Posted on 01/13/2014 1:27:24 PM PST by SkyPilot
The Pentagon has determined that the budget deal passed last month cutting $6 billion in military pensions would also reduce survivor benefits, Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said Monday.
But the cuts to survivor benefits and two other programs related to combat and disability pay will be repealed in the omnibus spending bill, said a senior Senate aide familiar with the government funding measure expected to be released later Monday.
"At the end of the day, this will all be addressed," the aide said.
Ayotte has been one of the most vocal senators opposing the cut to military retirement benefits in the budget deal, which provides $31 billion in sequester relief to the Pentagon over the next two years. She pointed on Monday to the cuts to survivors' benefits as well as special combat compensation programs as new reasons to repeal the full $6 billion in pension cuts.
Ayotte asked the Pentagon to detail how the military pension cut in last month's budget deal would affect various benefit programs. The department told her that the reduction in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for military retirement pay also reduces payments for survivors’ benefits and the combat compensation programs.
“The more I press the Pentagon for answers, the more I learn how egregious the military benefit cuts are in the budget deal,” Ayotte said in a statement Monday.
“The cost of living adjustment cuts unfairly shortchange military retirees, military survivors, and the combat-injured to pay for more Washington spending,” she said.
Ayotte is one of numerous lawmakers who have introduced legislation that would repeal the $6 billion retirement benefits cut that was included in the budget agreement reached by Budget Chairs Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
http://therightscoop.com/mike-lee-posts-unbelievable-photo-of-2013-new-rules-and-regulations/
Send this viral!!
Meanwhile, the King and Queen party on!
I despise paul ryan and I will say it to his face should I ever get the chance. He is a lowest form of politician... he is in the league with reid and pelosi.
The very first thing that needs to happen is a bill for mandatory attendance at all military funerals. It would run just like jury duty, but with no excused absences. 100 American citizens, with their families, would be required to attend every military funeral. The family of the deceased could decline this. Everyone of the 100 would be required to shake the hand of the spouse or mother. Any bad behavior would be cause for immediate arrest and forfeiture of any taxpayer-provided benefits and the right to vote.
Active Duty/Retiree ping.
Jet - the omnibus spending bill was just released. There are some news headlines about it. The bill will still contain the cuts to veterans pensions. The media is reporting that “disabled” retirees will be exempt but they do not define what disabled means (I.e. only medically retired or VA rated disabled?). There is a provision to exempt survivor widows and widowers. The bill has other abominations, such as over a Billion and quarter dollars to give away to Egypt with no strings attached. That one budget line would have paid for 2 years of pension cuts for all military retirees.
Thanks for the update.
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