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Bernie Sanders Rips John Boehner for Calling for Cuts to Disabled Veterans’ Benefits
In an address at the National Press Club today, Sen. Bernie Sanders tore into John Boehner and his fellow House Republicans for suggested cutting disabled veterans’ benefits in order to reduce the deficit.
John Boehner’s deficit reduction proposal includes cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid with new tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Boehner also called for a switch to the chained CPI, which would reduce annual cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security recipients, and for disabled veterans.
Sanders called Boehner’s proposal morally and economically unacceptable, “It is morally and economically unacceptable that anyone in Congress would propose more tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires and large corporations while at the same time proposing significant cuts for disabled veterans,. This is not what the American people want and it is not what must happen.”
Later, Sen. Sanders repeated his call for the wealthy and corporations to pay more in taxes, “What the election results were about and what poll after poll has found is that we must not cut benefits for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The wealthy and large corporations have got to start paying their fair share of taxes.”
The chained CPI is a big change that some Democrats and most Republicans are trying sell as something minor. The reality is that disabled veterans would see their benefits cut by $1,300-$2,260 a year by the time they reach age 65. Republicans are trying to create more revenue by reducing the level of benefits for disabled veterans. If implemented, the chained CPI would push Americans who already in or teetering towards poverty deeper into economic distress.
The idea of taking money away from people who may already have limitations on potential earnings and giving it to wealthy people at the top is what Republican economic philosophy is all about. Congressional Republicans like Boehner would rather protect millionaires and billionaires than their promise to the men and women who have literally spilled their blood for this country.
It was shameful when Senate Republicans blocked a bill that would create millions of jobs for veterans then quickly fled town, and it is even more disgraceful that congressional Republicans would even consider dishonoring and impoverishing those who have sacrificed so much. I am sure that these brave individuals would do more if asked. But anyone with a conscience can’t ask them to do more, when the wealthy have done nothing.
Liberals, progressives, conservatives, Democrats, and Republicans across this country should join together to tell Republicans that the United States does not steal from its veterans to give to the rich. Bernie Sanders said it best. What Republicans are trying to do to our disabled veterans is morally wrong, and injustice can only prevail when people stay quiet and let it stand.
Don’t stay quiet.
(Note: I am unable to locate a petition related to this subject. If anyone wants to start one, please email me with the link, and I will add it to this story.)
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45 Responses to Bernie Sanders Rips John Boehner for Calling for Cuts to Disabled Veterans’ Benefits
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Theresa L. Thoma
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
How could any patriotic American slash $$$ or benefits to the Military? Guess they are good enuf to senfd to fight but not take care of? Didn’t we ( any party) promise them this?
My brother neither asked or was given any military benefits I know of. ( Viet nam)
idic5
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Sanders is the conscience of the senate. He is intelligent and articulate. stands his ground, too. LEt’s back him so that the other people he is speakinng to do not think he is ‘lunatic fringe’. HE is the sane rational intelligent one!!
DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN EDUARDO HINOJOSA
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
we have been screwed ,used ,abused,threatened ,treated like scum of the earth , we didnt ask to go to vietnam we accepted our fate we went ser ved in combat in vietnam ,we were shot at hit with artillery mortars,wehad to kill or be killed ?wedidnt ask to get sick from tropical diseases ,or our families suffer from our past situations they suffered along with us vietnam vets `
DISABLED VIETNAM VETERAN EDUARDO HINOJOSA
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
i,m still incourt fighting for pheripehral nueropathy rating with sicatica pain running down both my legs i try working out but the excruciating pain stops me from doing yard chores ,icame back fromthe war with back problems and degenerative disease so they call it ?
Bob Bolduc
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Sure Boehner, just try to cut my disabled veteran’s benefits. As a former US Navy Gunners Mate, & a former US Army Infantry Squad Leader & Armored Cavalry Scout, I’m ready to take on you money worshiping Fascists, in order to save MY country !!! (:
Trina
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Thank you for your service and for standing up for what is right and good in our country. May this all work out and you never lose a thing you deserve.
margarita Contreras
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 4:02 pm
There is a petition.. Titled ‘Stop Republican’s War on Disabled Veteran’s’. Created as of today!
margarita Contreras
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
sign petition..Stop Republican’s War on Disabled Veteran’s! go to CARE2 PETITONSITE!!
Thomas Johnson
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
Here is the link:
www.thepetitionsite.com/7...
Mel Haun Sr
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Thanks Nam 68
Reynardine
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
I went to the site, but am not certain my signature recorded, as the site seems to be functioning erratically.
Someone might want to start a petition at signon.org.
Reynardine
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
I got a belated confirmation that my signature did, in fact, record.
Elizabeth
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
This is OUTRAGEOUS! If the Republicans insist on war after war, they have to understand that one of the costs of that war is generous treatment of the troops when they come home. I mean jobs, schooling, housing, medical, and disability payments. We did this after WWII and I saw what it meant in my father’s life. I want this for ALL our troops. Thanking the troops for their service is just words, nice words, but just words. I want to see some action!
Nancy J. Honeycutt
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 5:33 pm
I love Bernie Sanders and how he stands up for all, not just his constituents in VT. He was our mayor when I lived in Burlington.
I would love to see about a million veterans comprised of all branches of the military go to WDC and surround the Capitol and let the people in Congress that they’re tired of being defecated on.
Maria Meacham
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
The Congress all wrapped in patriotism, does not measure the pain and suffering of the deployed men and women and their families, the armed forces are seen as disposable entities, to be used at will.
Because Congress does not have any skin in the war games, they are willing to put the sons and daughters of others at risk.
The deployment pay was already cut in 2003 during the Bush administration by 180.00 per month. The servicemen and women are already paying more taxes than the congress members pay. Now they want to cut any future benefits!
The members of congress come to town and their magic investment suddenly mushroom into several millions of dollars, in contrast the servicemen do not have trusts and lawyers, they do not have enough money to syphon to overseas accounts.
The not-so-honorable members of congress are being irresponsible to the duties towards the armed forces veterans and currently serving in this unending wars, that benefit only the corporations.
(mislabeled as “american interest”)
The CONGRESS is PLUNDERING,STEALING the wealth from the children of the currently deployed.
From IKE Eisenhower farewell speech:
…”As we peer into society’s future, we — you and I, and our government — must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.”
savageDOG
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
oh yes the elitist billionaire corporations did do something with the war[s], they all made money. There never has been a war that didn’t create profits …to someone. but these last few wars have never amounted to even a stir in the American Economy. That’s what Bush and republicans REALLY did; purposely started a invalid WAR, for profits paid for by life and limb of our brave children, and don’t give a damn.
i said months ago, between the greed that takes jobs away from America and robbing us at every chance, from the gas pump to a criminally created wall street disaster that Corporate America, our “very best” Capitalists have sold America, and AMERICANS out.
marilyn logiudice
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Ditto to Bernie! Republicans want war to make money but don’t want to give vets more benefits or pay.The greed in this country is OUT OF HAND!!!By republicans cutting their benefits, it doesn’t make sense to me how they would receive the votes from anyone during elections,but they do.Here are people risking their lives,giving their lives for this country and what kind of thank you do they get? A BIG NO from the republican/tea party.DISGRACEFUL!!!The democrats who do care,get the shaft from them.It’s all about money,they could give 2 sh–ts about the people who serve this country as seen by their vote.No good sob’s!
madison mirindas
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
It has taken Obama and the Democrats too long to stand up to the Republicans and their extreme fringe group aka the Tea Partiers, either by executive order or a threat by the American people to have these idiots removed, if not by force if needed. This is a turning point in time and direct action needs to be done not with out the votes from the house. It is no longer politics it is a humanitarian issue in this country and a decree must be made. I’m sick of Obama throwing our benefits on the table. If he continues I think he should be strongly addressed by the American people that we will no longer tolerate his selling out of Americans in the name of political unrealistic idealism……Madison Mirindas
Jackie chaet
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Lets start the process of impeaching Senator who are in the back pockets of the wealthy. Take away their pensions and their health care.
Sierra Volk
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
How? How can half of this country still actually believe that this kind of shit is not only permissible, but desirable? Sure thing, cuz — wave a flag, sing pious patriotic paeans of “Support Our Troops”, and then vote Republican. The disconnect is beyond my ability to comprehend. I am a vet. Fortunately not a disabled one. Give me ten minutes alone in a room with Boehner and I’ll give him something to cry about.
Paul
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Speaking from the UK where similar things are happening (and yes, it’s clear here that blind ideology and stupidity are master), I can only say that any country’s debt to its wounded and damaged soldiers is a question of honour.
If you choose to represent a government that sends people to war then you have a moral duty to handle all the consequences. If you aren’t prepared to do that then you lose any authority or right to deploy servicemen and women in any capacity whatsoever.
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
We and others have no honor when the needs of the banks, very rich and everyone in between with money are at stake
Reynardine
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
The thing is, most recruits used to be mainstream white boys drafted from middle class families, at a time when middle class white families were a group no politician dared piss off. Now, they are impoverished youngsters from all races and both sexes, whose only shot at a future is to sell themselves for war. As such, they are a commodity best expended before they become dangerous. If they can’t be killed or allowed to die, they can anyway be left powerless. The FOXpoop swallowers, meanwhile, vainly imagine they are included in the privileged class, exempt from the hardships being inflicted on those “others”.
Tracy Singer
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 10:43 pm
I don’t have a petition, but I have been posting the ‘contact Speaker Boehner’ page link on Face Book daily with posts of my emails to him suggesting he get out of the way or we’ll get him out of the way in 2014.
www.speaker.gov/contact
Premdas
Dec. 5th, 2012 at 11:39 pm
Reduce the Congress members’ benefits proportionate to the cuts they propose for others. & for gosh sakes, why lifetime perks? Out of touch and out of mind. There are very good folks there, yes, but there’s also hypocrites, liars, and crooks, most at this time members of the Republican Party.
Steve
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 10:01 am
You can create a petition on the whitehouse(dot)gov website.
petitions.whitehouse.gov/...
ceebee
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 11:28 am
Another fine example of the Republican’s tone-deafness. Guess they figure that, since there’s no looming election, they can say whatever outrageous thing they want and the public will forget. Sadly, that last part is true.
Jim
Dec. 10th, 2012 at 11:05 pm
People forgetting isn’t limited to party lines. What happened to Obama’s “Transparent Administration?” What happened to “Change?” Nothing has changed, there are more illegal wiretaps than ever, the financial cliff is looming closer than ever. How about instead of cutting veteran’s benefits, we get rid of the refundable tax credits? A couple has a kid, pays nothing in taxes, and gets thousands from the taxpayers. Let’s get rid of that, and see what it does to revenue.
Shiva (Moderator)
Dec. 11th, 2012 at 12:14 am
yeah nothing worse then having kids. When were you sterilized?
Donna Bergman
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Thank God for Bernie Sanders, who tells the truth that the GOP/Tea Party don’t want to hear. I didn’t think the GOP/Tea Party could sink any lower, they did when they refused to vote for a bill that would have helped veterans get jobs, and other benefits. Then they had the nerve to run away to other locations so they wouldn’t have to face the heat, the reporters who would ask why they did such a dastardly thing! Cowards, jackasses, morons…what else does one call people who have done what they’ve done!
They should be so ashamed of themselves that they won’t even show their faces in public!!! This just PROVES that verse from the Bible is true today as it was 2000 years ago. It is this: “The LOVE of money is the ROOT of ALL evil.”
La Donna Ellshoff
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
i wonder how mant times they would cry andcomplain if this were them well they will see when they lose there jobs people will rebell.
jim salts
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
No wonder the Gop is in shambles with john Boehner wanting to cut Benefits for Disabled Veterans,cut s.s. Medicare and Medicaid Benefits.They should get him out of that office.
Robert alden
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Sen McCain was a war Vet why isnt he speaking for our vets or does he have something to hide like the breaks he gives to his rich friends like the rest of the repubs
Anne
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
John McCain best exemplies how a veteran doesn’t necessarily support policies that benefit other benefits when he has some political power. Back in 2008, two different veterans’ groups graded both him and the president. One gave Senator McCain a D and President Obama a B+. The other gave the senator a 20% rating, while the president got an 80% one. His standing in terms of of helping veterans, along with his impulsive, erratic behavior, tend to undermine the hero status that’s been conferred on him. As for Speaker Boehner, his true inclination is to benefit the wealthy at the expense of everyone else, including veterans. But he knows most Americans don’t support his agenda.
Anne
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
I meant benefit other veterans.
carolyn bigelow
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Thanks to all the Veterans and their families. A special thanks to my old sweetheart Rick for serving in Vietnam. God Bless the USA. We are truly blessed and should act accordingly.
Vietnam era vet.
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
It’s the age old battle since time immortal. “Compassion versus pychopathy”. In my old age I sometimes wonder which is winning.
Vietnam era vet.
Dec. 6th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Oops that’s psychopathy.
Steve-Annie
Dec. 7th, 2012 at 2:03 am
Bernie Sanders is the closest thing to a saint in American politics, and John Boehner is a soulless slug.
ORAXX
Dec. 7th, 2012 at 7:28 am
A flag pin for the lapel costs about a dollar. John Boehner is never seen with out one. Taking care of veterans is expensive. Boehner and the Repubicans are going for the low cost option.
oudiva
Dec. 7th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
And Republicans call themselves the party of Lincoln!? They have all forgotten that Lincoln said this:
“Let us strive on to finish the work we are in … to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”
It is shameful that the Republicans make so many veterans (by going to war over and over again), and then screw them over when they get home. But what else can we expect when so few of the Republicans in Congress have ever worn the uniform?
Amber
Dec. 8th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Great post, here’s the link you asked for. www.ficksitall.blogspot.c...
Aaron
Dec. 11th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
As a disabled Vet I would be perfectly willing to take a cut if everyone took a cut.
No more Congressional retirement pay.
No more free Congressional health care.
Every one has their taxes raised 5%. EVERYONE.
Raise the age of SS benefits one year for everyone over 40 an 2 years for everyone under 40.
Close all of the European bases we have.
Cut our Nuclear missile inventory.
Make welfare only accessible to poor parents.
Stop foreign aid.
Everyone should share the pain.
Angela
Dec. 11th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
I’m a republican & truly disgusted! I’m also a disabled veteran. Here’s the website to sign the petition: www.thepetitionsite.com/m...
Cheryl
Dec. 13th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
First of all let me say thank you to all vets and current military. Their wouldn’t be so many new disabled vets if the Republicans(both Bushs)hadn’t started two wars. It is truly UNPATRIOICAl to take away from those who have answered the call the serve. They put their lives in danger so the Republicans can take away benifits. Well heres an idea for you lets send them to fight the wars see how well they do, they’d probally run away. In 2014 we need to stand up and get rid of these clowns. The Republicans are single handedly destroying our Gov. They won’t be happy till we are all in the poor house.