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.
Maybe you should learn a bit about "little" things like morale in the military. It's not enough that almost the entire media is lined up against what they're doing in Iraq--now the very people would should be supporting them are looking to cut benefits. There is so much more in the national budget that deserves to be cut, but like a bunch of Democrats, this bunch of "conservatives" grab their axes and head for the military instead.
And PS, dear hubby had already told me that he'd read the same thing--guess where? Yup, Army Times site. I didn't post it because someone did before I could look it up.
See the link in #51. It appears to be real.
Oh, and one more thing--the "offering" of "cash" will probably not begin to equal the costs of medical care. Tri Care is pretty good as it now stands, but it can still quickly bankrupt a family if a catastrophic illness strikes. This is NOT the way to "support the troops!"
The military is one of the few things the gubmint SHOULD pay for. How dare they suggest such a thing.
What we COULD do without are several hundred politicians. I think we could save a huge pile of money if we have fewer representatives and senators.
This is a good way to destroy the military and the Republican Party in one easy swing.
Any Republican who signs on to this should be voted out of office before he can do more damage.
Good luck. I've been sending letters to the little guys for years regarding our borders. None ever wrote me back.
Thanks.
Of all things, leave the Military alone.
Except they are not cutting benefits.
So then they don't have to accept it.
==============================
GOP leaders propose military benefits cuts to pay for Katrina costs (shame on them!)
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
Spin it all you want, but it's benefit cutting.
"Let's get some verification on this before we all go off."
That is doubleplusungood Freepthink, Comrade stevio. You may be exiled to the Glorious People's Reeducation Camp for corrective mentation if you persist.
:)
It's been reported in the Army Times. Link is on post #51.
"This is a good way to destroy the military and the Republican Party in one easy swing."The GOP is already on a downward spiral circling the drain at breakneck speed. You'd almost think it was engineered this way . .=============================
Except of course, there are no benefits being cut.
According to you. Most who read this story see it for what it is. Get your eyes checked.
From the story:
"Reduced health care benefits could save $2.4 billion over 10 years."
Question: How do you "save $2.4 billion" without cutting benefits? Answer: You don't.
"This is a good way to destroy the military and the Republican Party in one easy swing."
Did you actually read the proposals? Two of them get rid of some of the more wasteful porkbarrel aspects of military life (dual exchange systems and stateside schools). The third gives the servicemember incentive to manage his family's health care wisely.
Are you someone who favors government waste, as long as it's wearing BDUs?
If you read the story, you will see that they think by paying soldiers cash in return for a different plan that makes soldiers more cost conscious that it will save money.
Sorry you have a reading comprehension problem.
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