Maine Veterans Set the Record Straight on President Bush's Support for Those who Served

BANGOR, ME - Today, leadership members of the Maine Veterans for Bush-Cheney '04 coalition made the following remarks in support of President Bush's record on veterans issues and to correct the false claims made this week during the Democrat National Convention. .

"President Bush has a clear vision for a strong America and knows support and respect for those who served our country in the past will provide for a strong and unified America in the future," said Rep. Russell Treadwell, Veterans for Bush-Cheney '04 Regional Chair. "Veterans funding has increased 40 percent since President Bush took office, demonstrating his commitment to veterans' health care and quality of life."

"We respect our fellow veterans who served in the past but are looking towards the future as our nation's men and women fight to protect our nation's freedom for our children and grandchildren," stated Hib Theriault, Maine Veterans for Bush-Cheney '04 York Regional Chair. "The security challenges our great nation faces today demand we are led by someone with strength and steady conviction, a leader like President George W. Bush."

A fair number of veterans are beginning to collect their dual compensation. For years the veterans who were receiving VA disability pay had their military retirement pay reduced by the amount they received from the VA. It was very unfair. If the veterans had worked in the private sector they would have been able to get disability and a retirement pension. It was about time that they received what they were entitled to. There is now legislation (I think I came across on a VA or military site) that would also help the widows or widowers of the retirees. The widows and widowers have had the pension they received reduced by the amount they received from Social Security if they were old enough to collect that. This pension was a fund that the retirees pay had paid into during their active duty and retirement. It's called SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan). My husband was not having anything taken from his retirement pay because he knew that a good portion of that would be taken away from me whenever I reach an age to apply for Social Security. Instead I receive a pension from the VA called DIC (Dependents Indemnity Compensation). When I am eligible for Social Security I will not have to give up my DIC. The DIC is probably less than what I would have received from the SBP but I will not have the offset happen to me. It might very well end up that the offset is done away with and my dear husband should have been paying into the SBP after all but he went with what he had known the situation to be. That's life. At least more of the veterans are being helped now and the spouses who often have to give up jobs to care for their veterans might be allowed a little more help.

"Whilst i hope Veterans and dependents get adequately compensated from the government in the FIRST PLACE I don't like this idea of double dipping."

What a stupid ass comment. The offset isn't a bonus it's because the retiree gave part of their body for YOU and our country. The small amount of money paid is for damage to their body while they were active duty and is to offset the projected loss in future income because of the damage/disability.

The Gov't rents a GI's body and they have to pay for the damage they incur during the use of the GI's body after they get out or retire.

It's not double dipping !

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