First shots fired on military compensation

The Hill ^ | 22 Dec 13 | Jeremy Herb

[SkyPilot]

The battle over military retirement benefits in the budget deal was the first skirmish in a larger compensation war, and next year's outcome could determine the fate of long-protected military compensation programs.

Budget experts and veterans groups say the retirement benefits fight will serve as a test case to see what appetite there is on Capitol Hill to actually cut military compensation costs — and how much blowback will come from those efforts.

“There’s no doubt that this is a little bit of a weather vane, a litmus test as to what the veterans and military communities’ tolerance is going to be for this, and what types of cuts we’re going to be willing to tolerate and what types of cuts we're going to fight on,” said Alex Nicholson, legislative director for the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

“And what you saw I think from us was an absolute tip of the iceberg,” he said.

Compensation costs had long been off limits for budget cutters, but military leaders have begun calling for reforms to retirement benefits, TRICARE and more after dealing with the dual problems of budget squeezes from sequestration and ballooning personnel costs.

Congress had blocked initial attempts to cut into compensation — like TRICARE fee increases — until the budget deal reached this month by House and Senate Budget Chairmen Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

The deal provided the Pentagon $31 billion in sequester relief, but it also included $6 billion in savings through cutting the cost-of-living adjustment for working-age military retirees.

The retirement benefit cuts caught service and veterans groups by surprise. They launched a full-court press to drum up opposition to the deal, and were joined by defense hawks who loathe sequester but nevertheless opposed the agreement due to the military retirement cuts.

[SkyPilot]

They can thank Paul Ryan for that stupid pos he called a “compromise”.

Paul Ryan is a traitor. I cannot believe he was our VP nominee.

[gunnyg]

ThankYa for your update—appreciated!
I slipped on the MOH...the colonel has so many honors it’s easy to lose count...

;)

Semper watching!
Dick G
*****

[DEPcom]

Looking for an Association to join that will stand up and fight for me in DC. I am retired USAF..

David

[gunnyg]

best and only chance is to find a good dog...no lie...that’s the best any of us will do here...

Semper watching!
*****

[excalibur21]

If this is such a good idea, they will start by applying their cost cutting plan to their own benifits first. Otherwise, it’s nothing more than a sham.

[Hulka]

“ret milcare then came about, even though ret mil then were required to enroll/pay- medicare as a condition”

I am retired military. I have TRICARE. I pay for TRICARE Standard. I do not ‘do’ medicare nor have I signed up for it.

If I want to be seen at a military hospital, I am seen space-a.

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty/Retiree ping.

[Robe]

That’s great, but why did I have to hear about hem from you , and not on fox et al

[SkyPilot]

Portions of the press conference were on CNN the day they held it. I don’t know if FOX News covered it. I do know FOX has had on several guests in the past few days - and they are only network really speaking the truth about what is going on. The alphabets are still hawking for amnesty and lamenting the fact that Congress did not give away another $30 Billion or so last week to pay people not to work.

[CitizenUSA]

Military retirees earn our benefits, and we were promised compensation in return for our service. A contract was made, and we served our part of it. It’s not a handout. We earned it.

People who haven’t served just don’t understand the sacrifices that are made. Our lives were not our own. We followed our orders and gave up our own liberty (as military members) in order to protect the liberties of our fellow citizens. I remember thinking how nice it would be to live free again once I could retire, except that the left wants to put everyone under the government’s boot these days.

I deployed over 20 times during my career and had two PCS assignments overseas. Who knows what I was exposed to in some of the crappy, third world countries where I served. Nevertheless, I consider myself one of the lucky ones. Today’s military members deploy for far longer periods and many are actually serving in real hostile fire areas and risking getting blown up by IED. Those threats make scuds and the slight risk of terrorist attack seem lame in comparison.

Promises were made. Promises should be kept. Of all the areas to cut spending, isn’t it amazing that both parties put military member pensions were one of the first things put on the table to cut? I’m not surprised, but I am disappointed in my country.

[CitizenUSA]

Our leaders want to put military retirees in the same line as welfare moms.

[RetiredArmy]

I told soldiers back in the early 1980s, when they first stopped retirees from using dental care, that one day we would be lucky to have just the retiree check. That the stinking, lying, cheating, government would take everything they ever promised us for our battered and broken bodies away from us and we would be lucky to have the check. I said back then that they would take everything away from us. Man, I should have been a prophet.

[CitizenUSA]

I really should proof read my comments a bit more before I post them, but one thing I really wanted to stress is my respect for our current active duty members! I truly salute you and your ongoing sacrifices.

[Alas Babylon!]

The whole debate, while noble and true as far as reneging on a promise made to the military retiree, forgets one very important issue:

How are you going to retain the best and brightest that right now, make our military the best in the world?

People (like myself—you too, I’m sure, but I can only speak for myself) who stayed in at least 20 years or more were PROMISED these benefits in lieu of lower pay, hazardous duty, constant moves, not being able to quit, to agree to be punished (up to DEATH) if you don’t do what you are told (orders)...

Now, how are they going to get men to re-enlist if it not worth it?

I would have gotten out after 4 honorable years if there wasn’t those promises. I certainly would not have stayed for 22 years. I saw friends from school build families, lay down roots, acquire homes and property, why I was always a will-o-the-wisp, constantly moving (11 assignments in 22 years). I never owned my own home until I retired. I still owe a lot on my 30 year mortgage and at 55 am not at the end of the mortgage period.

Again, I can’t speak for others, but I would not have stayed in as long. Most of the time it was fun, and I am grateful. I learned to be a man, see the world and was given a lot of responsibility at a young age. Still there were times when it was a REAL pain in the a$$!

The whole thing is penny-wise and pound-foolish. To quote Joe Biden: Retention is a Big F’n Deal! They’ll wind up spending more in the long run.

[SkyPilot]

I told soldiers back in the early 1980s, when they first stopped retirees from using dental care, that one day we would be lucky to have just the retiree check. That the stinking, lying, cheating, government would take everything they ever promised us for our battered and broken bodies away from us and we would be lucky to have the check.

Ryan defends military benefits cuts

Yes - sadly, you were prophetic.

I am also going to post the above link as a separate thread. It confirms what we already know - Ryan and Murray have schemed together again, this time to quash the outrage over disabled military retirees pensions being cut. Their proposed "fix" does NOT cover disabled military retirees - only those who were "retired for medical reasons." You have to meet a flurry of medical boards to get that rating, and can even be retired for non-combat injuries. VA rated disabled retirees will still have their retirement pensions cut under the proposed "fix."

Ryan is lying to us again.

[meadsjn]

The political arithmetic is simple.

There are 22 Million US veterans, or about seven percent of the population.

In the fourth quarter of 2011, 49.2 percent of Americans received benefits from one or more government programs, according to data ... 151,014,000 beneficiaries equaled 49.2 percent of the population.
Census: 49% of Americans Get Gov’t Benefits; 82M in Households on Medicaid - See more at: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/census-49-americans-get-gov-t-benefits-82m-households-medicaid#sthash.5OcwHXHm.dpuf

Obviously, a political critter (of either stripe) would shamelessly throw away 22 Million votes for the opportunity to get a bigger share of the 151 Million votes.

[DJ Taylor]

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 whoever runs against the current Republicans in Congress.

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)

[RKBA Democrat]

“Congress is trying to squash the public outcry by proposing a “fix” that is really just political cover.”

Truer words have not been spoken.

[Poundstone]

Compensation is already eating up half of the DOD budget. We can’t continue the status quo. The COLA reduction for retirees able to work is qyite small. Seems like a sensible reform.

[oldbill]

Spoken like a true federal retiree - “I got mine, the hell with the rest of you”.