Chapter 61 retirement if it is determined that, due to a physical disability, that individual is no longer able to perform the duties of their office, grade, or rank. The individual must hold a disability rating of 30 percent or more according to Department of Defense standards, and the disability must be the proximate result of performing their duties during a time of war or national emergency.
Section 403 of the budget agreement amends section 1401a(b) of Title 10, U.S. Code, adding the “CPI minus one” percent provision, lowering the COLAs of disabled retirees.
Wounded servicemembers are entitled to Veterans Administration Disability Benefits, which remain unchanged by the budget deal. However, the change to Chapter 61 retirement could account for about 55 percent of a wounded service member’s disability pay, according to a Senate aide.
For example, a 28-year-old staff sergeant (an E-5 rank) who is forced to retire after 10 years would see approximately $50,000 in lost compensation over the next 40 years.
Rep. Ryan told the Weekly Standard that the changes are appropriate because servicemen and women who retire in their 40s after serving for two decades are still young enough to maintain a job.
“We give them a slightly smaller adjustment for inflation because they’re still in their working years and in most cases earning another paycheck,” Ryan said.
Sens. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), James Inhofe (R., Okla.), and Kelly Ayotte (R., N.H.) have said they are opposed to the deal because it cuts the benefits of military retirees, while not imposing equal cuts to federal civilian workers.
Will Allison, spokesman for the House Budget Committee, said the COLA provision does not offer any exemptions.
“The federal government has no greater obligation than to keep the American people safe,” Allison told the Free Beacon. “And it must take care of the men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line. To meet our obligations to our service men and women, we must make sure their long-term benefits are on a sound, financial footing.”
“Specifically to your question,” Allison said, “the COLA provision does not include additional exemptions, but to clarify: The Bipartisan Budget Act does not affect any benefits provided to veterans in compensation for disabilities suffered as a result of their service.”
“There are no changes made to disability-compensation benefits and no changes that would impact their VA-provided medical care,” he said.
The Senate is expected to pass the deal by a simple majority this week, after it cleared a crucial procedural vote on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, Ryan said it is possible to make changes to the military retiree provision, since it will not take effect immediately.
“We delayed this provision so that it doesn’t take effect until the year 2016, which gives Congress and the military community time to address the broader compensation issue, including this provision, if people believe there’s a better way to solve this problem,” he told the Weekly Standard.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D., Mich.) also has said he will review the cut to military pensions.
“We’re going to look at the whole benefits issue for veterans,” Levin told Stars and Stripes on Friday. “I can’t obviously make a commitment, but I am committed to reviewing this and looking at the impacts.”
It isn’t important.
Every year the USG goes out of their way to ensure the absentee ballots of servicemen overseas are not counted.
As such, the vets don’t count. Just keep your post, my son. We know what’s best for you.
Duncan Hunter, voted FOR this
///
WHAT?
Nah, that is just too much...... the GOP must be dismantled and destroyed ASAP. We have two years to create a new Party.
Kelly Ayotte was on FNC trying to get this out of the bill.
She did not try at the right place.
any military benefit cut should be a secondary cut....non military should be cut first....
most of all, in all entities...schools...state...fire depts..police depts...military:....we have to say goodbye to retiring people at 20 or 30 yrs...we just have too...
Well as a US Navy Vet from the Viet Nam era, I’m very proud of my service to Our GREAT Country back in the sixties.
I did develop a hearing loss at that time and a later request to the VA developed a hearing loss due to active duty aboard ship.
I’m very proud of my service in the US Navy (63-67). My hearing loss over the years is attributed to my time in service.
From my latest hearing test last month revealed that my hearing loss has elevated from a 40 per cent loss to 70 per cent over the past two years. I will be receiving new hearing aids on Dec 20th from the VA.
I urge anyone who might have a medical/physical problem from their Service to continue applying to the VA for further treatment. Your own response may indeed set the wheels in motion for disabled veteran.
Thank You to each and every Veteran for You Service to Our Great Country. I’ll always stand with you!
Are McCain and Kerry exempt?
Yes, yet another strategy by the GOPe to throw away part of their natural base and make sure the Rats retain power.
I wouldn’t want a 60 year old fireman trying to carry me or my mom, but have had 60 year old teachers who were great... There is a difference between when teachers & public safety should be allowed to retire, for obvious reasons. However, it seems the teachers always get the better deals.
Did Duncan Hinter come out for the budget deal or something?
It hasn’t been voted on in the House yet.
Anyone who votes for this spending bill (disguised as a budget bill) needs to be removed in the coming elections, whether R or D.
The cut to the retirement for Vets including the disabled Vets is unconscionable.
I’m wrong. I didn’t realize this monstrosity of a bill already passed the house.
Sorry, you are much more current than I am. I didn’t realized the House already sold us and all the disabled Vets out.
Does it matter if they have An R or a D? This is insane.
So let me get this straight, a veteran leverages their skill and work ethic into a post military job and because of that, they are punished because they are of “working age”?
I guess the next step is to withold their “full pension” until they finally, fully “retire”?
Hell, just think of the savings, waiting for hundreds or thousands to die in the interim. And if they don’t die off before the “retirement age”, then just raise the “retirement age” until you get into the black.
And to think, there are folks on this board who believe this is perfectly reasonable.
That those who stepped up to the plate and made sacrifices in order to serve, should be the FIRST to step up and take it in the A$$ while the takers of this country feel nothing.
When you government workers take it in shorts like the military, get back to me. Got all your back pay yet from the days off during sequester?
Until then, spare me the faux rhetoric of “we’re all in this together” bullcrap.
Once again, the military get the shaft first, above and beyond every other segment of society.
When do the takers start feeling the pinch?
But welfare to illegals will continue. What’s wrong with this picture?
Everything. There is no excuse why veterans, including disabled veterans, lose benefits while illegal aliens continue to steal our tax dollars.
James R. McClure Jr.
Anti-Federalist Democrat candidate for IN9
The military does not vote for Democrats and the Democrats only do what is in their personal and collective best interests. They could care less about the military and prefer to cater to their own constituencies: the indolent, the lazy, the grifters, the criminals, the self indulgent, the useless in society.
I, a Democrat, care about our veterans. I'm running because I care and My opponent voted for this trash. I don't cater to the dependency part of society. I'm a Jeffersonian Anti-Federalist and believe in the founding ideals of a strict interpretation of the Constitution, limited federal power, and State sovereignty.
Those who have sacrificed for their country just do not count in the political equation.
They count in MY political equation. I won't turn My back on those who have sacrificed to keep America free.
James R. McClure Jr
Anti-Federalist Democrat candidate for IN9
God bless you for your service, Doc! Oohrah!
James R. McClure Jr. [CM/2, NMCB24 supporting 2MEF, Al Asad 2005]
Anti-Federalist Democrat candidate for IN9
God bless you for your service!
James R. McClure Jr.
Anti-Federalist candidate for IN9
Benedict Ryan smiles.
Schumer: Veterans Must Face Budget Cuts, Too
Everybody had to take a little," Schumer said. "They're going to have to pay a tiny, little bit into it, which they never have," he added. But Schumer maintained members of Congress should not be forced to take a pay cut. He said they have already sacrificed, since they have not seen a pay raise "in a long time," and explained most of them are paying more for healthcare insurance. "We have taken pretty big cuts," he said.
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