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Federal Daily News

Senator, veterans groups line up against chained CPI

Representatives of veterans' organizations joined the incoming chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Dec. 19 to urge Congress and the White House not to adopt a proposed measure that would change in the way cost-of-living allowances are calculated—and produce gradual reductions in veterans disability benefits.

The proposed change has become a bargaining chip in the ongoing "fiscal-cliff" negotiations between the House leadership and the White House.

"We must do deficit reduction, but not by cutting programs for people who lost arms, legs and eyes defending our country," said Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). "We must not balance the budget on the backs of men and women who already sacrificed for us in Iraq and Afghanistan."

According to Sanders, Congressional Budget Office figures show that switching from the use of the consumer product Index (CPI)—the measure currently used in calculating annual COLAs—to a "chained" CPI would mean that vets who start receiving Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits at age 30 would see their benefits reduced by $1,425 by age 45, $2,341 by age 55 and $3,231 by age 65, compared to amounts they would see under the current formula.

Letters from veterans organizations, including the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans, were posted on Sanders's website, as well as a letter to lawmakers signed by 18 veterans groups and veterans service organizations

Groups signing that letter included the Air Force Sergeants Association, Air Force Women Officers Associated, American Military Retirees Association , American Military Society, Association of the United States Navy, Blinded Veterans Association, Gold Star Wives, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, National Association for Uniformed Services, National Guard Association of the United States, National Military Family Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans for Common Sense, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VetsFirst, and Vietnam Veterans of America.

 

Reader comments

Thu, Dec 27, 2012

Chained CPI assumes that retirees will purchase items that cost less (store brands, off-brands, etc.) to reduce cash outflow. Many are already purchasing the low priced items just to get by. I suggest that fact be considered and evaluated before adopting changing the method of determining adjustments to retirees' benefits. Just a thought.

Fri, Dec 21, 2012 Manuel R. Sanchez San Diego

12/21/12 Let us not forget tho fight for the Disability Benefits for Disabled Veterans of all Wars, to focus only on recent wars would be short sighted. Vietnam Veterans became the forgotten ones of this Century and we must not forget any one again. Some of us are still pay for our sacrifices in many ways, such as physically, Mentally, and through the some Social populations. While there are gradual movements improving in this regard lets not waiver as our service members will always serve with " Honor " and this alone is reason enough to not forget.

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

I cannot believe the legislative or executive branch of our government would even consider reducing disability payments! In my opinion, the person who even came up with this "idea" is one of the most unethical people I never want to meet. Our military is all voluntary and because they do their jobs, they are talked about horribly by the left (but if it wasn't for our military protecting our freedom, they couldn't say those things!). Now the worms that run this country want to add insult to injury by creating a program to reduce benefits. I think a better way to reduce the budget and keep us from going off the fiscal cliff is for every man and woman in congress take a 10 percent across the board pay cut.

Fri, Dec 21, 2012 Mr Sarcastic

With each passing day it is getting to be more and more obvious who the politicians really care about. No money to pay the disabled and retired what they are owed and deserve, but plenty of money for pork barrel projects that put money into their buddies' pockets. Plenty of money to give to countries that hate us. Plenty of money to fund the worse than useless United Nations. Plenty of money to pay for excrement based 'art'. And no need to ask their rich buddies to pay a nickle more in taxes either. But definitely no money to pay the disabled and retired what they are owed.

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