Posted on 12/22/2013 11:43:30 AM PST by SkyPilot
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Sunday defended cuts to military retiree benefits, noting that Congress would change a provision for individuals who were “medically retired” or received “survivor’s benefits.”
In a USA Today op-ed published on Sunday, the Republican budget guru, who spent weeks crafting a two-year bipartisan budget deal with Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.), noted that the budget chiefs “have agreed to amend the law … well before the reform takes effect in December 2015.”
“Many raised concerns that these reforms would affect the retired pay of service members who are medically retired and those receiving survivor’s benefits. So Senator Murray and I have agreed to amend the law to exclude them well before the reform takes effect in December 2015,” the House Budget Committee chairman wrote.
He explained the rationale behind the joint decision to scale back benefits for military retirees under the age of 62 – or “reduction in cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for working-age military retirees” - that has become a source of “controversy,” in recent days.
“If (younger retirees) retire before age 62, the annual increase in their retired pay will be 1% less than the inflation rate. In other words, their benefits will grow every year — just at a slower rate,” Ryan wrote.
The cut is anticipated to save $6 billion over a 10-year period.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
It is an outrage.
Also, he and Murray are trying to put out the fire of criticism since the "deal." One aspect is that disabled military retirees will have their pensions cut. Initially, they said they would make this "fix." But now, they are only speaking to those military who were "retired for medical reasons." That is a very, very small slice of military retired. You have to meet several separate medical boards, and can even be retired for non-combat related injuries. The "fix" will NOT help disabled military retirees - their 20 year (minimum) pensions will still be cut! In other words, an Afghanistan veteran who partially lost his hearing due to a grenade explosion and then hit 20 years and retired, went through the intensive Veteran's Administration bureaucracy and got a 30% disability rating will not be protected from pension cuts, but someone who was medically retired early for a skin disease will be.
Active Duty/Retiree ping.
FUPR!!
Ryan’s still defending this? He should learn from Cracker Barrel.
““If (younger retirees) retire before age 62, the annual increase in their retired pay will be 1% less than the inflation rate. In other words, their benefits will grow every year — just at a slower rate,” Ryan wrote.”
It would be a shame if he were able to fool anyone with that.
If the pay is not keeping pace with inflation, then it will buy less, and is therefore declining.
Goes after military retirees, won’t touch Obamaphones, fraudulent child tax credits, Medicaid fraud. $6 billion dollars over ten years. The last 4 month budget deal included $2 billion for a public works project just to buy off Mitch McConnell.
You can never trust a TARPer.
Wouldn’t it be great if Paul Ryan followed his Democrat wife and switched parties!
Well his buddy chuckey s. thought is was a good deal.
I guess that make it wonderful for everyone except the vets.
Another lying backstabber is exposed, hope the special back room deal was worth it for him.
Just another liberal DemocRAT. Nail the disabled vets but leave the freeloaders alone. Good job Paulie boy.
Ryan can kiss my ass.
The uniparty whore trying to explain his duplicity. Stiffing military retirees in favor of what? Deathcare? National edowment for the arts?
Sorry pal. No matter how thin you slice it, it’s still baloney.
The the united auto workers their pension is going to change. Or the Teamsters. Or Calpers.
You would end up in an oil drum getting buried in the endzone of the Meadowlands.
I think it might be time for another Vets encampment in DC.
Team Romney: RomneyCARE, gay marriage, screw the military
Remember that last shared sacrifice we had? No COLA for military and Social Security? Then they passed a law giving all the social security people $500? That’s how Democrats share sacrifice. They let you sacrifice.
Hagel: All states complying with same-sex benefits order"
All states are now complying with a Pentagon order to allow same-sex spouses to obtain ID cards after some had resisted it, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday. “Following consultations between the National Guard Bureau and the adjutants general of the states, all eligible service members, dependents and retirees — including same-sex spouses — are now able to obtain ID cards in every state,” Hagel said in a statement. The Pentagon changed its policy toward granting same-sex benefits this summer, in response to the Supreme Court striking down the Defense of Marriage Act.
He’s a liberal. ‘Nuff said.
Because of this Paul Ryan stab in the back of us military retirees, I’m making no more contributions to the Republican Party. I will only contribute money to and vote for Republicans who run against the current Republicans in the coming primaries. These Republicans have been associating with Democrats for so long they’ve become no different than Democrats and need to be sent home. It’s time to clean house in Congress and fumigate the Capitol Building.
This email is being passed around the military retired community, and I’m now passing it on to you. It sums up what every retiree I know feels about Paul Ryan and this Republican led Congress.
From Chief Master Sergeant Chuck Wooten:
FB Friends,
I’m still mulling this Paul Ryan budget deal that stole money from every military retiree (past, present and future). This morning, upon opening my email, I noticed I had a letter from Congressman Paul Ryan…and it was begging me for an “emergency end of the year donation.” It only proves what we already know. The folks in Washington are indeed clueless. Instead of hitting the delete button, I decided to call Congressman Ryan out on his audacity and lack of self-awareness. I sent the following to him. I’m also posting it on the FB USAF Chiefs page as an open letter to the Congressman. If you’re a retiree, I will tell you we may have lost the battle, but not the war. If you’re inclined and find it worthy, let’s flood social media with this letter and see if we can get some traction. Thanks.
To Congressman Paul Ryan
Today at 8:19 AM
Congressman Ryan,
Please note that this request by you for a cash donation from me is extremely unfortunate and very ill-timed. You see sir, I am one of the military retirees your “bipartisan” budget just impacted. You and every Republican (both in the House and Senate that voted to pass this travesty betrayed and broke trust with me and everyone like me. You may not know us by name, but we’re the people, Congressman, who answered our Nation’s call, some of us at a very early age to willingly serve YOU and others LIKE YOU so you could safely attend college and pursue your personal ambitions without fear of harm.
You might also want to note that for at least 20 years, my brothers-in-arms answered that call of duty EVERY SINGLE DAY, without fail, without complaint, without enough money to sustain our loved ones we had to leave behind while we DID OUR JOB in every corner of the Earth. And for that service, we were given absolute assurance our so-called retirement benefits would be protected by law. The very law you shattered in your zeal to impress your Democratic cohorts in your back room deal—with the enemy. Yes, I said it. The liberal Democrats are an enemy to the American people and our Nation. Your lack of judgement and eagerness to compromise on the backs of us who protected you is sickening. Congressman, you and every Republican that voted for injuring military retirees have engaged in a complicit, sordid affair with the Democrats who’s objective has always been to dismantle the military. By climbing into their bed on this issue, you have confirmed you are absolutely no better than they and have proven it with your vote.
Congressman Ryan, the audacity which you display is noteworthy, but to unceremoniously snatch earned money from a small group that has added so much more value than the paltry $6B you looked to “save” (which is all smoke and mirrors and you know it), is reprehensible and insulting.
We have, despite the hardships, meager salaries and harsh conditions, have performed with honor and excellence…in silence, which is something most members of Congress have no idea about doing. Our job approval was, is and always be better than yours. We knew our mission and we got it done, then handed it off to a new generation in better shape than we found it.
Your ability to look us in the eye, take money from us (apparently there was ZERO, other source of waste within the federal government that you could have recovered this money from…right, got it), while simultaneously holding your hand out to beg (with passion) for our cash is stunning. Your actions have proven you do not have the tremendous intellect you’ve sold the American people on. I say, with all seriousness, Congressman, what you lack in intellect and spinal rigidity, you make up for in cajones.
I hope you and your cowardly, Republican “colleagues” hear a message from me loud and clear. You will NEVER receive another cent of financial support from me. Further, if you happen to be at a Capitol Hill dinner or at a K Street cocktail party with RNC Chair Reince Priebus, Rep. Ron Barber, Sen. Jeff Flake or Sen. John McCain, I would be honored if you communicate with them that I am launching an effort to ensure NONE of you traitorous “representatives of the people” ever receive another vote from a military retiree. Remove me from your contact lists.
Chuck Wooten,
Chief Master Sergeant, USAF (Ret)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.