Cuts for military retirees costing GOP support for budget deal

Washington Post ^ | 16 Dec 13 | Josh Hicks

[SkyPilot]

GOP lawmakers and military groups have lined up against the bipartisan budget deal making its way through Congress because of a provision that would trim pay for young military retirees.

In a joint statement last week, Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said they cannot support the legislation because it

[SkyPilot]

On the Democratic side, Sen. Carl Levin (Mich.) offered hope that the military-retiree provision could be revisited after the bill is passed. He said in a statement last week that the Senate Armed Services Committee, which he chairs, would review the change next year, adding that “a number of concerns have been raised about the provision.”

Don't buy Levin's snake oil - he wants to "revisit" the betrayal of our men and women currently serving, and those who have served and survived - some time next year. The House jammed this through and skipped town. They want this carved into law so that they don't have to confront the crying veteran spouses who are alone with their children again this Christmas, wondering why their own government is attempting to harm them.

Paul Ryan was all over the television this weekend, defending his "deal." His statements were as amazing as they were jaw dropping. He admitted he wants to fund the Pentagon's bills on the backs of the very men and women who served. He also admitted this betrayal only "saves" the government $6 Billion over ten years, to a Federal Government that spends $10.46 Billion per day.

We spend $2.2 Billion a year now on ObamaPhones, and betraying our men and women in the military, saving $6 Billion over ten years - is a must have?

Ryan has lost his mind.

May his name forever be called "Benedict Ryan."

[what's up]

Federal employees will have to contribute more to their pensions.

No doubt Patty Murray demanded in return a concession from the military.

What I find amazing is that we got no proposal for income tax hikes from the Democrats even with a socialist Senate and President. And no unemployment extension.

[11th Commandment]

I wonder if Speaker John Boner thinks that “outside conservative” groups have unduly influenced every single Senator. Will he yell at the GOP Senators...

[Steamburg]

RINO Season!

[Dick Vomer]

yeah Ryan, cut the military but give your f’ing staffers federal tax subsidy money to buy their insurance. you lying sack of feces.

[SkyPilot]

New Federal employees will have to pay more, but the current ones were grandfathered.

When Ryan was asked why they didn't grandfather military who have already retired, or currently serving military, this is what he said yesterday:

But why not grandfather benefits for current servicemembers, like Ryan does for Americans over the age of 55 in his plan to reform Medicare? Ryan replied that grandfathering wouldn't achieve the savings the military needs...

This is the Republican "budget genius?"

[Jim Robinson]

RINO Ryan is an idiot. Obama is running up trillions in new debt and Ryan wants to trim a little here and there, including cutting military pay. Go straight to hell, Ryan, you fricken turncoat!!

[BwanaNdege]

Tommy

I went into a public-’ouse to get a pint o’ beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-’alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, ‘ow’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.

We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”,
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!

Rudyard Kipling

[cherokee1]

Having a little trouble with the non-logic in the drift of the story. Why WOULDN’T GIs be PO’d over cuts to their promised benefits? But no one is PO’d at dims——just GOP’s? I’m personally, individually, and with severe malice and prejudice PO’d at the whole gutless bunch. I’m having trouble finding anyone I can send money to that I can trust to vote against this big-spending krap. I’m 3,000 miles and 600 gallons of motor fuel away from the Beltway and so far that’s keeping those nimrods safe but lying, two-faced, double talking bullshix could whittle away my normal mild mannered, good natured sense of humor and tolerance for weak-kneed, halfassed ( think Ryan) performance.

[TruthBeforeAll]

Any time the republicans do anything, “Veterans Hardest Hit” is going to be the mantra of the left/media. This tactic has worked for every other voting block the democrats have gone after and it will probably work here as well. The republicans better learn to recognize this very early in any “negotiation” with democrats. Of course they won’t, and one day they will wonder how they lost the military vote.

[VRWC For Truth]

Another crap sammich brought to you by the party of Socialist lite. DC needs to be shutdown till the debt is paid off.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Im sincerely glad you cleared that up. Thanks, Jim.

[Jim Robinson]

Looks like the GOP-e Romneybots have completely destroyed a man with conservative potential.

[LTC.Ret]

“Federal employees will have to contribute more to their pensions.”

The difference is that only Federal Employee new hires will have to contribute more to their pensions, NOT current employees, and they will know this going in -— whereas, the military COLA cut is to the retirement benefits of those already drawing benefits, and those still serving, despite the promises that were made at the time they were earning those retirement benefits.

[LTC.Ret]

How about helping to replace one incumbent Republican who voted for this bill -— please see below:

Dr Pam Barlow for Congress
Web: www.pambarlow.com
Email: DrPamBarlow4Congress@Reagan.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrPamBarlow4Congress
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrPamBarlow

[republicangel]

As I understand it, the adjustment to the military retiree pay doesn't go into affect until 2016. Also when the retiree turns 62 it plays catch-up. The past raises not given are given at that time.

I am a spouse of a military retiree under the age of 62. He is doing well at his second job. He does worry about the ones that don't do as well at the second job or retired at a lower grade after 20.

[John W]

Pretty well covers it.

[Portcall24]

Why not dig up the graves at Arlington and sell the skeltons as novety items. Then turn the hillsides there into a high rise development overlooking that great idol in the most wonderful city on earth, The Capitol. We could raise a lot of money by doing that.

[livius]

As usual, bad publicity. The cuts affect only people under the age of 62 who are working another job.

You can retire after 20 years, and many people retire at the age of 40, get their full pension, and of course go on to a second career. This is also true in many civilian jobs, too (law enforcement, education, etc.).

Paying these employed people a “pension” takes money away from the elderly or from lifers, that is, people who actually stayed in the military or job until retirement age.

[SZonian]

The vast majority of retired military MUST go on to a 2nd career...the pension for many enlisted folks, going back decades, would not be enough for many to live on in this economy.

How do you propose an E7 retired in 2003 live on ~ $1200 a month in retirement income after taxes?

What you are proposing has been actually proposed in the past...that military retirees of “working age” (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean) do not collect their pension until they “retire” (retirement age to be decided by some cabal of REMF’s and useless political hacks). The underlying intent there is to hope that the vast majority die off before reaching that magical age.

Yeah, whatever...