Senators fight cuts to veteran benefits ahead of key budget test vote

AP and Fox News ^ | 17 Dec 13 | AP Staff

[SkyPilot]

Republican senators were making a last-ditch bid to undo cuts to military retiree benefits in the House-passed budget deal ahead of a crucial vote Tuesday morning in the Senate.

Alabama GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions filed an amendment late Monday to restore money that was cut from veteran and military retiree pension benefits by closing a loophole that allows illegal immigrants to qualify for child tax credits.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Meanwhile, the King vacations and sucks our tax dollars.

[VerySadAmerican]

Those who spent 20 to 30 years in uniform knew they could have made less on the outside. Yet they continued to serve BELIEVEING they would get a good retirement with still time left for a second career. Now the government they served is pulling the rug out from under them.

[SZonian]

Nope, veterans are just greedy whiners getting a “full pension” for “retiring” after 20 years. They should either wait until they’re 62 or older to get their “full pension” payments or not go out and find another job to supplement that “full pension”, veterans are just being greedy. Veterans deserve to have any COLA adjustments reduced...they’ve earned that reduction. BOHICOLA.

Veterans didn’t earn the “full pension” they’re getting and should sacrifice for the common good...they should only get a “full pension” if they saw combat or were wounded...the rest of the servicemembers should be grateful for having had the opportunity to serve our country and move on with their lives without any compensation or benefits for time served...

Wear your wounds and ailments as a badge of honor, but don’t bother us for medical care or treatment of your chemical sensitivities, loss of hearing, bad back, torn ligaments, etc. that came as a result of serving. Consider it a small price to pay for having had the priviledge of wearing the uniform.

Everyone should have skin in the game and veterans should be the first to sign/line up for getting shaved...the rest of the leeches will come later, trust me.

/s (but this is an example of the types of tripe that has been posted on other threads.)

[montag813]

WHERE IS THE ROLL CALL FOR THE SESSIONS AMENDMENT?

[NCC-1701]

And yet, the fools on the HIll will vote to increase THEIR pay by several thousand dollars. This is borderline criminal.

[HiJinx]

It's a darned good thing I read posts all the way through, 'cause I was getting up a good head of steam there for sec.

And you're right, that tripe is very typical of what others have posted elsewhere. May I add that some of those other FReeper actually identify themselves as retired veterans? Unbelievable.

[no-to-illegals]

Have some examples? ... Am in full agreement with Hijinx. I too almost didn’t read the entire post.

[no-to-illegals]

Good point. That needs viewing.

[SZonian]

Sorry if I stressed you out...I have my dander up pretty good right now as a result of encountering comments like that.

I’m not in a good mood and kinda looking for a good scrap.

[SZonian]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3102315/posts

Some of the comments here require reading “between the lines”.

[no-to-illegals]

Thanks after looking at this info will share.

[no-to-illegals]

Am seeing. Might be a live one. Discouraging to say the least.

[Oatka]

This thread seems the most appropriate place for my post.

I was at the VA yesterday and my doc said that there is a New Deal for vets under obamacare. I can now visit a local doctor and the VA will pick up the tab (no more long distance drives). The hook is, once you opt for a non-VA doc, you can’t use the VA anymore.

Decisions, decisions. :-)

[MichaelCorleone]

Hey Ryan, How about General Petraeus’ pension? Colin Powell? Will they feel the pain? Didn’t think so.

How the hell do you look at yourself in the mirror every day?

[Whenifhow]

There’s a Loophole That Allows Illegal Immigrants to Claim Tax Credits, and a GOP Sen. Just Made a Big Move to Close It to Save Vet Benefits

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/12/17/theres-a-loophole-that-allows-illegal-immigrants-to-claim-tax-credits-and-a-gop-sen-just-made-a-big-move-to-close-it-to-save-vet-benefits/

The ranking Republican on the Senate Budget Committee has put forward a budget amendment to avert proposed cuts to veterans’ benefits by closing a loophole that allows illegal immigrants to collect child tax credits.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

These folks who keep going on about full pensions do not understand that it is actually a retainer. We can be called back at anytime.

[TomasUSMC]

Good info.

If this passes the Senate with GOP support. It is time........for a new Party.

Take 50 of those 90 Repubs in the senate that stood firm and maybe 10 Senators and FORM A NEW PARTY INSTANTLY.

As a veteran I don’t mind paying more as long as it is efficiently used....not to pay more damn money to illegal aliens and certainly not for some TEN YEAR PLAN that only reduces 23 billion MAYBE.

[csmusaret]

Note to the author: All Military Retirees are Veterans but no all Veterans are Military Retirees. The two terms are constantly mixed up and misused. They are not the same thing.

[TomasUSMC]

Over $4 Billion per year is stolen from the US by illegal aliens who use this loophole.

IRS Refunds $4 Billion Child Tax Credits Per Year to Illegal Immigrants Whose Kids Do Not Live in US

The provision to steal retired military Cost of Living will cost them an estimated 20% of their retirement, but will only save $6 Billion over ten years!

WORTH REPEATING

[napscoordinator]

Dear God in Heaven. Thank you for letting me read this whole thing. Many times, I have that trigger and “go off” before reading it thoroughly. I would have been apologizing up and down all day long after the post I would have written. lol. My head was exploding.....I actually had some adrenalin going for a bit. lol.