Warrior102
Gold Member
- May 22, 2011
- 16,554
- 4,126
- 183
and here's the response I get.
What do you guys think?
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Thank you for contacting me regarding cuts to military pay and benefits. I understand the importance of this issue to the men and women of our armed forces and their families and I believe it warrants a very serious discussion.
I believe the greatest challenge we now face as a nation is the need to balance our spending priorities with principles of fiscal discipline. The ability of our country to field well trained, fully resourced and combat capable military forces is dependent on a healthy, functioning economy. I recognize that addressing our debt and deficit will not be easy; however, I believe it is imperative that we engage in a civil and open debate as to what we need and what we can afford. This will require tough choices, but I believe that addressing our debt and deficit is too important for Congress put off any longer.
Our service members and their families continue to make great sacrifices for all of us and I fully realize the strain that ten years of war has placed on the small percentage of Americans who serve in our military. These troops have performed admirably, and we owe all returning veterans world-class health care and educational benefits. Their views and concerns must be taken into consideration during this difficult, but necessary discussion about our nation's fiscal security. Our fiscal situation is going to require shared sacrifice, and everything must be on the table, but I don't believe that our military and military retirees should bear more than their share of the cuts that may be necessary.
However, President Obama and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta have called for cutting defense spending by $400 billion over ten years as part of a plan to reduce the federal deficit and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen has repeatedly stated "The most significant threat to our national security is our debt," and that the cost of military health care is "not sustainable" as nearly 10 percent of the Department of Defense budget is currently spent on health benefits for active and retired service members. Additionally, the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) judged that "retirement reform, leading to a more flexible, cost-effective, and equitable system, would benefit the uniformed services."
These proposals and any others should all be part of the broader discussion as we seek to put our fiscal house in order.
Again, thank you for contacting me. For further information or to sign up for my newsletter please visit my website
What do you guys think?
----------------------------
Thank you for contacting me regarding cuts to military pay and benefits. I understand the importance of this issue to the men and women of our armed forces and their families and I believe it warrants a very serious discussion.
I believe the greatest challenge we now face as a nation is the need to balance our spending priorities with principles of fiscal discipline. The ability of our country to field well trained, fully resourced and combat capable military forces is dependent on a healthy, functioning economy. I recognize that addressing our debt and deficit will not be easy; however, I believe it is imperative that we engage in a civil and open debate as to what we need and what we can afford. This will require tough choices, but I believe that addressing our debt and deficit is too important for Congress put off any longer.
Our service members and their families continue to make great sacrifices for all of us and I fully realize the strain that ten years of war has placed on the small percentage of Americans who serve in our military. These troops have performed admirably, and we owe all returning veterans world-class health care and educational benefits. Their views and concerns must be taken into consideration during this difficult, but necessary discussion about our nation's fiscal security. Our fiscal situation is going to require shared sacrifice, and everything must be on the table, but I don't believe that our military and military retirees should bear more than their share of the cuts that may be necessary.
However, President Obama and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta have called for cutting defense spending by $400 billion over ten years as part of a plan to reduce the federal deficit and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen has repeatedly stated "The most significant threat to our national security is our debt," and that the cost of military health care is "not sustainable" as nearly 10 percent of the Department of Defense budget is currently spent on health benefits for active and retired service members. Additionally, the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) judged that "retirement reform, leading to a more flexible, cost-effective, and equitable system, would benefit the uniformed services."
These proposals and any others should all be part of the broader discussion as we seek to put our fiscal house in order.
Again, thank you for contacting me. For further information or to sign up for my newsletter please visit my website