Miller Calls on Begich and Murkowski to Reject Murray-Ryan Budget, Support Military
Anchorage, Alaska. December 16, 2013 – Joe Miller today called on Senators Begich and Murkowski to reject the unsustainable Murray-Ryan budget, describing it as just another Washington gimmick.
“The latest budget gimmick is yet another sign that Washington is fundamentally unserious about the debt crisis facing the nation,” Miller said. “It’s simply unacceptable to continue down the road to fiscal insolvency and economic disaster with a ‘tax and spend’ deal that does absolutely nothing to address Congress’ spending addiction.”
Not only does the budget deal result in a net spending increase of $63 billion over the next two years, it will also raise taxes and cut crucial retirement benefits for military veterans.
The deal cuts pension cost of living adjustments (“COLA”) by one percentage point per year for military retirees who aren’t disabled and not yet 62 years old. The vast majority of military personnel retire after twenty to thirty years of service at half their active duty pay level. Most under the Murray-Ryan plan will see a 20 percent or more pay cut in their COLA’s, which are linked to the inflation rate, so the salary maintains the same buying power.
CNN Money reports, “The average cut in pension payouts, including compounding interest, for a retiring Army Sergeant first class, would be about $3,700 each year, according to the Military Officers Association of America. Over 20 years, the total losses could balloon to more than $80,000.”
Joe Miller concluded, “It’s just more political double-speak, and I’m sickened that Congress has so little regard for the sacrifice of our career military men and women, much less for the commitments that they’ve made. It’s classic bait-and-switch, a raw deal that should be roundly rejected by Senators Begich and Murkowski. I urge Alaskans to contact our senate delegation and tell them to reject the Murray-Ryan plan.”
Joe Miller is a husband, father, war veteran, businessman, and Constitutional conservative who believes in limited government, the Right to life, individual liberty, private property, and free markets.
