Ok, my good news diary was yesterday, now time to roll up the sleeves and get back to work. This grinds my beans, puts my undies in a bundle and a whole shitload of other metaphors as it affects not only me personally, but also all of my brother and sister vets out there. Yea, let’s throw our vets out of our consciousness because it’s easier to forget them, and it doesn’t cost us a lot of money, when they sleep on a park bench … now, how about that great, new missile defense system!
For more info: http://www.vawatchdog.org
Not my web-site but shamelessly pimping it (for a good cause!)
“Vets’ Commission Chair, General Terry Scott wants to study if vets should get VA compensation and Social Security disability at the same time with the aim of reducing benefits. In an unconstitutional move, he asks Congress to interpret its own law so he would have the power to launch study.”
Aha, ok, for those of you who are unfamiliar with the system, this is how it works. Let’s take the example of, hey it’s a modern world, two sister vets who retire today. Both served honorably and did a hell of a lot for their country, ok. One was in a position where there wasn’t a lot of physical danger, let’s say a financial specialist at NORAD, but nevertheless important work. Let’s say our other vet was a Psychological Operations Specialist who was Airborne qualified. Let’s say (using one of my own injuries here) that one day she was on a jump and the jump master or someone on the Drop Zone party made a mistake and our vet was one of four people put out the door when the ground winds were gusting way too high. Let’s say she broke her neck and Lumbar on landing.
Still following? Good! Let’s say both retire today with the same rank and same retirement. Nevertheless, our airborne vet is not as physically healthy as our NORAD vet and has a disability inhibiting a lot of work that she could do. Let’s say the VA says that she has a 40% work capability and COMPENSATES her for her disability at 60%.
Now, you would think that since our Airborne vet paid a high physical price, that COMPENSATION would be added on top of the same retirement amount our non-disabled vet has since she is still at 100% work capability and has the ability to be more productive.
But no, there is something called an offset – the amout of your disability COMPENSATION, though tax-free, is subtracted from your NORMAL RETIREMENT, so the sum remains the same as our non-disabled vet and the only REAL compensation is in a small tax break for the VA benefit although our IN-THE-LINE-OF-DUTY disabled vet is only at a 40% work capability.
See how the system is a little unfair? But wait, you say, you can be compensated by none other than SOCIAL SECURITY too! Woo Hoo!
Now back to the news story:
“The next step in dismantling veterans’ benefits could be a payment reduction, known as an offset, for veterans receiving disability compensation and Social Security.”
Nice! To the park bench with you! BTW, Boo-parents of teenagers, ask about this the next time a recruiter come a calling.
“The Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) was established by Public Law 108-136 and signed into being by President Bush in November 2003. The VDBC’s charter states they are to study “whether a veteran’s disability or death should be compensated” and at what level if any.
Since the VDBC was first established it was obvious to veterans and veterans’ service organizations (VSOs) that the Commission had one thing in mind and that was cutting veterans’ benefits. The VDBC is made up of 13 political appointees. Four were appointed by Democratic Members of Congress, four more by Republican Members and the other five by President Bush. The VDBC is truly a 9-4 politically-stacked deck even though they like to refer to themselves as bipartisan. The legality of the VDBC has been questioned by some VSOs.
As the VDBC’s meetings progressed, veterans began to notice a “secretive” quality to the workings of the Commission. Last fall the VDBC issued a list of questions they would study. They asked for input and gave veterans just a few days, over a Holiday weekend, to respond. The questions signaled the direction of the VDBC. One question was: “Does the disability benefit provided affect a veteran’s incentive to work?”
Now, “secretive” has taken on a new meaning. In a recent editorial written by Arthur H. Wilson, National Adjutant for the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) we find: “Optimism was in short supply at the Commission’s March 16-17 meeting as some of its members maneuvered to authorize collecting data about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits paid to veterans who also receive VA disability compensation. That was done with a view toward an offset [reduction] of disability insurance if the veteran receives disability compensation from the VA.”
Wilson continues: “A move to sidestep proper procedures and hold a secret ballot on the matter was postponed, but the issue is expected to resurface at the commission’s meeting in May. If so, it could lay the groundwork for cutting or eliminating veterans’ benefits as a way of saving the government money. The idea that disability compensation is some kind of income security or welfare program cheapens the service and sacrifice of disabled veterans. That kind of thinking might also open the door to cutting off VA compensation when a disabled veteran becomes eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. Veterans’ benefits are separate and distinct from Social Security, so receiving payments under both programs is not dual compensation for the same disability, as some have tried to argue.””
So, they say about 1/3 of our Afghan and Iraq vets will come back with PTSD, not to mention the rise of brain injuries and amputees? Hey you lazy vets, this is not a welfare state, get a job! “But, sir, I can’t be a postal carrier, I don’t have any legs.”
“It appears the VDBC is about evenly split on the idea of studying the SSDI issue. But the Chairman, retired Army Lt. General Terry Scott, is adamant about getting this on the agenda and wants the power to move forward. And, he wants the help of Congress to push his agenda. Scott has taken the liberty of writing to Congress asking them to interpret their own law that established the VDBC.
This presents a problem. It is unconstitutional for Congress to interpret its own laws. Congress passes laws and the courts interpret them. But, this hasn’t stopped General Scott.
In an email to the House and Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, General Scott writes: “Some Commissioners believe that this charge [the VDBC’s charter] should be interpreted broadly to mean all related benefits received by disabled veterans under the laws of the United States to include…SSDI payments…the Chairman would appreciate clarification of the intent of Congress in writing or in person during the next Commission public meeting May 19, 2006″”
So, surprise, surprise, the administration is once again extra-constitutional in order to “save money” (how about saving lives, you fucks!). This time led by a traitorous general (not to the country but to his own troops and comrades-in-arms). It’s all in the veil of secrecy happening under the I-support-our-troops public’s noses. If this happens, is it only a vet issue? No, think about the social consequences – homelessness, addiction, crime to survive, incarcenation, not to mention the flagrant trampling of the Constition that we swore to uphold and defend.
Action? Maybe you could take the time to call your congress critter before 19 May. I’m a cynic though.
“General Scott’s unconstitutional request has raised major concerns among the VSOs. Christopher J. Clay, General Counsel for the DAV, has written to the four Chairmen involved. In part, Clay’s letter states: “…[General Scott’s] request, if honored…would violate one of the fundamental principles which have guided the government of the United States for more than 200 years. That principle is the separation of powers…Congress exercises the sole power to enact laws while the Judicial and Executive Branches have the power to say what those laws mean…neither a committee of either the House or Senate nor the full Congress may interpret a statute after it is enacted, without passing a new law…The DAV is unaware of any precedent for the congressional interpretations requested by the Commission Chairman. If the Committee responds to the Chairman’s inquiry, it will set a precedent that the courts are no longer the sole arbiters of disputes over our laws.”
Now, veterans play the waiting game. Will any of the four Congressional Committees respond to General Scott’s request and interpret their own law? Will General Scott get enough votes from VDBC members to push ahead with his idea to study a Social Security offset (reduction) for veterans’ disability compensation? We will know by May 19.
But, what we don’t have to wait for is the fact that General Terry Scott and other members of the VDBC want to cut veterans’ benefits and will try to hold secret votes and try to get Congress to, unconstitutionally, interpret its own laws.
General Scott must be reminded that veterans’ disability compensation is not welfare. It is not to be confused with welfare. It is not to be confused with any other sort of compensation. Veterans receive disability compensation because they earned it. Many earned it on the field of battle. They don’t deserve to lose it in a Commission hearing.”
Absolutely you fucking REPUGS! It’s not welfare, it’s COMPENSATION for sacrifing part of my well-being and quality of life for your ideaology of “protecting our freedom”. Same ideaology as “Support our Troops”. Your flag waving and sentiment won’t buy me a cup of coffe, you can stuff your ideaology and your flag up your… Oh, I know, I should’ve thought about that when I was 17 years old when I volunteered, my bad.
BTW, related to this, according to my Vietnam Veteran’s Association Service Officer, is that the military is now diagnosing PTSD as “combat stress”. See, combat stress is only situational while PTSD is for life. Once you’re out of the combat situation, ya don’t need COMPENSATION.