Friday, September 28, 2007

Unreal!... Democrats Redeploy Veteran's Benefits to Philippines

The democrats talked about helping veterans...

They just didn't say which country's veterans they were going to help.


The US lost thousands of soldiers securing freedom in the Philippines during World War II. Now, Democrats are going to give benefits to Filipino veterans while taking money from US veterans. (Photo of World War II Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines)
Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) at The Times-Gazette reported:

As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs (VA) Committee, the work of helping to ensure that those who have worn a military uniform receive the benefits and respect to which they were promised, is often rewarding.

A recent Veterans' Affairs Committee meeting took an unusual twist, which many people are surprised to learn about when I tell them.

This story is about a two-part process that led to unbelievable decisions.

First, the Veterans' Committee took away benefits from some very deserving American veterans.

Second, the committee gave benefits to veterans of another country who don't live in the United States, and never have lived in this country or been American citizens. I opposed both actions.

I am against the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 (H.R. 760). This legislation will provide benefits to Filipino World War II veterans.

These veterans were members of the Philippines military. They fought in the Pacific Theater, presumably on behalf of their native country.

They are citizens of the Philippines and not U.S. citizens. While these Filipino troops may have fought bravely, side-by-side, with American soldiers, they should be looking to the Philippines for veterans' benefits.

The United States has obligations to American veterans. We should not be held responsible for the benefits of the Philippines or any additional countries.

The Filipino veterans' provisions in HR 760 are similar to a plan passed by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

If signed into law, it would provide full veterans' status to World War II era Filipino soldiers and even their survivors.

This would include pay for service related disabilities, survivor pay for service-connected deaths, as well as pensions and death benefits.

Those who are living in the Philippines, and are not U.S. citizens, would receive $6,000 to $8,400. Low-income widows would receive $3,600.

I have witnessed some contentious hearings in my years in public service. VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner, D-Calif., was determined to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. When the exchanges between the chairman and ranking member (and former chairman) Steve Buyer, R-Ind., became too heated, Filner ordered a recess to plot strategy with the Democratic majority.

The measure passed on a straight party-line vote and Filner refused to recognize any additional Republican amendments.

Providing veterans' benefits to Filipino service members is only half of the issue.

Perhaps more egregious is how the Democrats offset the cost of the new benefits. Because of House PAYGO rules, any new entitlement spending (such as the Filipino Veterans Equity Act) must be funded by either a corresponding cut in existing spending or matching revenue gains.

In this case, the Democrats on the Veterans Committee voted to save nearly $1 billion by eliminating a $2,200 special monthly payment to veterans who are less than 100 percent disabled, but 60 percent or greater disabled.

Paying Filipino service members who served alongside American troops in the Philippines during World War II sets a dangerous precedent. There were certainly brave Koreans and Vietnamese who served alongside Americans during the Korean and Vietnamese conflicts.

There are some Afghanis and Iraqis who are serving nobly with their American counterparts today. The Filipino Veterans Equity Act makes it logical for the United States to pay foreign fighters from these conflicts future benefits as well.

It is outrageous that U.S. veterans who have a high level of disability have lost up to $2,200 per month in benefits.

Rather than using U.S. tax dollars to pay American veterans who have sacrificed, Chairman Filner and the Democrats on the Veterans' Affairs Committee decided that paying non-U.S. citizens was a more important national priority.

This does not serve our nation.
Hat Tip George M. Lauer

UPDATE: PST314 comments below that the benefits were owed to the Filipino soldiers since the islands were part of the American Commonwealth at that time and the benefits were promised them.
That makes sense.

7 comments:

  1. They should've voted to increase both the Americans and Philipino's benefits

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  2. "gave benefits to veterans of another country who...never have...been American citizens."

    The Philippines were an American commonwealth until 1946, so it seems reasonable to grant veterans benefits to men who fought while the Philippines were part of the United States.

    Furthermore, I have read that during WWII America promised veterans benefits to Filipino soldiers but never delivered, and if that is true then this bill is a sad example of a shameful delay in fulfilling sacred obligations.

    (The bill begins "To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts to have been active service for purposes of benefits under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.")

    Now taking away benefits from veterans, now that's another matter.

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  3. The Philippine-American war reflects much upon our current fights, save that the insurgency faced there post-1901 makes al Qaeda look nice. Together with the Filipinos we were able to stand the near decade it took to end that insurgency, and bring enough peace back there for Congress to warrant local control be handed back to the Philippine government. MacArthur fought to save the Philippines and fought his way back in to liberate it... today with the Philippines now under attack by Abu Sayyaf and their Moros, emboldened by Abu Sayyaf and al Qaeda, we help to train against insurgency and learn of the vicious type being practiced there against the people of the Philippines.

    Together we were able to end the insurgency that started in 1901.

    Together we fought to keep the Philippines from being over-run.

    Together we fought to regain their lands.

    The US stepped out when asked by the Philippine government and then sent aid back in when Mt. Pinotubo erupted.

    And now we stand with them to counter new Islamic insurgents trying to disrupt their islands and way of life.

    Congress wants to what? Is this how we show appreciation to peoples who have fought and died with us for generations, and have only asked for our help in ending their troubles? Is this the munificent gratitude of the United States, to fund petty little pet projects and yet show no gratitude for those that spill blood with ours to win for freedom who we agreed to help and support?

    That is not politics.

    That is breaking our word as a Nation and our pledge to help those that ask us for help to win to freedom.

    To hell with Congress if it cannot honor such People who have fought with us and for us, and our Oath to them to show gratitude and support once the fighting is over.

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  4. I have to absolutely agree with the sentiments expressed by both jimmy the dhimmi and pst314... Well said sentiments...

    Yet we have a problem since the Dems have other fish to fry that seem to have first dibs on the contents of our wallets...

    Check out the following courtesy of that ass-clown Rep. John Dingell: Rep. Dingell: Tax motorists, homeowners to combat global warming

    "This is going to cause pain," he said, adding that he wants to make certain "the pain is shared in a way that is fair, proper, acceptable and accomplishes the basic purpose" of reducing greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels.

    Dingell said he's not sure what the final climate package will include when the House takes it up for a vote. The taxes measures he's proposing, in fact, will be taken up by another House committee. And the Senate is considering a market-based system that would set an economy-wide ceiling on the amount of carbon dioxide that would be allowed to be released.

    Dingell says he hasn't rule out such a so-called "cap-and-trade" system, either, but that at least for now he wants to float what he believes is a better idea. He will propose for discussion:

    _A 50-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline and jet fuel, phased in over five years, on top of existing taxes.

    _A tax on carbon, at $50 a ton, released from burning coal, petroleum or natural gas.

    _Phaseout of the interest tax deduction on home mortgages for homes over 3,000 square feet. Owners would keep most of the deduction for homes at the lower end of the scale, but it would be eliminated entirely for homes of 4,200 feet or more. (there is more)

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  5. Anonymous7:46 AM

    "These veterans were members of the Philippines military. They fought in the Pacific Theater, presumably on behalf of their native country."

    Rep. Turner is a presumptive fool if he presumes that Filipinos only fought on behalf of their native country. He is historically illiterate if he erases the Filipine contributions to the US army and navy. He gives Republicans a bad name and had damned well better apologise.

    What he and all other congressmen should do is give up some of their secret earmarks, and fund the Filipine benefits out of the bloated moneybags formerly earmarked to bribe their constituents.

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  6. Anonymous9:16 AM

    Filipinos who were either part of the Philippine’s established military forces or who could verify that they were guerillas who fought against the Japanese were initially given 50% of the current VA benefit payments at the insistence of the government of the Philippines, which believed that payment of 100% of then current VA payment would establish a class of Filipino veterans who were far better off than the average Filipino; a development that they thought would be detrimental to the Philippine government’s efforts to reestablish a post-war society on the devastated islands. Over the decades VA benefits for Filipinos have been improved and there is a VA hospital in the Philippines to serve them, but Filipinos have always wanted more.

    Filipinos were fighting, after all, for their own country, not as some sort of favor to the U.S. I believe they are lucky to have what they have and see no reason to grant them 100% parity, especially if the money to pay for increased benefits to Filipinos decreases funds to pay for American veterans benefits.

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  7. Anonymous1:07 PM

    "VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner, D-Calif., was determined to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. When the exchanges between the chairman and ranking member (and former chairman) Steve Buyer, R-Ind., became too heated, Filner ordered a recess to plot strategy with the Democratic majority."

    After serving more than 20 years in the UNITED STATES Navy, I have to say that this greatly concerns me, partially due to the fact that I am a Disabled Veteran, but more to the fact that mr. filner, is obviously pushing a self serving agenda as from Wikipedia: " in Southern California, nearly 480,000 Filipinos (over one out of every four Filipino Americans) make their homes in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas in 2000. Los Angeles County holds the largest Filipino settlement in the United States, with over 262,000 members of the group, followed by San Diego County, with nearly 121,000 Filipinos." Since mr. kilner represents the San Diego area, it is no wonder he pushes so hard for this legislation. As I have stated on other sites, if we promised this then we are obligated to pay, plain and simple. HOWEVER I don't believe that when/if we stated we would pay that the funds were to come out of DESERVING VETERANS disability entitlements. Who is the moron that appointed this jerk to the VA Committee did our Deserving Veterans lose a coin toss or was the assignment by alphabet and by the time they got to the "V's" kilner was all that was left.... UN F'ing Real... Only in America... Next they will want to give illegal aliens Commissary privileges...

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