Veterans groups vow to fight cuts in military pensions

Fox News ^ | 23 Dec 13 | Fox news

[SkyPilot]

The Pentagon's top civilian says it's time to tame burgeoning military personnel costs, but he's facing a test of wills with the nation's powerful veterans groups, which want no cut in their benefits.

Veterans groups are fighting curbs in annual pension increases for military retirees under age 62 that are part of the new budget deal passed by Congress last week and awaiting President Barack Obama's signature. After a barrage of protests from the military community, lawmakers said they'll review the cut next year and possibly reverse it. But Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday that reform of military compensation can't be avoided.

"We all know that we need to slow cost growth in military compensation," Hagel told a Pentagon press conference. "We know that many proposals will be controversial and unpopular. ... Tough decisions will have to be made."

Retirees want the belt-tightening done elsewhere.

Here's a look at what members of the U.S. armed forces get now and the debate:

[SkyPilot]

American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger said the group was "horrified" that the Senate could pass a bill "so unfair to those Americans who have served honorably in uniform."

This was a betrayal, pure and simple.

Merry Christmas military - we screwed you.

Paul Ryan, Patty Murray, Obama, and Chuck Hagel should be ashamed of themselves.

[napscoordinator]

I am not worried about this at all. Doesn’t happen until January 2016 and they will repeal this for sure.

[3Fingas]

Hagel is a disgrace.

This Congress and this administration will stab the military in the back. As a constituency, military retirees are a small group compared to the general population. So, these politicians think they can cut retired pay and medical coverage because the blowback will be a lot less than from military retirees than from other potential groups which are larger. The Federal Government does so much that is not Constitutional. The cuts should start in those programs, not in the defense, which is one of the few legitimate functions of the Federal Government. Only after cutting programs which the government shouldn’t be doing in the first place, should cuts to the military be considered.

[ohioman]

Well... this is still BS of the highest order.It should have never gotten this far in the first place.

[ExTexasRedhead]

God Bless Our Military and our veterans. Enjoy this Merry Christmas from Chuck Norris; sound up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W82sMSMJJg&feature=share

[ExTexasRedhead]

Meanwhile, fraud and corruption is rampant in every branch of this government and the King parties on while members of Congress service each other.

[I want the USA back]

These people are deliberately hurting the people they hate the most: the elderly and the military.

[FlingWingFlyer]

That’s what Barry’s “government shutdown” was all about also. The sleazebags at the White House need to hurt those who normal Americans have a lot of respect for. Having never ending news clips of EPA employees complaining about the “shutdown” wouldn’t have worked out very well for them.

[SkyPilot]

Thanks Red!

[SkyPilot]

As Senators Ayotte and Graham noted the day this travesty of a "deal" was being debated on the Senate floor, once something becomes Federal statue, it is very, very difficult to change. Hagel has tasted blood - he wants more cuts now, not less.

This is going to be an epic fight. I believe in the end we will win - because it that is justice, and I will pray to Almighty God with all my heart that He fights for us.

[OldGoatCPO]

I am sure you noticed the DOD propaganda in this article. I can assure everyone a CPO of twenty years does not make $80k a year. I retired in 2009 at a pay scale of over 25 years which was the max for an E7 (I had broken service and an inter service transfer so I lost neatly six years in grade for promotion). They are adding in the estimated cost of all bennies not associated with civilian earnings. Of course other than SOME first responders how many civilians have to pass body fat composition test twice a year, combat fitness tests and bi-annual physical fitness test. So many failures in a specific time frame and you are fired. That is just one example. In the annual TRICARE costs they forgot to add dental plans. As a retiree, I spend over $6k per year for dental and a vision plan. TRICARE vision is inadequate and damn near limits me to Walmart or Sears. Dental under TRICARE is worthless. Also they forgot to mention retiree care allows base facilities to justify providers and they forgot to mention my TRICARE reimburses the military facility. They need the additional providers to support deployments and active members, but as the force shrinks it is harder to justify, seeing retirees helps. Yes as a CPO I earned a very good salary, better in the later years because of the war. But, it was commensurate with the income of a civilian who worked for a company for over 20 years. The crux of the problem is going after those already retired and not overhauling the system and addressing waste. Why do we need four separate Chaplain Corps, why do we new three separate medical Corps, I can see some separation needed, but what if the USAF ran major treatment facilities with other services providing clinical support and field support? Would we see a savings without duplicating effort. Why do we have four different types of combat uniforms? In the seventies we all had similar sateen fatigues with different ways of wearing them. The military uses an artificial tool called High Year Tenure to trim personnel. Congress has twice recommended the military eliminate HYT a because it is set at the whims of the Service Chiefs. Create an improved retirement plan with personnel making an investment into it like a 401k. Allow ten year retirements with a tax free severance and you take your 401k. The ten year retirement would eliminate the need for HYT as minimal performers at E-5 and below would be given their retirement. At twenty years you receive a severance, small stipend at age 55, augmented by your 401k. Never count on receiving any Social Security. You can make the initial enlistment 10 years like other countries, even 8 active and 2 as mandatory drill status. Complete that successfully and you have your severance and 401k. Other countries use a similar system. The DOD was told to address all this back in 2007 and failed to do so. Each time they push it off and blame the problem on those pesky retirees who are no longer of any use to the DOD!

[JimRed]

Start by cutting Congressional pensions instead, and listen to the wails of protest!

[xzins]

A Navy Chief Petty Officer who earned $80,000 a year, is married and served for 20 years can immediately get a pension of about $2,200 monthly that would grow with cost-of-living increases. He or she can get free health care at military facilities on a space-available basis and can continue using commissaries -- the latter two benefits being a reason some retirees like to live near military installations, officials say. Those who enroll in TRICARE insurance for private sector care can pick between two plans, paying only $274 annually for an individual or $548 for the family for the standard plan, far below civilian insurance costs.

This section in the article exposes the lie they are trying to sell. If this petty officer gets a 50% retirement at 20 years, and if he makes 80,000 a year, then he gets 40,000 which is 50% of 80,000. However, 40,000 divided by 12 months equals 3,333 dollars a month. But, their own article says he gets only 2200 a month. In other words, they have just distorted the truth. The truth is that the military moves you to Quonset City and tells you to set up house. Obviously, you don't have a choice. Nor do you make enough cash to fund the costs of moving and housing every time you move, and you don't build equity in any of those places you've lived. In short, when they give you a "housing allowance" they're just paying expenses that they have caused you to have.

They publish those expenses as "pay" that you're receiving, and then they don't include it in your retirement pay which is calculated only on the "base pay."

Nor do they include that you pay all taxes on that 2200 retirement, fed/fica/med/etc. Nor do they include that for your spouse to have any benefit at all that you must also buy her a death annuity that costs about 300 of your 2200.

So, the 2200 is now down in the neighborhood of 1700 a month or 20,000 bucks a year.

And, you're looking for a job at the young age of your mid-40's. And Ryan thinks that's a great benefit.

So, they lie by omission over and over. That retired Chief Petty Officer is going to have to scramble to compete with younger job seekers in order to supplement his 20,000 a year take home.

And Ryan is trying to make it sound like they're getting rich. What's rich is that jerks gets 75% of his congressional pay after just 5 years service.

Congress is populated with crooks, and Paul Ryan is one of them.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “Congress is populated with crooks, and Paul Ryan is one of them” <<

.
And that is being generous!

[MSF BU]

Perhaps. The silver lining is that Ryan has revealed his character and he cannot be trusted. Either that or he is entirely incompetent. An ashsole as well. There are GOP leaders in the House & Senate, but none are in leadership positions.

[MSF BU]

"Dental under TRICARE is worthless."

Very well put. I'd add VA dental is dangerous. It's best to brush & floss regularly and wear a mouth guard if one grinds at night.

[LibsRJerks]

These people are deliberately hurting the people they hate the most: the elderly and the military.

***

A while back my husband worked for a civilian female who was high up in the chain. She ate higher ranking officers for breakfast. Her favorite was asking him to carry her suitcases wherever she went and also to get her lunch.

Needless to say she isn’t in service anymore. Things caught up with her — but she was typical of the type that serve at the highest levels who care absolutely nothing about the military and see them as expendable slaves.

[matginzac]

Maybe NOW vet groups will turn their backs on Obozo, Mooch and Dr. Jill like they did to Geo. H. W. Bush when they want a military photo op.....

[matginzac]

Hey, an 0-6 at 30 yrs doesn’t make $80K........

[matginzac]

...in retirement, that is.....