Was there a bill to cut Veterans Pensions?

[ebbie15644]

There is a post going around on Facebook that claims Democratic Senators, for the most part, voted to cut Veteran's Pensions. What is the "scoop" on this?

[PoliticAverse]

1. Are they referring to the 2013 budget bill?

See: http://www.npr.org/2013/12/22/256230135/pension-cut-angers-senates-staunchest-military-supporters

BTW that part was undone a few months later, see: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/02/17/obama-signs-bill-restoring-retiree-benefits.html

[Glorfindel]

2. Google is your friend...

http://www.factcheck.org/2014/09/no-cuts-for-military-vets/

[lonestarnot]

3. So now, hopefully you know.

[TexasProgresive]

4. No Cuts for Military Vets

http://www.factcheck.org/2014/09/no-cuts-for-military-vets/
A Republican TV ad in Illinois features indignant veterans scolding a Democratic House member about cuts to “veterans benefits” that never happened.

The ad features four men it identifies as Army and Navy veterans. “We risked our lives. … We put it all on the line. … How could you cut our benefits?” they ask of Rep. Cheri Bustos, after chastising her for voting for a $6 billion cut in “veterans benefits.” They add, “How could you? Shame on you.”

In fact, the cut in question was not a reduction in veterans benefits at all, but rather a cut in the pensions of military retirees. Further, the reduction was one part of a bipartisan budget deal that averted another government shutdown last December. And more important, Bustos was among the many House and Senate members of both parties who voted to repeal the cut a few weeks later, a fact the ad fails to mention.

The ad began running Sept. 16 and is sponsored by former Rep. Bobby Schilling, the Republican whom Bustos defeated in 2012 and who is now trying to reclaim his old seat in the 17th Congressional District.

[ebbie15644]

5. Thanks guys! I looked it up and posted a rebuttel

[lpbk2713]

6. The GOP propaganda machine works 24/7.

They never let up on grinding out the bullshit they know is totally wrong info.

If they can get just one mouth breather to believe their lies they are happy.



** Please take note of my sig line.

[NobodyHere]

7. There was a study sponsored by the military

that said the military should go towards a 401k style system.


I kind of agree, no one needs a pension when they're 37. And it is kind of appalling that a 4 year war vet enlistee gets no retirement benefits at all whereas a 20 year vet who never deploys gets an immediate pension.

[onethatcares]

8. I've never heard of a 20 year vet not

being deployed.

This is AMERICA DAMN IT, AND WE HAVE WARS GOING ON ALL THE TIME.

I myself think everyone in every job should get a pension after putting up with 20 years of working at the same job.

I also firmly believe our returning vets deserve a whole lot more than they ever get.

[NobodyHere]

9. I've met several when I was in the Air Force

[1939]

10. As a military retiree

I always felt that a military person on reaching a certain number of years should then be transferred to a civil service position of comparable prestige and salary and work in government civil service until he reaches the "right" retirement age for a combined pension based on all his year of government service.

Of course, the civil service unions would go bonkers at this suggestion.

[daredtowork]

11. Amazing propaganda approach

The GOP is responsible for reams of ACTUAL cuts to domestic benefits over the last few years, yet they run an ad featuring a cut that didn't happen that they think they can pin on the Democrats.

If this sort of thing is effective, where is the mirror Democrat ad with people standing up and crying out about actual GOP cuts to food stamps, Pell Grants, welfare benefits...and ongoing threats to SSI and even Medicare and Social Security?