VETS VENT AT BUSH

Parade's Special---INTELLIGENCE REPORT ^ | July 21, 2002 | Lyric Wallwork Winik

[poppytpee]

Some military retirees are hopping mad at the Bush Administration. Hard to believe for a President with high approval ratings for his military actions, but true.

Their beef? The Administration supports the policy that now deducts a retiree's disability benefits from his retirement pay (don't call it a "pension," or you'll hear from the veterans.)

Many combat vets think the deduction policy is unfair and penalizes them. They maintain that they've earned their retirement pay, and the disability benefits should have nothing to do with that. E-mails are flying among former service members and are being forwarded to Congress, which already has passed two bills to address the problem.

Some veterans are so angry that their letters include threats to vote against President Bush in 2004. Stay tuned to see if that gets them a better hearing in Washington.

[poppytpee]

I guess that we vets are getting so old that maybe we are not paying attention to anything. Also, I note that WW II vets are dying at the rate of 1200 a day--soon, there will be none around to complain. So, who cares about the old "coots?" Right"

[Admin Moderator]

do you have a link?

[Admin Moderator]

never mind, i found it.

[Fred Mertz]

Help "was" on the way, then.....splat!

[Jhoffa_]

Some veterans are so angry that their letters include threats to vote against President Bush in 2004.

I am hearing that allot lately..

[cynicom]

Fred...

At the time, I hoped but feared, that it was just another slick political ad with no foundation. Professional military requires money, we as citizen soldiers got none and were treated badly in return, that was always true and still is true.

[anniegetyourgun]

"...threats to vote against President Bush in 2004."

I see it regularly - but only on FR.

[poppytpee]

ALBANY, NY, TIMES UNION, PARADE SECTION.

[Ben Ficklin]

My father is a WW2 vet with a military retirement. Beginning Jan 02, his benefits were expanded to include paying his medicare co-payment and provide a prescription card.

[stands2reason]

My mother-in-law is district president of the Ladies' auxillary of the VFW. Her widow's benefit rose at least 50% due to President Bush's initiatives. There's no way she'd vote against Bush. Hell, he even knows her by name.

[Jhoffa_]

Hummm..

So, maybe this article is just a smear?

Admittedly the source doesn't ring a bell with me. Maybe it's the rats looking hither and yon for an issue with teeth?

[Militiaman7]

Don't give up yet. However if Bush vetoes Concurrent Receipt he will not get my vote.

[carpio]

This is a bunch lies from the Democrats. Based on a few selfish money hungry veterans that think their retirement pay should be as safe from pilforage as that of a congressman or a civil service bureaucrat.

It takes a lot of audacity for these greedy war veterans to criticicize our beloved President who has sacrificed so much for this country. This thread should be pulled as anti-American.

[Militiaman7]

Senate Rpt.107-213 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATION BILL, 2003

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Full Display Related Information
GPO PDF Text Only Bill Summary and Status Full Text of Bill

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CONCURRENT RECEIPT FOR RETIRED MILITARY PERSONNEL
At the time of the Committee's mark up of the fiscal year 2003 defense bill, the Senate and House Armed Services Committees have recommended different concurrent receipt benefits for disabled military retirees. The Senate Armed Services Committee authorized full concurrent receipt for military retirees that were disabled as a result of military service, which will enable them to receive both their full retired pay and their full veterans disability compensation beginning in fiscal year 2003. The House Armed Services Committee recommended a phased-in concurrent receipt benefit for military retirees rated by the Veterans Administration as 60 percent disabled and above beginning in fiscal year 2003.

The Committee endorses this benefit, but is deferring action on the issue since it is unclear at this time whether concurrent receipt will become law and what form the benefit will take. If the program is ultimately authorized, the Committee intends to recommend using funds from the $10,000,000,000 DERF contingency fund to provide the benefit.


Nothing on Concurrent Receipt is mentioned in the House Bill

[PISANO]

I am Retired Military and my retired pay is offset by the amount of VA disability pay that I receive. The fact that GW does NOT support this bill does NOT deter me from supporting him 100%. Almost all of my friends are retired military and NOT one of them would vote for a gimmiecrap for any reason much less this one. Hell they don't even want OUR vote to count.

[centurion316]

How to respond? First, you might want to educate yourself on this issue. Its called concurrent receipt. Do a google search and try to lift your veil of ignorance.

Second, I am affected by this legislation; but, I do not make voting decisions on something like this. Most of my friends, similarly situated, do not either. I spent most of my adult life making personal sacrifices for the good of the country, I'm not about to change my behavior now.

Third, I'm glad you weren't on my left or right flank when it really counted

[Cold Heat]

The disability benifits in question are being handled in the same way as a private sector retiree.

As a vet and a vet on disability, I have no beef with this as long as everyone is treated the same. (and they are)

A individual on social security disability is allowed to earn several thousand dollars per year without any deduct. After the limit is reached, you loose one dollar for every two earned.

Disability is for the disabled. If you can work............WORK!!!!

[OldSmaj]

It takes a lot of audacity for these greedy war veterans to criticicize our beloved President who has sacrificed so much for this country.

Surely that was sarcasm.

If it wasn't, then let me say thusly: I fought a few little stinking wars in a few little stinking countries, ostensibly to preserve the RIGHT of "those greedy war veterans" to criticize the President, as well as your right to spew the crap you just spewed.

Rest assured of one thing, bubbo, I know I earned my retirement, I know that anyone that served beside me earned theirs, also.

Get your facts straight, bubbo, and find out what the issue is before you go badmouthing us "greedy" veterans.

As for me exercising my rights, I will say what I feel about President Bush as it pertains to his actions relating to the administration of this country. I have a personal stake in this country as do thousands of others just like me that have shed their blood and given their lives for it.

I personally disagree with the bill as written, and really do not want it signed as is, but I assure you, bubbo, that if I feel the need to criticize the Pres, I will, and you and your ilk, be damned.

And as far as my greed, I only want that which was promised to me when I enlisted and as anyone that has served to retirement knows, those "promises" have been broken time after time after time.

And another thing, you're damn right, I do think my retirement pay should be as safe from "pilforage" (sic) as that of a congressman or a civil service bureaucrat.

Guess that makes me selfish and money hungry.

[Ben Ficklin]

I think this is a issue for some. There has been some threads posted here before that were probably more informative than this Parade article.

I have another family member(in law) who recieved a disabling injury in WW2 and has recieved disability since then. I've never asked specifically about this issue, but neither has he ever mentioned it. However, he is an accomplished trombone player and does ok off-the-books.

[Centurion2000]

It takes a lot of audacity for these greedy war veterans to criticicize our beloved President who has sacrificed so much for this country.

Please tell us when and where you fought for the US and how many wounds you suffered. Until then Shut the F%^& up ....