SMW Legislative Report January 28, 2012
As we all know, 2012 is an election year and the results of this election may well determine whether we retain our individual freedoms under the Constitution or exchange them for the dubious security of a socialist government mired down by debt and increased government control of nearly every phase of life. I believe it was Winston Churchill who once said something to the effect that if we give up freedom for security then eventually we will have neither.
The good news right now is that we are supposed to see an increase of 3.6% in our DIC and Social Security deposits this month. I am delighted on the one hand, and dismayed on the other. Costs of just about everything are up, but how can we afford a raise when we are in so much debt. However, if the increases show up in my deposit, I do not plan to send the money back.
Efforts to correct the SBP/DIC offset are still alive with H.R.178, the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act led by Rep. Joe Wilson [R.SC] and Companion Bill S.260 sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson [D.FL]. Additionally, there is legislation proposed that would allow some survivors of totally disabled veterans to be eligibile for home loans guaranteed by VA. [HR 2433 passed by the House and sent on to the Senate.] We also need to lobby Congress to support H.R 1003 [Senate Companion Bill S.542, S. 1768] which would allow DIC recipients to travel “space-available.”
Other bills which deserve support include:
H.R.1092 would prohibit increases in TRICARE fees and copays for military health care.
H.R.1285 would prohibit any increases in health are costs until 2014.
H.R.1263 would provide protection for surviving spouses relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures. [This has passed the House and sent to the Senate.]
H.J.Res.13 [S.J.Res19] would amend the Constitution to prohibit physical desecration of the Flag of the United States.
All of our members should be receiving the NAUS Journal. Please refer to the “Key Bills in Congress” section for updates on legislation proposed and progress through the established system for approval.
All of our members need to take a stand not only on benefits, but on legislation that affects our way of life. We know medical expenses are going to go up and it has already started with new rules and fees. We need a permanent resolution of the “doc-fix” situation so that we will not lose doctors and clinics that cannot afford to serve us any more. BEWARE of changes in our whole Health Care situation. If some parts of the President’s program are not repealed, our taxes, our ability to sell or buy homes and even our expectations of adequate health care as we get older will be affected.
As always, we need to speak out on the issues important to us.
Respectfully Submitted, Patricia Walker, SMW Legislative Chair
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Received 1-26-12 from NAUS:
First round of “fire” in the Budget proposals. Oulined today by SecDef Panetta….
Mike Plumer
Deputy Legislative Director/Veterans Affairs
National Association for Uniformed Services
mplumer@naus.org
703-750-1342 Ext. 1011
Health Care. Military health care has seen rapid growth relative to the rest of the defense budget. Most of the changes made in this budget will not affect active duty personnel or their families. We are also exempting medically retired and survivors of those who died on active duty from all health care changes. Those most affected will be working-‐age retirees under the age of 65 still likely to be employed in the civilian sector.
These proposed changes include:
Further increasing and adding new enrollment fees for retirees under age 65 in the
TRICARE program, using a tiered approach based on retired pay that requires senior-‐
grade retirees to pay more and junior-‐grade retirees less; the resulting fees remain
below comparable civilian equivalents
Establishing a new enrollment fee for the TRICARE-‐for-‐Life program for retirees 65
and older, again using a tiered approach; the resulting fees will be well below
comparable civilian equivalents
Implementing additional increases in pharmacy co-‐pays in a manner that increases
incentives for use of generics and mail order
Retirement. We will ask the Congress to establish a commission with BRAC-‐like authority to conduct a comprehensive review of military retirement in the context of total military compensation. The goal of the commission would be to recommend changes in order to meet the personnel needs of the DoD in a cost effective manner. DoD strongly supports protecting the retirement benefits of those who currently serve by grandfathering their benefits. Any reforms should only affect future recruits.
