McCain was just on CBS News, more than once during the short interview he made it a point to mention no new taxes, thus saying the No Sacrifice of over a Decade of these Wars of Choice he supports still holds. As his contributors still reap the wealth, directly or indirectly, from both long occupations!
Mac has always been an obstacle in Veterans issues but once upon a time real republicans existed and could be worked with even for crumbs
This comes on the heels of the Senate Veterans Affairs Hearing yesterday:
Philip Scott Andrews/The New York Times: Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
July 27, 2011 - Though the withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq and Afghanistan will save the nation billions of dollars a year, another cost of war is projected to continue rising for decades to come: caring for the veterans.
By one measure, the cost of health care and disability compensation for veterans from those conflicts and all previous American wars ranks among the largest for the federal government — less than the military, Social Security and health care programs including Medicare, but nearly the same as paying interest on the national debt, the Treasury Department says.
Ending the current wars will not lower those veterans costs; indeed, they will rise ever more steeply for decades to come as the population of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan expands, ages and becomes more infirm. To date, more than 2.2 million troops have served in those wars.
Studies show that the peak years for government health care and disability compensation costs for veterans from past wars came 30 to 40 years after those wars ended. For Vietnam, that peak has not been reached.
In Washington, the partisan stalemate over cutting federal spending is now raising alarms among veterans groups and some lawmakers that the seemingly inexorable costs of veterans benefits will spur a backlash against those programs. read more>>>
Crystal Nicely said she doesn't mind serving as the chief cook, driver and groomer for her husband, Todd, who lost both arms and legs in March 2010 when he stepped on an explosive device during combat operations against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.
But she'd appreciate a little more help from the federal government.
"What is upsetting is the lack of support, compassion and benefits for these individuals," Nicely, 25, told a Senate committee Wednesday. "It needs to be just a little easier."
Nicely told her family's story as the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee began examining the lifetime human and financial costs of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and what additional preparations will be required to care for the 2.3 million veterans who have fought them. read more>>>
One other story, not related to Veterans directly but I'll bet indirectly, especially the younger Vets:
July 28, 2011 - If you somehow thought that the debt limit debate in Washington was one of those far-off arguments that has no impact on you, you might be surprised, especially if your home isn't paid for.
If there is no agreement on the debt limit, interest rates on U.S. financial securities will go up. That means so will rates on adjustable mortgages, as CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds reports.
Juan Cruz says Congress is messing with his American dream.
He's made an offer on a $130,000 home for his young family and hopes to get a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4.5 percent.
"I'm trying to stay within my means," said Cruz. "But if it goes up -- I mean, if the percentage rate goes up -- then it affects my outcome on that." read more>>>
And of course we already know about this issue and the reality as to that incoming jobs party of the 112th congress:
July 28, 2011 - The number of people laid off this week because of the congressional wrangling over fiscal issues keeps growing. As we've been reporting, the Federal Aviation Administration has been forced into partial shutdown by the argument. CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson has an update.
A $31 million air traffic control tower at Oakland International Airport has been halted in mid-construction, idling workers like Greg Talmage.
And at FAA headquarters, there are empty offices of nearly 1,000 furloughed workers.
It's all because Congress can't agree on a new $16 billion a year funding bill for the FAA. The old one expired Friday.
That hits every big weak spot in the economy. Around 70,000 construction workers and nearly 3,500 FAA employees have been furloughed. About 150 airport construction projects have been stalled. And $200 million per week in ticket taxes are lost because the FAA has no authority to collect them.
snip
Today, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urged Congress to solve their disputes.
"And for all of my friends on Capitol Hill who give speeches every day about jobs, the importance of jobs, putting people to work -- this is not the time to be laying off 70,000 construction workers," said LaHood. read more>>>
No comments:
Post a Comment