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Full funding for Concurrent Receipt for retired disabled vets is figured to cost about 1.5 billion a year. That's what congress says. The truth is that military retired pay is already added to the Defense Budget each year. So in reality the cost would be nothing except to pay for something else that they are currently spending the retired pay for.

Retired Navy Lt. Commander Daniel Pettigrew said "The military retirement fund paid out $34 billion in the year 2000," ( his information from public documents obtained from the Treasury Department). "The securities and investments held by the retirement fund at the end of just that fiscal year totaled $156.9 billion. But they don't have money for us."

Congress is funding all sorts of pork projects, while making excuses for not funding CONCURRENT RECEIPT for Retired Disabled Vets..

An article on Crosswalk.com By Cal Thomas said "At the end of last year, Congress didn’t ask voters and it is debatable whether they deserve a raise, but they accepted a $4,900 pay hike in January. A few principled members tried to block it, but they were thwarted by a midnight vote in the Senate. So, the 3.4 percent pay increase – to $150,000 for all 535 members, took take place in January in spite of a public outcry. The March of 2001 year before, two months after accepting a raise to an exorbitant $145,100 a year, House representatives were working behind the scenes in a media blackout, to enact a "per diem" expense allowance of $165 per working day. With about 151 legislative days per year, the raise would amount to a $25,000-a-year, tax-exempt pay hike.

Congressional payraises for the past 103 years have been taken on the backs of retired/disabled veterans, who have to pay back dollar for dollar from their pensions for the disability payments given to them for their wounds, injuries and sickness suffered while on active duty in the armed services.

Using the excuse of double dipping (which it isn't) Congress (the House and Senate) continues to gobble up the hard earned money of 20 year military retirees who aren't able to earn a decent living because of disabilities sustained keeping America free.

Retiree pensions are earned for 20 years or more of active duty, disability compensation is a payment from a grateful nation to the vets who sacrificed themselves (their health and bodies) to defend the nation. It is nothing but criminal what these Clowns in Washington have done to retired/disabled vets.

Yet when our Senators/Congressmen retire no matter how long they have been in office, they continue to draw their same pay until they die, except it may be increased from time to time by the cost of living adjustments.

Every other Federal employee from the President on down receives a pension when retired and also disability payments if disabled on the job.

This year (2002 Defense Bill) Concurrent Receipt is included. The catch is that they (the bastards) conveniently forgot to fund it.

Active duty military received a 5-10% base pay increase starting 1 January 2002, they deserve it and more. However, the disabled/retired veteran still gets the shaft.

Please don't forget to contact your Congressman, and Bush