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LEGISLATIVE NEWS THAT AFFECTS YOU “ Et Tu, SASC?
MOAA is disappointed Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) leaders endorsed White House proposals to make military health care and retirement benefits more like civilians’.
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n mid-October, Hill committee lead- ers wrote to the Joint Select Com- mittee on Deficit Reduction, aka the super committee, tasked with cutting the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. But House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders offered markedly different input on military retirement and health care benefits. More than two pages of
would constitute a substantial double hit on the [TFL] population. … Likewise, if Medicare Part B enrollment fees are also increased, the [TFL] beneficiaries will ab- sorb a third increase in their health care costs,” McKeon said.
“We strongly oppose the
House committee Chair Howard “Buck” McKeon’s (R-Calif.) letter were de- voted to defense of military retirement and health care programs. He highlighted a long list of the unique demands and sacrifices re- quired of the military that aren’t demanded of civilians and said the military retirement and health care systems “should reflect that reality.” On retirement, McKeon said bluntly,
system should be more
recommend- ations ... that the military retirement
like civilian retirement plans.”
“We strongly oppose the recommenda- tions of [recent] proposals that the mili- tary retirement system should be more like civilian retirement plans. … These proposals do not assess the impact of such changes on either the retention of the cur- rent or future all-volunteer military. “Changes to TRICARE For Life [TFL]
must also be examined with caution. Some have suggested a combination of changes to both [TFL] enrollment fees and pharmacy [copayments], which
His letter also noted with irony that, “The president and some in Congress have proposed exempting any reforms to veterans’ health care ben- efits. As a result, those who served less than 20 years in the military would not be asked to contribute to deficit reductions, but those who served in the military for 20 or more years would.” Sens. Carl Levin (D- Mich.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), chair and ranking
minority member, respectively, of the Sen- ate Armed Services Committee, expressed similar concerns about further cuts to the defense budget but expressed willingness to consider some changes recommended by the president and others in recent months. But, in stark contrast to McKeon’s input, both endorsed proposals offered by the White House to curtail military health care and retirement benefits. McCain said the president’s proposal to
establish an annual enrollment fee for TFL “is a reasonable step and should be consid- ered.” On proposed pharmacy copayment increases, McCain’s letter said, “While
DECEMBER 2011 MILITARY OFFICER 29
MOAA Named Top Lobbyist” The Hill, the largest- circulation newspaper on Capitol Hill, has published its annual list of “Top Lobbyists,” and for the fifth straight year, MOAA is the only military or veterans’ group on the list. Thanks to all of our members who participate in our grassroots efforts.
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