TeaPartyRon Loc: Tennessee

I heard that 67 Senator's v**ed on a bill that would take 1% of all military retired pay. the majority of them were Democrats and about 6 or 7 Republican's can any one shed more light on this matter?? Why do they always pick on the military, social security and medicare, why don't congress take a 1 % pat cut since they make a lot more that above mention people???

3jack

The newly passed budget bill included a provision to reduce by 1% the annual cost of living increase for retired military until they reach the age of 62. When the retired vet reaches 62, he/she would receive the whole cost of living increase. The retiree's entitled retirement pay, the pay based on the number years served, is not affected by this bill. Also, the bill did not exempt disability retirement, but Senator Murray vowed to go back and add that exemption as soon as congress convenes next year.

The rationale behind this bill is that most military retirees are quite young when they retire and are more likely to find employment in the private community. Case in point...I am a military retiree that retired with 22 years at 39 years of age. I plan to work in the private sector until I am eligible for social security, then retire again.

Even if I didn't plan on working, I would not have an issue with the law as written. One percent of the cost of living probably equates to one beer a day for me.

robertdavidhummel

"YOUR WELCOME" ...Barack Hussein Obama, ...whether YOU like it or not...Many a Veteran Spilled Blood, that YOU might get the chance to ABUSE the privileges of America's FREEDOMS and CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY..."BUT"...BARACK,...TAKE NOTE,..."I DO NOT LIKE THE FREEDOM YOU STOLE FROM ME", ...and...

"WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT...I'm gonna PAY YOU BACK" ...PERIOD.

TeaPartyRon Loc: Tennessee

I'm 69 been retired since 1982, does this bill affect me or not???

3jack

This bill does not affect you. Being over the age of 62, you will receive the full cost of living raise and all of your retired pay.

robertdavidhummel

The entire FAILURE to engage and employ the LAW that governs Military Servants is sufficient enough to FIRE the DUMB, STUPID, and IGNORANT, RHINO's and DEMOCRATIC persons that are party to this VIOLATION of EXISTING LAW...PERIOD.

TeaPartyRon Loc: Tennessee

Thanks 3jack so much for clearing this issue up I do appreciate it.

3jack

No problem TPR, glad I could help. As a vet, I try to stay on top of all issues that might affect me. I do that by going to the souce of the issue. I don't rely on news pundits and others that might have their own agendas. The next big thing coming down the pipe is the proposal to close commissaries. We need to keep on top of this because a lot of us still use those facalities to save a few bucks.

alex Loc: michigan now imperial beach californa

in case you never noticed the democrats have always believed we should not have a standing military thats why they diarmed us after WWII and five years later we were in Korea without enough troops to do the job then they wouldn't let them do the job when they did get enough when MacArthur insisted truman fired him

RetNavyCWO Loc: VA suburb of DC

By age 62, it will cost you tens of thousands of dollars (depending on how much your retired pay is and how old you are now, of course). 1% compounded DOES add up!

RetNavyCWO Loc: VA suburb of DC

No.

RetNavyCWO Loc: VA suburb of DC

A drastic increase in TRICARE Prime premiums is also up there. Another one is charging a premium for TRICARE for Life (TFL). TFL serves as a "free" Medicare supplement for military retirees. I put quotes on "free" because, whether it was written into our contracts or not, we WERE promised free health care for life when we signed up as part of our compensation.

HawaiiWhig67 Loc: Honolulu, HI

Here are a few points I made on the party website. I included these in the emails I sent to the 18 Senators.


Although, it would save the Government $6 Billion USD annually, it IS NOT to reduce the deficit created rather to increase Federal spending.

In April 2013,


Veteran Retirees with TRICARE PRIME paid an average of $539 in annual enrollment will have their cost increased by 2.95% in 2014 and 3.3% by 2015.

For the First time in the Nation's history the Free Standard version for TRICARE will no longer be free. Retired Veterans will now have to pay for the standard version.

In 2012,

President Obama increased Veteran Retirees pharmacy co-pays. You can still receive generic medication on base for free, if the pharmacy carries that medication. However, many medications for serious medical conditions are not provided and the increased co-pays are painful for Veterans.


If the Federal Government were really looking for solutions to cut spending

$1Billion USD for 200 M1A1 tanks to Egypt: Why does Egypt need 3 and 1/3 Squadrons of M1 tanks? The government is unstable and the strongest party in the country is anti-American and anti-Isreal. What do they need 200 tanks for? Why not 100 or even 50?

$544 Million USD to buy 32 Russian M-15 Helicopters to Afghanistan (which only has 2 qualified pilots) not only does the Afghanistan air force lack the numbers of qualified pilots to man these aircraft, the government 1. Paid a nation that is clearly anti-American and 2. The Afghanistan Government is condemning Americans in his meetings with other tribal leaders. Why are we doing this? They don't want us in Afghanistan to begin with, but they do love the toys and money we give them. I say cut that down to 5 helicopters and let whoever takes over figure it out from there.

$154 Million USD for Patrol Boats to southeast Asia (Including $32.5 Million to Vietnam) The article never mentions how many patrol boats are being purchased, just the amount. Why are we supplying Vietnam anything? Their government is stable, but it is clear they want little to do with us.

$40 Million USD for boats to the Philippines: I can understand humanitarian aid for the typhoon victims, but the cost is to great. The American people have no clue how many boats are being purchased or if the Phillipine coast guard will be strong enough to defend them against pirates. Why not cut this down to $15 Million?

$60 Million USD Central African Nation (hundreds k**led) “France, the African Union, the Republic of the Congo, Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda.

If this operation went to Nigeria in their battles against Al-Qeada in Somolia I'd be more encline to support this.

However, we are getting involved in a conflict which has only resulted in a few hundred deaths? I agree any death is unacceptable, but last I checked France is a world power. Couldn't we cut this down to $20 million in support for these operations? We are already providing support by flying their Soldiers into the combat zone. Are we getting any compensation for those flights?

robertdavidhummel

Thank You, for the research data and details of the FAULTY Executive and Legislative ...CONSISTANCY of ERROR, that your findings present....Let's hope and Pray that at least the Present Democratic Senate Majority ...is changed to engage more CONSERVATIVE MINDS...in 2014.

TeaPartyRon Loc: Tennessee

Yes I know we use to use them weekly we lived close to Ft. Belvore, Va. Now I'm here in Tennessee no military post here but I sure do miss them and the PX.