Veterans

[Nobunaga]

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.

... Taking benefits from US veterans to give money to Filipino veterans... It's quite unbelievable.

...

[got tonkaed]

out of curiosity....do you necessarily have a beef with the PAYGO or was that used to reinforce the point.

Im probably about as bleeding heart as they come around here, but this one obviously should not be happening.

[Guiscard]

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.

... Taking benefits from US veterans to give money to Filipino veterans... It's quite unbelievable.

...

They fought for you didn't they?

[got tonkaed]

i dont think its so much an issue of whether or not they provided a necessary service or if they did an admirable job, it just speaks to limitations (and possibly necessary limitations within the government).

In this particular case, obviously there should have been some amendments to make things a bit more palatable. US vets shouldnt have to have their money diminished so that extra provisions should be made. It isnt a discredit to the Filipinos so much as it is a flaw within our own process.

[Nobunaga]

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.

... Taking benefits from US veterans to give money to Filipino veterans... It's quite unbelievable.

...

They fought for you didn't they?

... Indeed, and each was given a free pass to America, should they choose to go that way (obviously many did not).

... The point is not that money is being wasted, rather, money is being taken from disabled vets (if this thing flies) to be given to foreign nationals.

...

[radiojake]

So, you're surprised that the government decides to f*ck over vets? Like I've said before, fighting for your country is stupid because they consider you a pawn or even a number.

If they really cared they would cut politician pensions to help fund this new initiative.

[Nobunaga]

So, you're surprised that the government decides to f*ck over vets? Like I've said before, fighting for your country is stupid because they consider you a pawn or even a number.

If they really cared they would cut politician pensions to help fund this new initiative.

... I'm wanting to disagree with you... but it's not working out here.

...