Posted on 09/22/2005 6:14:11 AM PDT by pabianice
A group of House Republicans have proposed a plan to offset the costs of relief and rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina that includes trimming military quality-of-life programs, including health care. Possible sources of funding cuts to free up money for Katrina relief include reduced health benefits, consolidation of the three military exchange systems and the closure of the military’s stateside school system.
The House Republican Study Committee, headed by Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., is not singling out the military as it tries to raise the estimated $200 billion that the federal government will need for various Katrina-related spending.
Their proposal includes freezing congressional pay, charging federal workers for parking and cutting back on legislative earmarking — items added to agency budgets by lawmakers — as ways of raising money.
They call their effort “Operation Offset,” and hope to get spending cuts considered before Congress approves any more money devoted to Katrina relief and recovery operations.
Their offset list includes three provisions aimed at military quality-of-life programs:
• Service members would be offered cash if they are willing to accept reduced health care benefits for their families. “The less comprehensive plan would encourage individuals to be more cost-conscious when purchasing health care products by including deductibles, co-payments and a maximum annual out-of-pocket expenditure limit,” according to a written explanation provided by the study group. Reduced health care benefits could save $2.4 billion over 10 years.
• The three separate military exchange systems could be consolidated, saving up to $1.9 billion over 10 years, the study group says. The Army and Air Force share an exchange system, AAFES, while the Navy and Marine Corps have their own systems. “Consolidating … would eliminate inefficiencies from duplicative purchasing, different personnel departments, warehouse and inventory systems and management headquarters while retaining the current ability for service embers and their families to receive a wide selection of goods at a low price,” the statement says.
The Pentagon has studied the idea of exchange consolidation for years but has been unable to overcome bureaucratic obstacles and opposition from some service officials and industry groups. Several studies of the issue also have raised questions about how much money would be saved.
• The stateside system of elementary and secondary schools for military family members could be closed, saving $788 million over 10 years, the study says.
“This provision would phase out these domestic schools over time and shift these military children into the local public school systems,” the study group says.
The Pentagon also has been studying this idea, but has faced strong opposition from parents of children attending the schools because public schools are seen as offering lower-quality education.
So far, the Bush administration has not endorsed any plan to pay for hurricane relief, although President Bush has suggested that reducing spending is one obvious option.
At the administration’s request, Congress already has approved $62 billion in Katrina spending by simply adding it to the national debt, because other money is not available and no offsets were approved as part of the legislation.
White House budget officials met Tuesday with Senate Republicans to talk about Katrina relief plans but provided no recommendations on possible offsetting cuts in other programs to cover costs, according to senators who attended the closed-door meetings.
I don't believe this. It's not sourced and there is absolutely no way with so many active duty military risking their lives that we're going to cut benefits to them.
And without sourcing, I think this thread should be pulled.
Once they're no longer useful to you, cast them aside, huh? Vote the bums out of office.
How about that bloated Highway Bill? The Prescription Drug Coverage seniors don't want? The U.N. where most of the cash ends up in numbered Swiss Bank Accounts? The Farm bill, where "farming the mailbox" means doing nothing for checks?
Not to mention all sorts of other Pork in this bloated, ridiculous spending spree - And it is BOTH sides of the aisle.
Sounds good to me.
• The three separate military exchange systems could be consolidated, saving up to $1.9 billion over 10 years, the study group says. The Army and Air Force share an exchange system, AAFES, while the Navy and Marine Corps have their own systems. “Consolidating … would eliminate inefficiencies from duplicative purchasing, different personnel departments, warehouse and inventory systems and management headquarters while retaining the current ability for service embers and their families to receive a wide selection of goods at a low price,” the statement says.
Sounds good to me too.
The questionable one to me is shutting the school system on the bases. That is assuming that it is any better than your average public school. I have no idea if it is or isn't.
the worst news to come out of it. Sending the little fella an email today to leave the military alone. They were the ones in gulf coast area risking their lives and health just like they have done since the beginning of time. To start with, the rep., can do, is cut the house and senates benefits and their salary to help pay for Katrina.
How about paying attention to the news?
If you read the email, they are not proposing cutting "benefits" in the traditional sense. The headline is misleading.
Don't believe it. I think the Medicare prescription drug benefit should be put on hold.
There is over $1 TRILLION in social welfare speinding to take offsets from. If Pence or any other "Republican" suggests money come from any source other than other social welfare programs then strike the word "Republican" from their title and just call them a MARXIST.
We need a better source for this. Trust but verify :)
What's wrong with merging the exchanges? What's wrong with bringing the health care system a bit closer to free market and away from socialism, which we all support when applied to the rest of the country?
My husbands unit deploys to Afghanistan in Dec. Unit funding(to buy items needed to deploy) has been delayed to help Katrina victims. Also, the wait in the Emergency room here, typically long at most hospitals, is very looooooooong- ie, 15- 20 hours. Why? My kids Dr. told me he heard that DOD sent some of our ER doctors to help hurricane victims. I don't want to sound cruel and I hope all those ill or injured rec'd help, but I do think the military is "giving it up."
No link? BTW Exchanges should have been consolidated a long time ago.
There are a lot of cuts being thrown around by different people but you have to post this like it is the final deal and it is all the Republicans fault. Just like the "cut" in veterans benefit emails some of you kept posting that turned out to be phoney. Largest raise ever has been under this President but why give him or Republicans any credit!
Give me a break!
Well...Eliminating the seperate exchange systems would actually benefit the Navy and Marine folks as Nex sucks compared to AAFES. Why pay for two seperate managements?
Wasn't really aware that the DoD was running school systems INCONUS. Every base I've been stationed at the kids went to the local public school system.
I thought TRICARE already had deductibles, copays and maximums for dependants?
Pay and benefits have gone up quite well under President Bush.
Since "study groups" look at ALL alternatives and evaluate them there is little likelihood this is anything other than that sort of brainstorming. Like one way for me to lose weight would be to cut off a leg.
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