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ARMED FORCES NEWS |
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This week the case for repeal of the century-old law requiring military retirees to forfeit one dollar of retired pay for each dollar of disability compensation awarded by the Veterans Administration went down to the wire. The Defense Department intensified its attack against House and Senate support by using the phrase "double dipping," and making several claims against repeal. Examples: Defense Secretary Rumsfeld stated repeal would divert critical resources away from the war on terrorism, transformation of our military capabilities, pay raises and facilities improvements. Defense undersecretary David S Chu said military pensions are already among the most "generous" in the United States. He also asserted that military retirees receive lifetime health care and other benefits. Chu also said that allowing disabled veterans to concurrently receive retirement and disability pay will take money from weapons procurement and other accounts intended to benefit active-duty personnel. In response, The Military Coalition of 34 veterans' organizations and other military-related groups flatly disagreed, stating that the forfeiture of military retired pay requires retirees with disabilities to fund their own retirement. TMC and many major veterans organizations sent letters refuting the DoD claims, characterizing them as unfounded and incorrect. Individual veterans flooded their legislators and the White House with communications urging Congress for equity and the President not to veto the plan if enacted. |
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