Boehner proposes linking debt-limit hike to a restoration of recent cuts to military benefits

The Washington Post ^ | 5 Feb 14 | Robert Costa

[SkyPilot]

House Speaker John A. Boehner scrambled on Wednesday to sell a new debt-ceiling solution to his Republican colleagues, encouraging them to demand a restoration of recently cut military benefits in exchange for a one-year extension of the federal government’s borrowing authority.

Though Boehner (R-Ohio) did not formally endorse the idea as his own, he did ask his lieutenants to test it among rank-and-file Republicans. House Speaker John A. Boehner scrambled on Wednesday to sell a new debt-ceiling solution to his Republican colleagues, encouraging them to demand a restoration of recently cut military benefits in exchange for a one-year extension of the federal government’s borrowing authority.

Though Boehner (R-Ohio) did not formally endorse the idea as his own, he did ask his lieutenants to test it among rank-and-file Republicans.

“Unlike other recent periods when we have had to use extraordinary measures to continue financing the government, this time these measures will give us only a brief span of time,” Lew said Monday in a speech at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “Given these realities, it is imperative that Congress move right away to increase our borrowing authority.”

Outside the House chamber Wednesday night, the plan was gaining momentum, with dozens of GOP members saying they could back it. The benefits for retired military personnel were reduced in last year’s bipartisan budget agreement, which cut $6 billion in payments to veterans over the next 10 years.

“I’d support it in a heartbeat,” said Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.). “We need to figure this thing out, and that’s a way to do it.”

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said, “A lot of people are supportive right now, and this idea could be a vehicle that wins backing from a lot of Republicans.”

[SkyPilot]

Wow. So right before Christmas, it was Paul Ryan that screwed over military and military retirees by stealing from their hard earned and well deserved pensions. It "just had to be done!" to get that whopping "savings" of $500 million a year, so we could then turn around and give away another $1.5 Billion to Head Start, a $1.1 Trillion budget for FY14, and yet another Trillion dollar 10 year "Farm Bill" that is 80% Food Stamp spending.

"The new idea emerged after support for two earlier proposals fizzled. One would have involved another attempt to repeal parts of President Obama’s signature health-care law, while the other would have tried to force Obama’s hand on approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. According to two people present, Boehner argued that the military-benefits maneuver could force some Democrats to join Republicans and also win support from conservatives, who have voiced frustration with the reductions in payouts for retired military personnel."

Well at least the GOP finally realizes they screwed up! I take it we won't be seeing any more articles by Paul "Judas" Ryan crowing about what a man he is for stealing pensions from military families who have given more to this nation than any other group of Americans.

Here is the dirty secret: they HAVE to raise the debt ceiling again, and they know it. Now they want to cynically use our military men and women as pawns on the political chess board.......again! This is the 5th time in 2 months they have done this. Cut it out! Restore their pensions, and get on with your dirty deals and back door sludge.

[SkyPilot]

Ping

[sickoflibs]

Good play!

[G Larry]

I’m inviting Boehner to my next poker party!

He’s gonna trick Obama into reinstating the $6B for Vets, by approving a $500B increase to the Debt ceiling......????

[VRWC For Truth]

Oompah-loompahs suck.

[SkyPilot]

Yes, and in December, they just HAD to ram that pension cut through!!! Had to. It saved $5.7 Billion over 10 years......even though we will spend at least $15 Trillion over those 10 years, we needed that measly $6 Billion from breaking promises with veterans. Now? Well, since Paul Ryan's Facebook page looks like a war zone of outrage with thousands of negative posts since the pension betrayal, well....the GOP is going to repeal these pension cuts before the Democrats can repeal them through the Veterans Bill, so that the GOP can show to everyone how pro-military they suddenly are.

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty/Retiree ping.

[P-Marlowe]

If we cut spending in actual dollars $100 billion per year every year it would take 20 years to get a balanced budget. Then once we got a balanced budget if we spent $100 Billion dollars every year towards paying off the principle (not including the interest) it would take 200 years to pay off the National debt.

[Girlene]

He’s gonna trick Obama into reinstating the $6B for Vets, by approving a $500B increase to the Debt ceiling......????

Yep....What a brilliant move! /s

[MichaelCorleone]

So many of our men who made the ultimate sacrifice must be turning over in their graves right now.

And so many of our ‘men’ who have allowed the communist takeover of America don’t seem to give it a second thought.

[JSDude1]

What a panty waste, he shouldn’t have allowed the cuts in the first place! Now he’s going to negotiate on this..

I would kick the Son of a gun’s arse if I live in Ohio.

[1010RD]

Sounds like the plot from the beginning. How could we cover ourselves if we hike the debt? Claim we were forced by circumstances as we love our veterans and so don’t mind burying them, their children and grandchildren under a mountain of crony capitalist debt. Yeah, baby, that works!

[xzins]

Boehner and Ryan are both deceitful weasels.

I’m in favor of a separate bill promoted by fair representatives that allows all members to vote up or down for restoration of military benefits stolen by weasel Ryan and crew.

However, this speaker would block that. (I’d like to see it, though.)

That said, Boehner will cave anyway on any debt-ceiling talks, so restoring vets benefits there is as good a place as any, I suppose.

[Timber Rattler]

Boehner doesn't want a fight, despite his claim last August, and so he's using veterans as pawns to try and sucker Conservatives into supporting a debt ceiling hike, through this bit of political cover. Don't fall for it.

House GOP divided on debt ceiling (Whale of a fight, eh?)

[bfh333]

Boehner, Cantor, Ryan, et al must be defeated at all costs... If they can not be primaried, then the seat will have to go to the Dems for 2 years...

It is the only way we are going to have a speaker who will fight the juggernaut that is BHO...

[savedbygrace]

When did the Washington Post start printing satire?

What, this is true? I am gobsmacked.

[Yosemitest]

Time to ABORT Bonehead and REDUCE the National Debt!

[jersey117]

Good move.

[eartick]

Tall tree short rope ping list.......

-——not a real list so do not expect to be put on it but I do have the tree——

[zeugma]

these people are playing games with the republic.