Posted on 05/10/2010 6:33:35 AM PDT by maddog55
President Barack Obama who came to power with the help of government employee unions across the nation and has lavished on them hundreds of billions in stimulus funds to keep them on federal, state and local payrolls with no strings attached is moving to cut spending on salaries for military personnel.
This weekend the Washington Post headlined story, "Pentagon Asking Congress to Hold Back on Generous Increases in Troop Pay,, disclosed that the Obama administration is pleading with Congress to give military personnel a much smaller increase in pay than proposed by lawmakers.
The Pentagon is arguing Congress has been simply too generous with troops over the last decade.
In fact, lawmakers have lavished so much money on troops, according to the Post, that service members are now better compensated than workers in the private sector with similar experience and education levels.
For example, the military brass claims that an average sergeant in the Army with four years of service and one dependent would receive $52,589 in annual compensation, according to the paper. This figure includes basic pay, housing and subsistence allowances, as well as tax benefits.
Meanwhile, a U.S. Postal letter carrier, with no supervisory or hazardous duty, makes approximately $80,000 a year when all benefits are factored in.
Critics of the Obama administrations efforts to cut soldiers pay say Americas security has been strengthened by higher pay rates, as qualified veterans are re-enlisting at record rates, reversing the problem the military witnessed just a few years ago.
"Any attempt to link rising military personnel costs with shrinking military readiness is total nonsense," said Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., who leads the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., the largest and oldest major combat veterans' organization.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Punishment for refusing to end DADT
Believe me, every one of his proposals is geared towards that outcome.
His only weapon is the tax. He can tax us until we lose our property. He can tax industries until America ceases to operate as a nation.
It stops when armed men and women say ENOUGH!
Here’s more to anger the retired Military.
This is in a 2008 DOD BILL, these are NOT small NEW fees. Nearly $7,000 per couple. NO COLA raises for 3-4 years just like seniors on SS. I cant get an answer out of my commie US Rep. if this has been REPEALED or not. Even my GOP Senator TFL person doesnt return my phone calls. Be sure to copy and pass on!
With the Cut & Gut to Medicare, and the Cut in reimbursement for TFL the retired over 65 Military is getting tripled whammied. And will have a hard time finding a primary care doctor to take them.
TRI CARE FOR LIFE This from a google search:
http://economicspolitics.blogspot.com/2009/05/tricare-for-life-is-obama-trying-to.html
Option 96 pg 187 ( I corrected the page error)
This option would help reduce the costs of TFL, as well as costs for Medicare, by introducing minimum out-of pocket requirements for beneficiaries. Under this option, TFL would not cover any of the first $525 of an enrollees cost-sharing liabilities for calendar year 2011 and would limit coverage to 50 percent of the next $4,725 in Medicare cost sharing that the beneficiary incurred. (Because all further cost sharing would be covered by TFL, enrollees could not pay more than $2,888 in cost sharing in that year.)
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf
Impact of Medicare Reimbursement Rate Decrease on TRICARE
http://www.tricare.mil
On March 3, Congress passed emergency legislation delaying the 21.2 percent decrease in Medicare reimbursement rates for an additional 30 days. The TRICARE Management Activity greatly appreciates Congress swift action as it allowed more time to fully evaluate the impact the decrease in Medicare reimbursement rates will have on the TRICARE program.
Whatever the outcome, TRICARE will take at least 30 days to fully understand the impact on TRICARE and take appropriate action. While federal law requires TRICARE reimbursement rates to be equal to Medicare rates to the extent practical, the law does permit TRICARE to make exceptions to ensure an adequate network of providers or to eliminate a situation of severely impaired access to care.
More information about this legislation and its impact on TRICARE will be posted on the TRICARE.mil website as soon as it becomes available.
Congress plans to block Tricare fee increases (same article)
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w/
By Rick Maze - Staff writer, Oct 7, 2009
Tricare fee increases imposed last week by the Defense Department will be repealed by a provision of the compromise 2010 defense authorization bill unveiled Wednesday by House and Senate negotiators.
The fee increases were announced on Sept. 30 and took effect on Oct. 1, but the defense bill, HR 2647, includes a provision barring any fee increases until the start of fiscal 2011.
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Matz, president of the National Association for Uniformed Services, said the announcement of fee increases was shocking considering that the Obama administration promised earlier this year to hold off on any new fee Tricare fee increases until fiscal 2011.
President Obama and DOD assured NAUS and the entire military family earlier this year that there would rightly be no increases in any Tricare fees in fiscal 2010, Matz said. We took them at their word, and I cant believe that a co-pay increase like this was allowed to go forward, he added.
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#
Pentagon asking Congress to hold back on generous increases in troop pay
Saturday, May 08, 2010 6:13:53 PM · 16 of 23
GailA to Alas Babylon!
This is in a 2008 DOD BILL, these are NOT small NEW fees. Nearly $7,000 per couple. NO COLA raises for 3-4 years just like seniors on SS. I cant get an answer out of my commie US Rep. if this has been REPEALED or not. Even my GOP Senator TFL person doesnt return my phone calls. Be sure to copy and pass on!
With the Cut & Gut to Medicare, and the Cut in reimbursement for TFL the retired over 65 Military is getting tripled whammied. And will have a hard time finding a primary care doctor to take them.
TRI CARE FOR LIFE This from a google search:
http://economicspolitics.blogspot.com/2009/05/tricare-for-life-is-obama-trying-to.html
Option 96 pg 187 ( I corrected the page error)
This option would help reduce the costs of TFL, as well as costs for Medicare, by introducing minimum out-of pocket requirements for beneficiaries. Under this option, TFL would not cover any of the first $525 of an enrollees cost-sharing liabilities for calendar year 2011 and would limit coverage to 50 percent of the next $4,725 in Medicare cost sharing that the beneficiary incurred. (Because all further cost sharing would be covered by TFL, enrollees could not pay more than $2,888 in cost sharing in that year.)
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf
Impact of Medicare Reimbursement Rate Decrease on TRICARE
http://www.tricare.mil
On March 3, Congress passed emergency legislation delaying the 21.2 percent decrease in Medicare reimbursement rates for an additional 30 days. The TRICARE Management Activity greatly appreciates Congress swift action as it allowed more time to fully evaluate the impact the decrease in Medicare reimbursement rates will have on the TRICARE program.
Whatever the outcome, TRICARE will take at least 30 days to fully understand the impact on TRICARE and take appropriate action. While federal law requires TRICARE reimbursement rates to be equal to Medicare rates to the extent practical, the law does permit TRICARE to make exceptions to ensure an adequate network of providers or to eliminate a situation of severely impaired access to care.
More information about this legislation and its impact on TRICARE will be posted on the TRICARE.mil website as soon as it becomes available.
Congress plans to block Tricare fee increases (same article)
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/10/military_tricarefees_blocked_100709w/
By Rick Maze - Staff writer, Oct 7, 2009
Tricare fee increases imposed last week by the Defense Department will be repealed by a provision of the compromise 2010 defense authorization bill unveiled Wednesday by House and Senate negotiators.
The fee increases were announced on Sept. 30 and took effect on Oct. 1, but the defense bill, HR 2647, includes a provision barring any fee increases until the start of fiscal 2011.
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Matz, president of the National Association for Uniformed Services, said the announcement of fee increases was shocking considering that the Obama administration promised earlier this year to hold off on any new fee Tricare fee increases until fiscal 2011.
President Obama and DOD assured NAUS and the entire military family earlier this year that there would rightly be no increases in any Tricare fees in fiscal 2010, Matz said. We took them at their word, and I cant believe that a co-pay increase like this was allowed to go forward, he added.
Not at all surprised, and I think an end to pay raises is justified—— almost as justified as actual decreases in all fed pay and benefits. Any young person without a trust fund or some other extraordinary advantage is foolish for not doing a 3 year stint in the military with the benefits and college aid that comes from it. There is no comparison to the benefits they can get in the private sector coming right out of high school, especially now. We can’t afford it and it isn’t necessary.
Really? What about kids that just work hard...and have parents that work hard..and get their kids thru college.
Or are you saying that having two parents that work hard..and kids that work while going to college is extraordinary?
Ah...maybe that's it!!
I just talked to someone yesterday that was told that Wells Fargo “has a high denial rate for mortgage adjustments for your demographic group”. ie, white guys.
I see no problem with this if the cut is above captain.
Um...I question that last part...
I’m surprised that “the Pentagon” has announced that military troops are overpaid.
I believe that is a first.
The next first we need to see is Bob Gates and his staff personally picking up rifles and deploying
Well, other than a mutiny.
The Kenyan Clown intends to destroy our military.
oh sure, first they come for the officers
then they come for you
I have read Larry Sinclair's book. I am not surprised by the proclamation.
Cut military pay raises and restore ACORN funding...priorities.... priorities.
“Some Minnesota National Guard troops recently got their promised bonus for extended service in Iraq were shocked to learn that more than 40% of their bonus was eaten up in taxes.”
If it was for actual “service in Iraq”, it would almost certainly be Title 10 money, which WOULD ordinarily be exempt. However, such money isn’t normally considered “bonus” money, but rather pay earned while serving in a combat zone.
Based solely on the above, my suspicion is that the money came from the State of Minnesota in their State Guard status or under Title 32, which means it’s not covered under the combat zone exemption.
Colonel, USAFR
It’s an all-volunteer miltary
maybe it’s time for a lot of them to look at what is happening to retirees and veterans, what the full faith and credit of the US govt is worth, and how “the military takes care of its own” after you retire
what we are accomplishing with their blood and lives in SWA, Africa, Korea and elsewhere since obama was installed
then get back into civilian life while they are still young enough to become self sufficient for the storm ahead
This IS NOT cutting pay.
Let's call, FAX, email our reps TODAY - and tomorrow - and weds - etc etc
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