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August 06, 2013
Obama threatens defense veto if health care premiums for military not increased
Obama threatens defense veto if health care premiums for military not increased
The Obama administration is threatening to veto the 2014 defense authorization bill unless health care insurance premiums and co-pays are increased, Investor's Business Daily said Wednesday. The administration also wants to reduce the proposed 1.8 percent pay increase for military personnel.
According to the Army Times, the administration says the bill is "too generous with military pay" and not generous enough for civilian employees. The administration only wants to give service members a one percent raise.
"A 1.8 percent increase would keep pace [with] the average increase last year in private sector salaries, while the 1 percent raise would create a slight gap," the Army Times said. Obama's proposed increase would be the first raise in over a decade that failed to keep pace with the private sector, IBD said.
The administration has also proposed cost-cutting measures like increased Tricare health fees for military retirees.
Citing the Navy Times, IBD said Obama's proposal includes a freeze for 2014 for Medicare-eligible retirees in the Tricare for Life program. Subsequent years, however, would see rapid increases with annual hikes of $150 in maximum fees for most retirees and $200 for flag officers.
“Unless this bill passes the Congress in the context of an overall budget framework that supports our recovery and enables sufficient investments in education, infrastructure, innovation and national security for our economy to compete in the future, the president’s senior advisers would recommend that he veto HR 2397 and any other legislation that implements the House Republican Budget framework,” the Office of Management and Budget said in a letter.
One GOP congressional aide told the Washington Free Beacon Obama is "forcing nearly 200,000 troops out of uniform” through sequestration.
“For years, the Obama administration has swollen the federal workforce and asked the military to pay for it,” the aide said. “Now he’s cutting the pay of those lucky enough to survive.”
“After three huge cuts to the military in four years, it’s time the Obama administration look elsewhere for savings,” the aide added, suggesting they "start with the IRS."
The administration also took exception to a provision in the bill that prohibits the transfer of detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba.
“The continued prosecution of terrorists in federal court is an essential element of counterterrorism efforts—a powerful tool that must remain an available option,” the administration said.
Obama issued a similar threat in 2012, demanding military service members pay more for health care.
In February 2012, we reported that the administration planned to cut health benefits for active duty and retired military personnel and their families while not touching the benefits enjoyed by unionized civilian defense workers.
At the time, congressional aides suggested the move was intended to force service members into Obamacare.
Wild Thing's comment................
Dear God Obama is soooooooooooo horrible.
Posted by Wild Thing at August 6, 2013 12:55 AM
Comments
Obama is possessed with punishing the military and its retirees. This crap of medical costs eating up the DOD budget is crap. Here's some facts on it.
Posted by: bobf at August 6, 2013 07:38 AM
obama has done very well in his project of destroying the US military. He has been helped by a Democrat senate and, sadly, by some very weak, values compromised flag rank officers. I have always had faith that the military could survive the ways of political fools, but now that openly gay recruits are accepted I really worry about the values base that has always been the heart and soul of the US military.
Posted by: TomR,armed in Texas at August 6, 2013 11:20 AM
