Posted on 01/03/2014 6:25:56 AM PST by Poundstone
The time has come: Military health and pension benefits, which have more than doubled in the past decade, should be reduced as the defense budget comes down, said a whopping 90 percent majority of National Journal's National Security Insiders.
Pentagon leaders have been calling for changes to curb the skyrocketing compensation costs, which threaten to usurp other key priorities in the defense budget during austere times—even training for combat operations and weapons procurement. But reform efforts have been complicated in part because military-personnel issues are a political landmine on Capitol Hill. In the budget deal clinched by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Paul Ryan, however, members did take a step to cut benefits to military retirees, albeit slightly, decreasing the annual cost-of-living adjustment for working-age military retirees by 1 percent, which would cut roughly $6 billion in spending over the next decade.
Some 52 percent of the pool of national security experts are open to slight cutbacks to military benefits. "We must control runaway personnel costs," one Insider said, "but we need to take care not to break faith with those who signed up to risk their lives for their country." The rate of growth, another Insider added, is what needs to be reduced. "Too often we call it a 'cut' when it's really a slowing of growth rates. We need to restore balance across defense-spending accounts so that we can train and equip the military as well as pay them."
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
“It’s Time to Reduce Military Health and Pension Benefits”
Why just those government employees? Why not all federal employees? How about former presidents?
Yeah if those guys would only have the decency to die instead of just getting wounded we wouldn’t have all these long term costs.
Thats what they are really saying.
“It’s Time to Reduce Military Health and Pension Benefits”
It’s because former military are not very likely to vote Commie, so the Muslim in Chief is taking away their money.
Or Congress
Yup, screw those who risked their lives and limbs.
I could gave a rat’s ass for the opinions of “security experts”. “Shaft our vets” is a reprehensible approach.
The DemocRATS are going to need more money for handouts to the foreign nationals once amnesty is passed. Hell, those 50 million “welcome wagon baskets” alone are going to cost a fortune.
Of the overall participants in this program, what percentage are former uniformed personel and what percentage are DOD hacks ?
I can see where this is headed.
They will eventually transfer ALL military health and pension benefits to the VA administration................
“Why not all federal employees? How about former presidents?”
Congresscritters too. Most have become wealthy at our expense.
Something’s got to be done about military compensation. It’s eating up half of the total DOD budget, and the percentage is going up.
There was an interesting exchange last night on the “Newshour” between Military Officers Association Norbert Ryan and former DOD Assistant Secretary Lawrence Korb (a Reagan appointee, by the way). Korb ripped Ryan a new one:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/jan-june14/pensions_01-02.html
Every political hack in DC should have all his/her perks and benefits cut before our military.
Veterans were promised these benefits. It’s their security if they come home psychologically or physically maimed. How can there even be discussion about this while the income-challenged get free Obamaphones and young girls are handed birth control and morning-after pills as if they are candy?
Odungo purged the Pentagon of officers who supported the troops. Others left support ODUNGO.
How about people who are on welfare or disability without deserving to be?
We need real welfare reform.
Screw the troops so the Pentagon can buy new toys, eh?
And then rename the VA Administration to the ‘No Hab Administration’. I was once told about a cafe on Bien Hoa Air Base called the No Hab Inn. When I asked why that name, I was told when you asked for anything on the menu they would say, “No Hab” and you would have to ask for something else.
Yeah, remember those “defense intellectuals” who had it all figured out in the 1960s, and then led us straight into Vietnam?
THIS IDIOT NEEDS HER PAY REDUCED BY 50%! DUMB AS A BOX OF ROCKS.
IF CONGRESS GOT RID OF THEIR TOP BRASS, BROUGHT THE LOWER RANKS UP, AND THEN ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING ABOUT THE FRAUD, THE PAY BACKS FOR DONATIONS ETC. THERE WOULD BE NO REASON TO REDUCE PENSIONS OR HEATLH CARE.
THE FRAUD IN THE DOD BUDGET IS IN THE BILLIONS!
They knew they were going to close the commissaries, then why did they just put in these $7000 speed bumps and electronic price tags this year? Just greasing some donor’s pocket. Same goes for the repaving of the parking lot, that did not need it was in fine shape.
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.