Step in right direction

The GOP Leadership is boasting what it calls success in repealing a century old law that prohibits disabled veterans from receiving both their earned retirement pay based on longevity and VA disability compensation based on injuries and illnesses during that service. This change was included in a $401 billion military spending bill approved by the House, 362-40, Friday afternoon. As many major Veteran Service Organizations consider this a step in the right direction, it falls far short from being a success in ending the unjust and discriminatory Disabled Veterans’ Tax. .

The compromise offered by the GOP Leadership is divided into two parts. The first part is good news for all those disabled as a result of combat with VA disability rating ranging from10 percent through 100 percent. They will all now be allowed to collect their full retirement pay and VA disability compensation effective Jan. 1, 2004.

These retirees must apply through their respective branch of service and undergo a difficult, lengthy and cumbersome approval process. This is a continuation of the Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) program approved last year for those with combat injuries and VA rated at 60 percent or above. There is a huge backlog that already exists and only about eight percent are being approved. Applicants must prove their injuries and illnesses are combat-related. This is very difficult, if not impossible, for older veterans whose records have been misplaced or lost by the military or Veterans Administration.

The second part of the approved compromise concerns disabled veterans with VA service-connected disability rating of 50 percent or above. This program also begins Jan. 1, 2004, but is it phased in over 10 years. For many disabled veterans who have already been deprived of their retirement pay for 25-30 years, this compromise is too late. Many will be in their graves before they receive their full retirement pay. These payments will begin automatically without any application process.

"Today marks an end to the unfair penalty on disabled veterans," said House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). Although that statement looks good in newspapers and other conservative media services, it is far from the truth.

Rep. Blunt was one of the few GOP Leaders who drafted the compromise behind closed doors that totally excluded members of the Democratic party. Proactive Democrats and the actual bill itself, H.R.303, demanded full restoration of retirement pay for all disabled veterans.

Republicans were forced to react to strong political pressure from grassroots efforts across the country and almost the entire Democratic party when it devised this compromise that still short-changes the majority of deserving disabled veterans of what is theirs. For three consecutive years they have successfully blocked this bill from getting to the House floor for a vote, as they did again this year. With 373 cosponsors, Republicans and Democrats, in favor of full restoration, it surely would have passed had all the cosponsors been sincere in their signing the bill. But a threatening directive by GOP House Leader Dennis Hastert prohibited Republican cosponsors from signing a Discharge Petition initiated by Rep. Jim Marshall June 12, to force the bill to the floor for a vote.

Rep. Blunt was partially correct in this public announcement Friday; it is an unfair penalty on disabled veterans, but it certainly is not an end. The compromise only repeals the Disabled Veterans’ Tax for 250,000 veterans, while 390,000, the majority or 60 percent, are still subject to the tax.

Democrats strongly disagree with this partial 10 year phased-in compromise that leaves 390,000 disabled vets behind. "This is clearly not a victory for our veterans," said Rep. Lane Evans of Illinois, top Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. "It's an attempt to divide and conquer veterans."

In a last-ditch effort Friday to get the 160 Republican cosponsors of H.R. 303 to fully approve repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax Friday, Rep. Jim Marshal introduced a “motion to recommit” the conference report on H.R. 1588, the Defense Authorization bill, with instructions to report it back with the complete elimination of the Disabled Veterans Tax. The motion failed 217-188.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi also spoke on the House floor in support of disabled veterans Friday. “The proposal is a step, but it is not nearly good enough, “ she said. “The Republicans put forth a proposal that leaves far too many veterans behind. Two thirds of our veterans still will not receive one penny. That is not good enough. America’s veterans deserve much better. We will leave no veterans behind. Our veterans served for all of us and we must be there for them. We have a moral obligation to those who have paid a high price for our freedom.”

It appears Veterans' groups are happy, while adding that full repeal of the Disabled Veterans’ Tax was still their goal. "We look at this as a major battle won in the long and difficult campaign toward full concurrent receipt," said Bob Norton of Military Officers Association of America.

“This is a wonderful, wonderful benefit and a wonderful compromise," Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi said. "I would hope that military retirees would feel good about it."

To many disabled veterans, one of the most disappointing players in this battle is Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.). For 18 years he has been initiating a bill to allow full restoration of retirement pay for disabled veterans, only to have it stonewalled where the bill dyed in committee each year. This annual charade has been a major factor in Rep. Bilirakis’ continued reelection, strongly supported by disabled veterans based on false hopes of getting the bill passed.

When he refused to break Republican party ranks this year and sign the Democratic Discharge Petition, veterans began to realize his true colors.

When he angrily spoke on the House floor Friday, defending the GOP compromise, there was no doubt about his true feelings. Here is what he said after receiving a loud applause from the House membership:

“I’ve worked on this for 18 years. During the first half of those 18 years, the other party was in charge and what went on during that time? Nothing. My discharge petition in 1993 failed. Politics, politics, politics… full Concurrent Receipt remains a priority goal for all of us only let’s show it rather than just distract attention. Let’s put dollars in the budget if we will, if we are really serious. I ask everybody to vote for this bill and I oppose the motion to recommit for the reasons stated.”

Rep. Bilirakis was one of the members of the closed door compromise planners who certainly had the opportunity to obtain the full funding, but he chose to continue party guidelines that were adamantly against the bill. What was offered was a fraction of full repeal and only because they were forced by political pressure to do it.

Veterans have vowed to take a step in the right direction also and have been loudly shouting their feelings to all those who have fought against full restoration; “OUT THE DOOR IN 2004.” Mr. Bilirakis is at the top of the list. The Republican party has done everything it could to block repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax for several years. If it were not for the Discharge Petition, solid support by the Democratic party and very strong grassroots efforts, it would still be in committee again this year.

I honestly believe that most people who aren't disabled military retirees aren't aware of this travesty. It's small wonder that so many veterans are looking for a new political home in this time with all this false patriotism being displayed by so many politicians. But I guess old soldiers are used to being tools for the government. VOTE VET.

Look, Viet Nam vets were targeted as "double dippers" if they managed to get a job with the federal government. They end up paying several times over for their service time with a special tax.

Their same-age counterparts could take off as much as 6 months of each workyear on LWOP and not lose seniority or service time in federal jobs, yet they do not have to pay an additional tax for their service time.

The Democrats invented this evil invention to punish Viet Nam vets who went into the government while rewarding draft dodgers who work next to them.

The Democrats are evil. If they were on the side pushing for elimination of this apparant inequity, I'd look it over twice or three times before changing the situation.

I happen to agree that the Democrats are evil and would never vote for them. However, this was in place long before the Vietnam War. It came into being around 1890 when a congressman from Missouri (who'd been a Confederate general) seized an opportunity to deprive Union veterans of their pension since Confederate veterans didn't recieve anything.
Since I'm one of those disabled retirees who loses $606.00 dollars a month from my retirement as a result of serving my country as an Infantryman for 26 years (and voting Republican all my life)let me explain it like this.
Let's say your injured on your job and received Workmens Compensation. Eventually you retire and now your employer takes back one dollar from your pension for every dollar you received as Workmans Compensation. No, I have no love of the Democratic Party but I wish the government would do the right thing and pay us retirees our retirement check. Congress has no problem collecting theirs.

If you're talking about "Catch 62" - back in the '80s, Rep. Les Aspin (later Sec'y of Defense under Clinton - relieved after the Mogadishu debacle) pushed for the law that allows military veterans to pay for their military time used toward federal service retirement/pensions. 'Til that law, at age 62, federal retirement was reduced by the years/months of military service used to determine total federal service. At least now, veterans have an option to pay & have those years/months not lopped off. Your complaint is "Throwing out the good in search of the perfect"!

Let's say I am injured on the job sufficient to retire me. I will get 60% of my last annual rate until my regular retirement based on my high-three equals that amount. Then I get regular retirement.

In effect, 100% of my workman's compensation is taken away to finance my regular retirement.

Isn't that what happens to military retirees who are disabled before retirement?

BTW, if that Confederate General was politically motivated, he was undoubtedly a Democrat. So, let's blame this on the Dems from the very beginning.

Not exactly. The situation Aspen was concerned with affected only those with both military and federal civilian retirement.

Folks who were not "lifers" were credited with time and did not otherwise have any sort of involvement with a military retirement.

But, I'm glad you brought the whole thing up. The "lifer" military disability retirement system was/is at least as generous as that of the federal civilian disability retirement system. With this change it will become more generous.

On the other hand, when it comes to counting time, a system put into place to trim "lifers" back to the same standards applicable to others resulted in the imposition of an unfair tax on draftees.

Do you think you guys could do these changes for your own benefit without screwing others for once?

"Go away"? My friend...we earned the title "veteran"...by fighting, dying, and being wounded in defense of this country...and YOU have the balls to tell me to "go away"?...not in your lifetime, my freind. Do tell us what you did for your country...I'm deeply interested to hear what such a disrespectful person as you has to say about that.

... we earned the title "veteran" ...
Spare me your sanctimony. I'm a veteran too. Simply being a veteran does not entitle you to any special claim on the public pursue. So, yes, GO AWAY: go vote democrat already. I really, really do not care.

I suspect you are indeed a "veteran"...and REMF peactime clown!

My special claim? One Silver Star and two Purples...anytime you want to swap DD214s, step up...meanwhile, step aside!

My special claim? One Silver Star and two Purples...anytime you want to swap DD214s, step up...meanwhile, step aside!
Step aside? I'm not in your way, DD214-boy. Go wherever you want. But do not expect my support or my vote or whatever. You have failed to make your case for a fatter entitlement. Puffing up your pigeon chest to show me your little trinkets simply fails to qualify as an argument. Anyone can get shot. I would rather we support drug addicts and welfare moms.

"I would rather we support drug addicts and welfare moms."

Why am I not surprised that a comment like that comes from an REMF, whiskey delta?

Enjoy your smugness and freedom...we gave it to you...next go around; you;re on your own, girly-boy.

... Why am I not surprised ...
Apparently your "purple heart" was for getting your manhood shot off. For that you deserve some compensation, surely. But not more welfare. Welfare is not for real soldiers. On the other hand, you all but admitted that you're not a real soldier, so hey!--be off with you to the welfare office! See what handouts they have available. Good luck and all that.

As I said to you openly, I'd be happy to compare my service to country to yoursd...and my country compensates me well for my efforts and scarfices, weak dick...it's really that simple.

I frnakly feel sad that you and I couldn't have shared a few days in the paddies and bush...I suspect we'd not be having this conversation...either you'd have turned your splt tail butt and boogied off in tears or someone would have capped you (not that I might have, but...?)

I'd be happy to compare my service to country to yours
You would only embarrass yourself further, little one. Besides, how is it my fault or anyone else's fault that you shot your own penis off to avoid combat? What with the way you whine and snivel and weep over a few more pennies of welfare that you would snatch from the hands of people more deserving than you, I'm sure you were the sort of non-soldier who lost complete control of his bowels at the first burst of automatic fire. More to the point: why am I supposed and American taxpayers in general supposed to subsidize your cowardice, not to mention your "alternative lifestyle" at all? Why can't you make your own way in this world?

A Silver and two Purples and I "avoided combat"...I scoff at your ignorance...and my guess is you are an REMF, non combat, office posgue, if a vet at all.

As for your tax dollars...bitch to your congress...not ot me...I earned what they allow me, so flip your burgers and wear your little paper hat...I am quite content with things as they are. Goodbye, whisky delta, non-hacker!

... I am quite content with things as they are ...
So why all the whining and sniveling and the puffing up of your empty scrotum about how you demand more welfare handouts and all? Are you bored at your retirement community for gay former cooks and clerks typists? Why not simply call for an orderly to change your adult diaper and, you know, relax a little?--why not spend what little time you have left in this world drooling on yourself contentedly instead of screaming hysterically about benefits you never earned?

PS. I scoff at you trying to convince anyone that a limp-dish-rag like you ever saw combat, you PX ranger, you.

phuque off...you fail to show you 'nads, weak dick...ya want my papers, my decs...ask...you have nothin'...and you have yet to tell us your history (speaks in and of itself!)

I have no time for pussy boys...you are the poster boy for coward!

By the way...drop me a PM...I'll pay for the call if you have the balls to talk DIRECTKY to me...you don;t, but I make the offer...just give me a number and I'll call you 1:1...but then, pussies don't stand up, do they?

.ya want my papers, my decs ...
Why would I want that when your incompetency and inadequacy and complete lack of bladder control are so painfully clear? You are a disgrace to your country, a disgrace to your family, and even a disgrace to other welfare recepients. And how pitiful for you that your only claim to legitimacy lies in a few forged documents and maybe a ribbon or two you bought at the PX.

If we were in some backward, alternate universe where you actually were all that you claimed you were--and you aren't, because those that are never say that they are--my question would be why are you now on your knees begging, nay, pleading for handouts?

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