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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Harry Gets His Veterans Bill Passed |
| 2008-03-15 |
| March 14, 2008 Dear Friends, Our country would not be what it is today if not for the veterans who have fought to protect our freedom. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for their service, and I am pleased to write you with news that the Congress has made an important step towards honoring our commitment to them. Last night was a victory for NevadaÂ’s veterans. By passing my concurrent receipt budget amendment, the Senate took the first step in caring for our nationÂ’s heroes. When it becomes law, this legislation will end the phase-in period that has kept disabled veterans from receiving disability and retirement pay simultaneously. The old phase-in legislation was an impractical policy that robbed our military men and women of benefits, and IÂ’m glad to see it go. The amendment I sponsored will allow veterans with at least 50 percent disability rating to become eligible for the concurrent receipt of both disability pay and retirement pay by the Fall of 2008. I have worked to implement a better veteransÂ’ benefit payment system for eight years now, introducing legislation every year since 2000. I am glad that this amendment passed. This is another step toward ensuring that our veterans will finally receive the full support and care they were promised when they enrolled. I hope that you will share you questions or comments with me by calling 866-SEN-REID or visiting http://www.reid.senate.gov/issues/veterans.cfm Sincerely, Harry Reid |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #2 Several months ago, I got on Harry's e-mail list, just so I could tap resources such as this letter to the taxpayers. I do appreciate the explanation, P2K; I was pretty sure Harry was not the white knight he wanted to seem to be. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2008-03-15 17:22 |
| #1 What the man is talking about is a policy that Congress implemented in treating retired military members different from all other citizens who've been injured while on active duty. If during the time of service you suffer a line of duty disability and you leave the service the VA pays a certain allowance above a specific percentage, be that rated as 10 per cent or higher. The VA compensation varies currently from $117, at 10%, up to $3000 for 100%, if the prior servicemember is supporting a spouse, children, and parents. If the servicemember departs with a general or honorable discharge this compensation is full UNLESS you are retired and are receiving retired pay. As a penalty for completing such service and as punishment for wearing the uniform Congress, which has billions of dollars for pork and kickbacks into their election fund, wrote the law so that for every dollar paid out in disability, then matching dollars are deducted from the retirement pay. We are not equal before the law. So Congress has been inching its way back from full withholding with 'exceptions' and various bookkeeping games to cover their image. First on the board was disability coverage that was directly combat related. [Gee Senator, nice that your son/daughter got a nifty job with the |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-03-15 16:20 |