Why does Paul Ryan want to cut veteran's benefits in the first place?
Why are you focused on ONE republican when every democrat voted to cut those benefits?
Because he co-authored the bill
Reduces automatic increases for young enlistees, Ryan has long been in favor of cutting Vet benefits. Murray wants the cuts removed. Here is the actual six month old story, from NewsMax:
But the bill's provision to slice $6 billion in military retiree benefits — a 1 percent cost-of-living cut — so some sequester cuts to the Pentagon could be replaced has triggered fierce criticism.
"We are not against the budget control act, but we are against doing it on the backs of our military and our families," Military Officers Association of America President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan said, Military Times reported.
Murray noted, "Thankfully, this will not go into effect for two years."
Murray said the Senate would later pass a technical correction ensuring that veterans with disabilities wouldn't see a cut in their benefits.
Murray Vows to Fix Budget Bill Provision That Cuts Veterans' Benefits
Ryan is fine with the 1% cut of course, defends it:
Rep. Paul Ryan defends cuts to military retirement in budget bill - Washington Times
“For me, there’s simply no choice between responsible reforms of military compensation and making what our military leadership has called ‘disproportionate cuts to military readiness and modernization,’ ” Mr. Ryan wrote on a USA Today oped. “Every time we kick the can down the road, we put our troops’ combat readiness at risk. This agreement put forward one reform option, and I invite others to do the same.”
The two-year budget deal that passed Congress last week increases spending now in exchange for savings later and reduces the deficit by $23 billion over 10 years. The deal, authored by Mr. Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray, Washington Democrat, also c
uts the cost-of-living adjustment to one percent below the consumer price index for military retirees younger than 62 and goes into effect in 2015.
While Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, said that all military service leaders support the bill because of the $63 billion in sequestration relief it provides, veterans groups demanded last week that President Obama veto the budget bill. A White House petition to veto the budget bill has more than 18,000 signatures as of Monday morning.
