Congress Aims To Fund Foreign Vets By Cutting Benfits To Injured American Vets
So Congress wants to take away monthly benefits to American Veterans who are 60-99% disabled, in order to fund a bill they want to pass that would pay the families of Filipino soldiers who fought alongside the US in WWII.
Rep Bob Filner (D-) introduced the bill which is being pushed by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Guess who is a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus? Nancy Pelosi.
Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) in an opinion article:
As a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Committee, the work of helping to ensure that those who have worn a military uniform receive the benefits and respect to which they were promised, is often rewarding.
A recent Veterans’ Affairs Committee meeting took an unusual twist, which many people are surprised to learn about when I tell them.
This story is about a two-part process that led to unbelievable decisions. First, the Veterans’ Committee took away benefits from some very deserving American veterans. Second, the committee gave benefits to veterans of another country who don’t live in the United States, and never have lived in this country or been American citizens. I opposed both actions.
I am against the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 (H.R. 760). This legislation will provide benefits to Filipino World War II veterans.
These veterans were members of the Philippines military. They fought in the Pacific Theater, presumably on behalf of their native country.
They are citizens of the Philippines and not U.S. citizens. While these Filipino troops may have fought bravely, side-by-side, with American soldiers, they should be looking to the Philippines for veterans’ benefits.
The United States has obligations to American veterans. We should not be held responsible for the benefits of the Philippines or any additional countries.
The Filipino veterans’ provisions in HR 760 are similar to a plan passed by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
If signed into law, it would provide full veterans’ status to World War II era Filipino soldiers and even their survivors.
This would include pay for service related disabilities, survivor pay for service-connected deaths, as well as pensions and death benefits.
Those who are living in the Philippines, and are not U.S. citizens, would receive $6,000 to $8,400. Low-income widows would receive $3,600.
I have witnessed some contentious hearings in my years in public service. VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner, D-Calif., was determined to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. When the exchanges between the chairman and ranking member (and former chairman) Steve Buyer, R-Ind., became too heated, Filner ordered a recess to plot strategy with the Democratic majority.
The measure passed on a straight party-line vote and Filner refused to recognize any additional Republican amendments.
Providing veterans’ benefits to Filipino service members is only half of the issue.
Perhaps more egregious is how the Democrats offset the cost of the new benefits. Because of House PAYGO rules, any new entitlement spending (such as the Filipino Veterans Equity Act) must be funded by either a corresponding cut in existing spending or matching revenue gains.
In this case, the Democrats on the Veterans Committee voted to save nearly $1 billion by eliminating a $2,200 special monthly payment to veterans who are less than 100 percent disabled, but 60 percent or greater disabled.
Paying Filipino service members who served alongside American troops in the Philippines during World War II sets a dangerous precedent. There were certainly brave Koreans and Vietnamese who served alongside Americans during the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts.
There are some Afghanis and Iraqis who are serving nobly with their American counterparts today. The Filipino Veterans Equity Act makes it logical for the United States to pay foreign fighters from these conflicts future benefits as well.
It is outrageous that U.S. veterans who have a high level of disability have lost up to $2,200 per month in benefits.
Rather than using U.S. tax dollars to pay American veterans who have sacrificed, Chairman Filner and the Democrats on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee decided that paying non-U.S. citizens was a more important national priority.
This does not serve our nation.
(Times-Gazette)
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Here we go again!!! This is just one more in the ever increasing attacks on the men and women who have worn and/or still wear the uniforms that keep us free. Code Pink operatives saying that our troops are the terrorists outside of Walter Reed; “In the Valley of Ellah”, “Rendition”, “Lions for Lambs”, “Redacted”.
Our politicians have already shown their utter contempt for those that serve. Murtha called them cold blooded killers, Obama and Kerry have called them terrorists, and Kerry has called them stupid, Reid and the majority of the rest of them have called our troops losers.
If this is not stopped now, like Iran before they get working Nukes, in five years it will be almost impossible to stop.
The “Right” does not like to participate in social activism, but if the “Right” does not stand up for what is right who will?
President Reagan said it best “If not you Who? If not NOW, When?”
Here is Filner’s contact info:
Community Offices:
333 F Street, Suite A 1101 Airport Road, Suite D
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Imperial, CA 92251
Phone: (619) 422-5963 Phone: (760) 355-8800
Fax: (619) 422-7290
Fax: (760) 355-8802
Washington, DC Office:
2428 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-8045
November 26th, 2007 at 9:21 amFax: (202) 225-9073
If they get the White House they will gut VA benefits in an effort to discourage enlistment.
They will also cut Social Security benefits from seniors because they have to give it to illegals.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:02 amI wish someone would shoot that fucking cunt in the head!
November 26th, 2007 at 10:09 amProving yet again the dims are more interested in the citizens of other countries than they are the citizens of their own country.
Yes, I can question their patriotism and will do so every chance I get.
November 26th, 2007 at 11:04 amFuck the Democrat Party…
They HAVE no patriotism.
November 26th, 2007 at 11:31 amAren’t there some pork barrel projects they can cut, rather cutting benefits to our vets?
November 26th, 2007 at 11:39 amWTF!!
WHO DO THESE PUKES THINK THEY ARE FUCKING WITH!!
I DO NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT!!
AND I VOTE!!
November 26th, 2007 at 12:07 pmI just called and regestered my discontent and I urge all who read this post to do the same!!
November 26th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
WTF?!
November 26th, 2007 at 12:27 pmOK, Peloski, first you go to Syria wearing a rag on your head kissing Assad’s ring, then you take $ from US vets and give to “vets” from another country. Are you out of your freaking gourd? This is the problem with liberals. They don’t believe in America or Americans–they believe in special interest groups, even if those groups have loyalties to countries outside our own, they will kowtow to those groups. I hope W has his veto pen ready.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:38 pmI contacted my Senator who says he has not formed an opinion(Jim Webb)go figure. I then contacted my Congressman who was not aware of this and is going to look into it. He’s a Rep. Is there no end to the utter hypocrisy of the Democratic party?
November 26th, 2007 at 12:41 pmWTF
WTF:twisted: WTF:twisted:
Bob Filner, D-Calif.,… That MF! Who in the F is a Bob Filner
November 26th, 2007 at 4:20 pmThis Phillipine issue has been going on for a long time now. The major question we have to ask is are the Dems still against the DoD Appropriations Bill and the funding for Iraq and Afghanistan? It seems as if the Congress (which has cut benefits under Jimmy and Bill) will only do something if it will embarass the current administration. Money, money, money. I’m now listening to a story about those who got the reenlistment bonus; got wounded, and are now being asked for the funding back. The Administration is being blamed; but, it would only take a simple act of Congress.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:32 pmhere is the bill(Hr 760):
November 26th, 2007 at 9:26 pmhttp://lampson.house.gov/uploads/hr760.pdf
here is the press release:
http://republicans.veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1540
November 26th, 2007 at 9:35 pmUmmm… I’m 60% disabled… If they think they’re gonna cut my check just because some dumb ass demoncrat wants to give all our money away to foreigners they better think twice about what I’m willing to do TO THEM to get my money back…
November 27th, 2007 at 4:23 amOut-frigging-rageous.:mad: R&P, however, seem determined to provide the Rs with as many examples of egregious hostility to the military as possible to be used against themselves and the Ds in ‘08. It’s possible that they are subconsciously self-destructing because in their hearts they know how FUBAR they are.
November 27th, 2007 at 7:32 amBTW, title edit note: Benefits, not “Benfits”.