Posted on 12/16/2013 11:37:38 AM PST by SkyPilot
It's time for retired veterans to face cuts as the federal government looks for ways to trim expenditures, Sen. Chuck Schumer said Monday.
"Civilian federal employees have been cut, cut, cut. I think there was a feeling, if you're going to cut them further, which was done, that the military retirees should have about an equal amount. It's small," the New York Democrat told MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
In the budget plan brokered by Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan and Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, military service personnel under the age of 62 would take a one percent cut to retirement benefits. The move has drawn fire from military and veterans organizations.
I think (Rep.) Paul Ryan and (Sen.) Patty Murray looked everywhere they could to try and find compromise. Everybody had to take a little," Schumer said.
"They're going to have to pay a tiny, little bit into it, which they never have," he added. But Schumer maintained members of Congress should not be forced to take a pay cut. He said they have already sacrificed, since they have not seen a pay raise "in a long time," and explained most of them are paying more for healthcare insurance.
"We have taken pretty big cuts," he said.
The bill will pass the Senate, Schumer predicted, and said Democrats would "reluctantly vote for it" because they realize the threat of a government shutdown is a "brutal alternative."
The expiration of unemployment benefits in the proposed budget has been a sticking point for some Democrats. Schumer said it would be an issue that would be handled later.
"We'll make a shot at trying to do unemployment insurance separately.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
FKU Chuck, You a$$wipe, you wouldn’t fight in a combat situation to start with but you don’t seem to mind the rest of us doing you fighting for you.
Senator Schumer needs to take a pay and benefits cuts along with the rest of the legislative and educative branch of the Federal Government.
How about we cut “retired” legislators’ benefits? Let’s start there.
“games of”
My phone has made me sound illiterate again :-(
Way too many pigs in Congress.
That is 2011.
They don't vote Democrat. It is time the US military and its retires start pondering options for the country.
Vets should face what Obama and Ryan have to dish out a way long after congress, their staffers, the obama’s and their $6mil yearly trek to Hawaii on $425g per yr salary, all face cuts and that’s a way long after these people deal with th growing $18 trillion debt they’re forcing on the vets children
I’ll.bet even Schumer comes to regret having said this.
They always underestimate the devotion Americans have for the military and vets. It’s not just a lot of political words bla bla bla
I saw this interview this morning. This guy has the deadest eyes I’ve ever seen. He also complained that he hadn’t gotten a raise in a few years.
It only makes sense to cut retired military and let’s not overlook cutting active military, seniors benefits and the likes because our great nation needs the money to support our socialist way of life and all the good things it gives us like obamacare, fighting global warming and other warm and fuzzy things.
Hey Kapo... when is your sorry ass going to take a pay cut and give up some of your retirement benefits????
I don’t understand why legislators get retirement benefits for their time in office anyway. Their retirement should come from their real job. Oh, wait...
it’s time for us to put on our combat boots and march straight up the steps to the Senate and tell ‘em to cut their own f*^&ing pensions!
I am so beyond the BOHICA moments of being in the military and now a retiree. More and more “benefits” cut, retracted, minimized, reversed...they can take this budget and shove it so far in it will come out their noses...
GRRRRRR!
Schumer’s salary sould be cut 20%
In a way you can’t blame schmuckie because he’s a scumbag Democrat and we know that. Ryno is to fault here.
For guy like Chuck, the salary is like pocket change. He's been in politics since 1974. His wife was a major domo in NYC govt. Kids went to Harvard, one of them works for Baraq in the WH.
And how much are Congress’ pension being cut?
Even CNBC reported that members of Congress make “market crushing” investment returns.
The pension for them is like Starbucks money.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.