Gunner's Blog

Retaining Congressional retirement COLAs and capping Military Retirement COLAs does not seem very equitable for veterans. Those concerned have the option of letting their representative know what they think of this discrimination or keeping quiet and watching their monetary benefits slowly erode if the bill is ultimately passed. At www.visi.com/juan/congress/ can be found all congressional members contact info. Listed by state is each congressional member's name, party affiliation, committee membership, DC phone & fax  number, email addee, DC & District mailing address, web site, political profile, personal Bio, names of primary office staff members, and MapsOnUs directions to travel to their office locations from your home address. Without your input you only have yourself to blame when legislation is passed that does not favor the veteran community. [Source: USDR Action alert 22 SEP
05 & Contacting the Congress web site www.visi.com/juan/congress/ FEB 05]

 

I have verified this information on the MOAA (TROA) website. MOAA opposes this legislation. They have the following to say about it. Last year, Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) introduced legislation aimed at imposing automatic and arbitrary cuts in so-called entitlements spending programs when their cost rose above certain relatively modest levels. Under government accounting definitions, military retirement, survivor benefits, veterans' benefits and TRICARE For Life fall in this category, along with programs ranging from student loans to Medicare.

 

MOAA and many others, from the Disabled American Veterans to AARP, opposed an effort by Rep. Hensarling and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) to include such a mechanism in a budget bill last year, and the House of Representatives rejected the proposal.

 

Now, Hill sources tell us, House Majority Leader Tom Delay is consulting with a group of colleagues (including Reps. Hensarling and Kirk) about considering some kind of budget enforcement bill this fall.

 

Hensarling's proposed legislation (introduced this year as H.R. 2290) would require automatic cuts in selected programs if total entitlements spending growth over the previous year exceeds that due to increases in inflation and population - about 2.4% per year.

 

But its cutback formula would impose disproportional cuts on selected programs. Social Security would be exempt, as would Medicare Part A (hospitalization) -- but not Part B (doctor bills). Federal civilian retirement would be exempt from automatic cuts, but military retirement and survivor benefits, veterans' benefits, and TRICARE For Life would not.

 

 

Additional Information can be found at:

If you want to take some action I suggest you go to :

This MOAA site will assist you in emailing your representatives in Congress :

 

~G: Received the above via email from an old shipmate.  It has many FWD:'s.  I cannot determine the original author, but believe it to be H.G.  If you wrote this, please let me know, and I will give credit.  If you read it carefully, you find that this is a bummer for both military retirees and the civilian variety also.