APNewsBreak: Pentagon may revise same-sex benefits

Associated Press ^ | Aug 7, 2013 9:16 PM EDT | Lolita C. Baldor

[Olog-hai]

The Pentagon is poised to extend health care, housing and other benefits to the same-sex spouses of military members by the end of August, but may reverse earlier plans to provide benefits to gay partners who are not married.

According to a draft Defense Department memo obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, the department instead may provide up to 10 days of leave to military personnel in same-sex relationships so they can travel to states where they can marry legally.

While no final decisions have been made, the memo from Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to top defense leaders would reverse an earlier plan that would allow the same-sex partners of military members to sign a declaration form in order to receive limited benefits, such as access to military stores and some health and welfare programs. The recent Supreme Court decision extending federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples eliminates the need for such a plan, Hagel said in the draft. …

[Bikkuri]

Sadly, I have been thinking the same thing (for the past 5 years)...

[SkyPilot]

Pentagon considering eliminating civilian pensions for military retirees

"The review's recommendation to change civilian pensions is just the latest blow to federal DOD workers who are also bearing much of the burden of the $37 billion in cuts this fiscal year. That cut could grow to $52 billion unless Congress reaches a deal to end sequestration by Oct. 1. Civilian workers are already losing 20 percent of their pay to one-day-a-week furloughs that last through the end of September. Those furloughs are saving $1.8 billion this year and Hagel has warned that this year's furloughs could turn into layoffs next year.

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Remarks by Hagel and Valarie Jarrett Celebrating the Awarding of Same Sex Benefits

[little jeremiah]

Placemark.