If you haven’t heard, MOAA was active in getting the proposed cut in retirement pay eliminated. Excellent!
Now however, and I don’t know how I missed these, but we’ve got other service member benefits being used in order for the Pentagon to shave costs. I don’t know why they keep attacking member benefits. Well, I do know why – we’re not a corporation lobbying, wining, and dining elected representatives. I’m glad though we have MOAA lobbying for the individual servicemembers.
Anyway, these proposals include a cap on the military pay raise, reduced housing allowance, smaller commissary subsidies, and increases in TRICARE copays and deductibles. The attached chart shows the proposed TRICARE increases, but to see all the proposed battles in the budget, go to: http://www.moaa.org/budgetbattle/
At the bottom of that page, you can follow the link provided to “Take Action Now” and let your legislator know your thoughts about: “Don’t Tax Military People First.” This is a great tool MOAA provides us – you have the names of your legislators, contact info, and even a template with wording that addresses all of the budget battles and the impact on service members (you can edit the wording if you desire). And all is online and can be sent off to D.C. with the click of a link.
If the MOAA info isn’t enough to get you to take action, consider this comment from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey said on Wednesday during a congressional hearing: “Troops will gripe but accept benefit cuts.” Very thoughtful comment toward the troops – and very timely given the events in Ukraine.
Of course at the General’s rank, these cuts will have minimal impact (see this article: Some top military brass making more in pension than pay).
So go to www.moaa.org/BudgetBattle, and let your legislators know what you think and that they shouldn’t tax military people first.
