Obama Wants Troops To Pay For Their Own Injuries
Let me get this straight: Our government will pay for your house, if you got in over your head, but, if you are in the military, serving your country, and you get injured, then pay for it yourself
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance, but was told by lawmakers that it would be “dead on arrival” if sent to Congress.
Washington Sen. Patty Murray used that blunt terminology, telling Shinseki that the idea would not be acceptable and would be rejected if formally proposed. She made the remarks during a Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing about the 2010 budget.
No official proposal to create such a program has been announced publicly, but veterans groups wrote a pre-emptive letter last week to President Obama opposing the idea after hearing the plan was under consideration. The groups also noticed an increase in “third-party collections” estimated in the 2010 budget proposal—something they said could only be achieved if the VA started billing for service-related injuries.
Asked about the proposal, Shinseki said it was under “consideration.”
“A final decision hasn’t been made yet,” he said.
A second senator, North Carolina Republican Richard Burr, said he agreed that the idea should not go forward.
“I think you will give that up” as a revenue stream, if it is included in this April’s budget, Burr said.
Sen. Murray said she’d already discussed her concerns with the secretary the previous week.
“I believe that veterans with service-connected injuries have already paid by putting their lives on the line,” Murray said in her remarks. “I don’t think we should nickel and dime them for their care.”
Eleven of the most prominent veterans organizations have been lobbying Congress to oppose the idea. In the letter sent last week to President Barack Obama, the veterans groups warned that the idea “is wholly unacceptable and a total abrogation of our government’s moral and legal responsbility to the men and women who have sacrificed so much.”
The groups included The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
At the time, a White House spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the option was being considered.
This is what the Left means by supporting our troops?
- Aggie
Carol said,
March 10, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
This is awful, an unmitigated disaster: I’m going to have to write a nice letter to Patty Murray and refrain, just this once, from telling her she is a moron. I don’t know if I can do it but I feel obligated.
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
March 10, 2009 @ 9:21 pm
That was the part that offended me the most. Isn’t she a left-wing kook? And she’s explaining to them that this is a bad idea?? I am appalled.
- Aggie
Joe O'Neill said,
March 10, 2009 @ 10:46 pm
I wonder how long the citizens are going to put up with the military getting away with free food and lodgings let alone transport.These soldiers having free holidays with accomodation and food thrown in at taxpayers expense all over the world from Iraq to Afghanistan is unacceptable.
The Priorities Of The Left « Tai-Chi Policy said,
March 10, 2009 @ 11:16 pm
[…] The Priorities Of The Left March 10, 2009 Posted by taoist in Obama. Tags: Democrats, The Military, Unbelievable trackback Rescue the welfare mooches, make the soldiers pay for their own treatments. […]
Martino said,
March 11, 2009 @ 8:22 am
Holy Mary. That this even was considered is beyond outrageous. And we are paying these asshats to come up with these ideas. Imagine Hell on Earth. It is a vacuum of reason, and it is neo-liberalism.
This angers me past what I thought was possible. It makes me want to break something beautiful.
Marilyn said,
March 13, 2009 @ 11:03 am
This is being considered at the same time, that Mrs. Bama is at Fort Bragg vowing support for military families. Here’s the headline: “First Lady visits Fort Bragg, vows support for military families”. Who’s the hypocrite here?? Him or her????? How is taking their medical away supporting military families??? Liars — they are BOTH liars.
Dragonrider said,
March 13, 2009 @ 11:08 am
Joe O’Neill, I can tell that you have NEVER even served in the Military let alone know someone that is currently serving his or her country. If you did you would know that the “housing is’nt anything to brag about, and yes military personell DO pay rent. Their food is’nt free, as a matter of fact most enlisted families have to get assistance fro food just to make it through each month. Why don’t you ask a soldier who just returned from a Middle East deployment what it was like to spend the holidays away from their home and family. Now before you start whining about just how good the military has it try doing some research first.
Machinist said,
March 13, 2009 @ 11:22 am
I think Joe O’Neill is being sarcastic…if not he is a moron…I believe this is just the beginning to destroy our Military and country from within….think about it if you take benefits away and soldiers have to pay out of pocket…who would want to join? Its just a way to control and subvert. Not to mention they are proposing taxing medical benefits too…truly disgusting in my opinion…Semper Fi
Left - Right Paradigm said,
March 13, 2009 @ 12:41 pm
How hard is it for people to realize that there is no left and right? The real controllers of this country (Corporations and Bankers) use this left / right paradigm to prop themselves up and keep the people fighting each other.
SFC (Ret) said,
March 13, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
I assure you, Joe is being sarcastic….
however, this is another blatant example of why I still believe you don’t qualify to be Commander In Chief if you have never served in this country’s military….
this was proven to ‘us’ in the ’90’s….
and yet here we are….the ‘assault’ on our bravest and brightest has renewed itself……
Ron said,
March 13, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
I can’t even believe this. Only a real left wing nut case, who hates the military would even be considering such an action. President Obama is showing his true colors by proposing slashing defense and intelligence agencies in next years budget. Moreover, to have soldiers pay for their own care is almost treasonous. If the ex-general who now heads the VA does not resign over this, it shows he is only interested in himself and his power, not in the men and women he once led. This article totally infuriates me. I don’t know if our country can survived this maniac.
american50 said,
March 13, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
Do you rep. even know what’s going on in the VA now,or has been, where was your outcry for all the VETS. that are now and have been living on the streets, denied access to charitable money or the pencil pushing bureaucrats who purposely lose medical records or refuse medical asst. Your whimpering outcrys sound hollow when you put it into prospective, its not my lying, thieving man of low morals
gadfly said,
March 13, 2009 @ 1:39 pm
Why not execute the wounded?
There’s plenty of fodder for the taking.
Reinstate the draft.
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
March 13, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
Gentlemen: I, too, think Joe was being sarcastic—but as moderator of his comments over the months (years), you never know with him. But that’s how I took it.
He’s a South African farmer with a sharp tongue (or index finger)—what he knows about American servicemen is beyond my knowing. He can speak for himself.
What you can know about the keeper of this blog is that I was brought up by anti-Vietnam War parents who looked down upon soldiers. So did I, once.
But I reject that utterly. A GI can be Pat Tillman or he can be Lee Oswald—he still deserves my gratitude for serving his nation and keeping my family safe. “Thank you” first, anything else after.
Bloodthirsty Liberal
terri said,
March 13, 2009 @ 5:16 pm
there is no word for this! those of you who dont know, shouldnt comment, and those of you who do should be more than outraged, if were not careful there could be a war in our own country again!
Al Landry said,
March 13, 2009 @ 8:20 pm
You little pussy Joe O’neil. You are a coward and an idiot. You would not want to say something like that to me face to face. We protected your sweet little trashy self. You don’t desserve to be in this country and share its freedom.
Crawl back in your hole before we find out who you really are.
josephine roybal said,
March 13, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
i don’t think mr obama is qualified as president. he is a big talker with words and no action. he sold himself to all american peolpe with his fancey talk. give him a litttle time and he will disappoint all who voted for him
CJ said,
March 13, 2009 @ 10:39 pm
This is the most obscene of all the idiotic ideas and actions to have come from BO in less than two months in office, as if he hasn’t already done enough damage. As a (former) military brat with a number of family now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, I find the very idea of their having to pay their own medical if wounded, or for their families stateside, to be the most ridiculous nightmare any could ever dream up.
BO wants his own private military. This would be one way to drive all the present, professional military out, to he can get what he wants. The pretender/messiah is dangerous for the well being of this country.
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
March 14, 2009 @ 5:24 am
TO REPEAT: Joe O’Neill is neither serious (at least I don’t think so) nor an American. He is an acerbic South African.
Sarcasm doesn’t always translate on the net. He was either serious and nonsensical, or ironic and Swiftian—I choose to believe the latter.
You don’t have to like his means of expression—we’ve been taken aback by his comments before—but I think it’s worth knowing at least this much about him.
BTL
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
March 14, 2009 @ 6:42 am
It is so obvious that Joe’s kidding. What is the matter with you people?
- Aggie
Nailer said,
March 14, 2009 @ 10:31 am
If it gets submitted 100,000 us soldiers should march onto the whitehouse lawn demanding obamas head on a stick.
Jo said,
March 14, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
How could anyone NOT catch the sarcasm in Joe’s post? Does anyone really think a trip to Afghanistan and Iraq is a vacation? Sometimes I worry more about the people out there than the government screw ups and this is a huge one. How about the government paying for private insurance for every serviceman. They could make it part of the enlistment package. Oh wait, what insurance company is going to want to cover job hazards in a war zone? For the love of God, if the government deploys servicemen into harms way then the government needs to cover the needs of each man AND the family he’s being taken from and it needs to be the government’s responsibility to see each and every man treated as what he is. One who laid his/her life on the line to protect the safety and rights of us all including the lofty souls in the government who sent them there in the first place. SHAME on whoever hatched that abomination of an idea, it’s sickening.
Donnie said,
March 14, 2009 @ 9:22 pm
I am a Vietnam-era veteran who volunteered to serve overseas, and later did so. I love (what is left of) this country today more than I did then.
If there’s any truth to the idea being considered to have our fine young service people pay for service-related injuries in any way, shape, or form, I thought of another idea.
Why not have us pay, retroactively, for the ammunition we expended. This policy could be instituted for a period back to, say, the War of 1812. In my particular case, this will amount to a considerable sum!
And next time you need someone to carry a rifle, DON’T CALL ME, because I won’t go.
Fuzzy said,
March 14, 2009 @ 11:13 pm
PLEASE tell me this was a made-up story, not for real.And this guy is the Secretary of Veterans Affairs?”Only two have been willing to die for you…Jesus and the American Service man.”
john pike said,
March 15, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
I’m a veteran and I’m rated at 60% disabled and I would gladly go back to the middle east and serve my nation. If I was called back you can bet your ass that Mr. O’neil would be my personnal guest of honor and he could see how good the military has it. Fres food, free lodging, paid holidays, hell we even get to play in the sand for free. Whew! sounds exciting doesn’t it Joe! How about you bring you wise ass down range with the men and women who defend your right to publish this crap and then when you get there see how far you get when you voice your opinion. If you have not served in the Armed forces of these United States then you need to keep your comments to yourself. If you have served, then shame on you for voicing such garbage. Next time you fill like flapping your gums and making comments like that then look in the mirror and ask yourself this question: do I have the balls to walk into a VA hospital and tell that to a veteran who lost part of their body or suffer from trauma from their service! If can’t then shut your pie hole!
Watchman said,
March 15, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
Might as well charge them for the toilet paper they use by the sheet.
ROSE said,
March 15, 2009 @ 10:53 pm
TO JOE BLOW O’NEAL, YOU MUST BE OBAMA COMRADE. ARE YOU HIGH ON SOMETHING?
THEY ARE PROTECTING YOU STUPID BUT. WHY DON’T YOU TRY IT FOR SIX MONTHS.
PEOPLE IN AMERICAN HAD BETTER WAKE UP TO OBAMA AND COMRADES LIKE O’NEAL THAT WANT A SOCIALIZED U.S.
Bloodthirsty Liberal said,
March 16, 2009 @ 5:08 am
As Joe wrote to me:
“That was pure satire, I thought it was obvious that I was dissing Obama.”
Yeah, I thought so, too. I wonder if the outrage (after two attempts by yours truly to calm things down) is legitimate.
This thread is hereby closed.
BTL
Jared Dodson said,
March 17, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
I am so glad that I am out
Obama Juggernaut « Commander In Thief said,
March 19, 2009 @ 6:15 am
[…] Folks, if this man is allowed to continue doing things like this, their really will be no America left by the time he’s finished. I cannot believe how sick this is. I am so stunned by this, that I could write about it for months. This really takes the cake, Obama. I can’t believe a human being is this sick and arrogant. […]
Called to be free said,
March 21, 2009 @ 11:04 pm
As a peacetime vet of the US Air Force, I’d like to share a little something I know. The young men & women who go overseas often don’t know where they are going, they just follow the orders of those over them. They leave their families behind the in the states for months on end, and get transported into a “different world” facing people that absolutely hate them for what they percieve their government stands for. It’s no easy job, and these folks deserve not only our respect but any bennys that come along, although I’m sure they are few & far between. Also - I have known several people that are active duty army whose families are on food stamps because the base pay just doesn’t pay enough to live on, especially for those new recruits and lower ranking enlisted folks. My son, who is getting ready to enlist into the army, told me what his base pay would be & I couldn’t believe it, barely above minimum wage. Paying for their own health care? You’ve got to be kidding me. Who dreamed this up, that’s what I want to know.
Next time you’re out at a restaurant & see someone in a military uniform having a meal - if you can - slip the waitress a few extra bucks to pay for their bill as a way to say thanks. God Bless our military, and thank you, all of you, for what you do.
Army wife said,
May 11, 2009 @ 11:29 pm
Im a army wife and my husband is currently over in Iraq, and I hope joe is being sarcarstic because first of all we dont make that much money. My husband gets paid to go over to another country and fight to keep everyone safe in the US. And for the president even considering that is stupid, we shouldnt have to pay for any medical because we couldnt afford it. He has to leave his family and me and our little girl so he can serve for his country. Obama shouldnt be making none of the military even if they are veterans pay for medical because we do this to keep this country safe. My husband has to live in a shitty enviroment for 15months and doesnt get to see his little girl grow up. It pisses me off to think some people in this world think we should have to pay for medical. If you were in the military or had someone special in the military you would think differently. Knowone knows how it feels to have to leave there family to go to another country and then might not come back alive or in one piece, I think the military should make more money for what they do. All I can say is if that law is passed that there will be alot of people out of the military and they will probably have to bring the draft back, or there will be alot of drama military paying medical. My husband tells me alot of the soldiers that he talks to and told them about this that they will be pissed and will get out of the military.
Desert Storm Vet said,
July 24, 2009 @ 11:19 pm
He has already secretly implemented this plan for us to pay for our own healthcare !! Just received bills for all care received from the VA backdated to January 2009 “6 Months Worth” and I had already paid over $800 in co-pays out of pocket !. They tracked down my private healthcare insurance then double billed the insurance also !!
This guy waited for the press to die down, then he screwed all of us vets and our families secretly with his thugs !! He and Emanuel can go to hell, and the military should leave his ass high and dry with absolutely so support at all !!
Vets should take to the streats in DC for a massive protest, that exceeds the numbers at his BS inauguration ! This guy is anti-American to the bone !!
greatgrandma said,
July 27, 2009 @ 11:11 am
My husband is a veteran . He is 73 years young and service connected. The Va when he is seen by a doctor bills his insurance and medicare for his visits. This has been going on for at least 10 years. Now I agree that any military person should never have to pay for treatment.
Anna Dalbec said,
October 12, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
Got an e-mail about this and thought it was a bad joke.
My husband served his country for 20 years. My 2 children and one born when he was in Viet Nam lived many years without a father or husband.
All of us gave a large part of our lives for this country.
.
You never get rich serving your country. But know the sacraficesyou make for freedom is a part we pay for the freedoms that are now being taken away.
SPC/Ret Cummins said,
November 22, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
For everyone who agrees with the Obama bill and wants us military soldiers to pay for our own medical bills well you can kiss my *&# The way I see it if you dont want to stand behind us and support what we do for you then feel free to stand in front of us and act as bullet catchers so we dont have to worry about paying for medical bills. You sure seem to think that you can pay for every medical bill you run into so why dont you try getting blown up 8 times and getting shot and then you can pay for medical expences for the rest of your life. My first two weeks in the hospital cost over 100,000 dollars thats more than i made in the military in three years. How would I ever pay for that on my own. I couldnt I would just have to die, it would be cheaper for my family to bury me then to have to pay for medical bills.
PROUD TO BE A SOLDIER