Pentagon Would Raise Military Death Pay

[truthpusher]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/nation/10780527.htm

Posted on Mon, Jan. 31, 2005

Pentagon Would Raise Military Death Pay

ROBERT BURNS

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - President Bush will propose a dramatic increase to $100,000 in government payments to families of U.S. troops killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and in future combat zones.

The plan to increase the tax-free "death gratuity," now $12,420, will be part the 2006 budget proposal submitted to Congress next week, the Pentagon's personnel chief said in an Associated Press interview. Veterans groups and many in Congress have been pushing for such an increase.

"We think the nation ought to make a larger one-time payment, quite apart from insurance, should you be killed in a combat area of operations," David Chu, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in the interview in his Pentagon office.

"We can never in any program give someone back their loved one," he added. "There is nothing we can do about the hurt, to make it go away. But we can make your circumstances reasonable, in terms of finances."

more:

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/nation/10780527.htm

[aden_nak]

2. I am all for that, but I am also jaded.

So what preposterously obscene bullshit are they going to tack onto that bill, thus forcing Democrats to "vote against money for grieving military families"?

[Tempest]

3. Didn't Bush say he was going to cut the deficit?

As much as I agree with this, how does he propose to pay for it?

[daleo]

4. They must be having a tough time recruiting.

It brings back the old WWII saying "he bought the farm".

[TomClash]

5. Wow all that PLUS

discounts on the caskets and coffiins at funeraldepot!

[dkofos]

6. Good for the troops

Bad for the budget

Let's hope they don't have to many payouts.

[Damien]

7. its a trick

Bush pushes this, which causes more deficit spending, which the dems will vote against. Then bush says dems don't support the troops. its sickening

[truthpusher]

41. sounds like a plan but 100k wouldn't be a trick....

if I died, my family get's 250k and I'm pretty worthless...maybe 250k would be a bit more tricky?

[DistantWind88]

42. They are also talking about increasing

the SGLI to $400K, so that would total $500K.

[CottonBear]

8. "death gratuity" ?????

:scared: :scared: :scared:

[raggedcompany]

9. Houston Chronicle: Bush to propose huge increase in military death benefit

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3017644

$250,000 military death benefit proposed
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Bush will propose a dramatic increase to $250,000 in government payments to families of U.S. troops killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and in future combat zones.
ADVERTISEMENT

The plan to increase the tax-free "death gratuity," now $12,420, to $100,000 and provide an extra $150,000 in life insurance payouts will be part the 2006 budget proposal submitted to Congress next week, the Pentagon's personnel chief said in an Associated Press interview. Veterans groups and many in Congress have been pushing for such increases.

"We think the nation ought to make a larger one-time payment, quite apart from insurance, should you be killed in a combat area of operations," David Chu, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in the interview in his Pentagon office.

"We can never in any program give someone back their loved one," he added. "There is nothing we can do about the hurt, to make it go away. But we can make your circumstances reasonable, in terms of finances."

<clip>

[indepat]

Now ain't that special albeit a war late and a dollar short

[Mountainman]

Hey sign up now for a chance to get killed and send your family

$250,000. Hell with all that dough they won't miss you!

Go right now to your local recruiter and say, "Sign me up for the cannon fodder brigade!"

Yeh Bush 4 more wars!

[Cocoa]

Bush following the dems' lead again

specifically Bill Richardson.

[wellstone dem]

A number of senators have already proposed this

Don Imus has been championing this for over a month.

[rooboy]

1. Whatever it takes to shut the bereaved families up... n/t

[qanda]

10. Wasn't this already proposed by two Senators?

Is he just stealing their idea and making it his own?

[NYC Liberal]

11. Bush steal?

Never! <sarcasm>

[98geoduck]

12. Nice to think your life is worth at least a half a year's salary in

Bush's league, or 5 yrs of the average.

[ckramer]

13. Good for the poor family who live on mininum wages

[sweetheart]

14. he sure is generous with our lives and taxes

A life is worth a lot more than 100K. I presume he'll be paying the
same benefit to the families of 100,000 people he's murdered... probably
not.

I like how they call it a gratuity, like a "tip"... like you toss
a fiver at the bellman... hey, thanks for your life... it was nice.

So the new american nazis value life at 100K each... cheap bastards.

For every parent getting a cheque, surely every single one to a person
would rather have back their child.

[Avalon Sparks]

15. Hmmm....

Don't the families of the 'suicide bombers' in the Mid East get money too?

Getting hard to tell the difference between the 'terrorists' and the good guys, eh?

I guess Bush* is hedging his bets that many less soldiers will die then be injured, because just last week it was reported that he cut funding for VA medical benefits.

I don't trust anything Bush* does.

[MADem]

16. I HAVE A BETTER IDEA

Why not PAY the damn SGLI insurance payment for those who are deployed to a combat zone? Not a fake combat zone, like air conditioned Qatar, but a real combat zone, like Iraq and Afghanistan.

This would cost the government about twenty five bucks a servicemember each month. It would provide the maximum benefit, a quarter million bucks.

See, what happens during the predeployment briefs is that the personnel weenies hand out the paperwork, they urge everyone to update their SGLI and sign up for the max, but for a lot of the JUNIOR enlisted, twenty five bucks is three sacks of diapers, or a load of groceries, the electric bill, the dial up internet bill, some recurring expense for their young family, so they take the chance that THEY won't be the one blown up and forgo the insurance.

By paying the freight for those who are actually facing combat, it would encourage our government to get those kids OUT at the earliest possible time, instead of leaving them there for seven to ten years as fodder. But nah, that's too compassionate for those conservatives...

[leesa]

17. And cut military health care benefits....while I'm glad they are getting

an increased benefit, you know the Republicans have slashed military pay and benefits terribly.
Do I remember them cutting this benefit before? If so, are we back to where we started from and we're just calling it an increase?

[olddad56]

18. I'm surprised that the amount isn't based on a point system...

like each solider could get a score depending on how many confirmed kills he or she had before they were murdered. Maybe 1 point for every enemy soldier, two points for a male civilian, three points for a female civilian (because she could give birth to more future soldiers and 4 points for children (because they will just grow up to hate their liberators anyway). A total of 100 points and you son or daughter's dead body would be worth the maximun. From there, a sliding scale down to the current amount. I mean, why pay 100 grand to the family of a dead solider who hasn't even killed a few innocent human beings.

[saigon68]

40. Outstanding

Maybe 6 points if the soldier anally raped a child prisoner, while the child's father looked on as he was questioned about "The resistance"

[olddad56]

19. how is this different that the PLO paying suicide bombers

[raggedcompany]

20. ultimately, it isn't.

We pay our poor people to do the killing in one way, they pay theirs in another. God & Country for us, God & Country for them. Ain't nationalism grand???

[recovering democrat]

21. Four comments

First, once again, they finally propose to do something for military members after the Dems proposed benefits first. Lots of proposals across the country about this and other family benefits already. Just watch what they are going to do at the same time to pay for it - something is up if Repubs are supporting it.

Second, Is it retroactive for the families of those already lost to the insanity of Iraq?

Third, it doesn't compare to the dollars given to families for civilians killed in the September 11 actions by the US government. Should our soldiers lives not be as valuable as the rest of those?

Finally, improve this and other benefits. AND bring them home!

[BadGimp]

22. $250,000 military death benefit proposed

omg..this is beyond the pale..

$250,000 military death benefit proposed

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Bush will propose a dramatic increase to $250,000 in government payments to families of U.S. troops killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and in future combat zones.

The plan to increase the tax-free "death gratuity," now $12,420, to $100,000 and provide an extra $150,000 in life insurance payouts will be part the 2006 budget proposal submitted to Congress next week, the Pentagon's personnel chief said in an Associated Press interview. Veterans groups and many in Congress have been pushing for such increases.

"We think the nation ought to make a larger one-time payment, quite apart from insurance, should you be killed in a combat area of operations," David Chu, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in the interview in his Pentagon office.

"We can never in any program give someone back their loved one," he added. "There is nothing we can do about the hurt, to make it go away. But we can make your circumstances reasonable, in terms of finances."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3017644

condt ...........

Jebus H Cryst wtf are these people up to? This is so repulsive, so vulgar, so ..oh I can't contain my rage and disgust at this administration.

I think they need to make it retroactive to Vietnam!

[serryjw]

23. I don't get it??

What are yououtraged by..I think it's a great idea (this has nothing to do with the legitimacy of the war!)

[Occulus]

24. think economically.

Think about how many of our soldiers will die if the PNAC plans come to full fruition. Of course, this assumes they'll keep this promise... which I doubt....

[donheld]

29. We'd already have spent $359 Million

If he really instituted this

[truthisfreedom]

25. more borrow and spend economics by the bush admin. good luck, gw.

hope this helps some families, but i also it hurts bushco seriously.

[NYC]

26. Why?

What's behind this?

[Sirveri]

31. Starve the beast.

Without money, the government can not function, and must cut, so they will use it as a excuse to gut social spending.

[NYC]

33. So this is just another way to throw money away?

I wish we had people who cared about America and Americans in the government.

[Sirveri]

34. That's my guess.

But why ever would you want that in our government! This way is so much more interesting, we can all laugh and drink wine as Rome burns, it will be great!

[NYC]

38. I must stock up on wine.

[donheld]

27. You'd better watch this closely.

I'd bet you'll find out it's one of *'s bait and switch tactics. He no more intends to give $250,000 than he intended to give Africa $15 Billion in AIDS funds.

[neoteric lefty]

28. I really can't see what is wrong with this

if a soldier goes to a war, whether it be a justifiable(or legal) one or not, and gives his life in the line of duty, he should still be honored and his or her spouse and children should taken care of. To what extent is open to debate. Disagree with me if you want but I agree that this is a good thing.

[Sirveri]

32. While I like it, I fear they're trying to 'starve the beast'.

The beast being big government. The idea is to load the government up with so much debt that it drowns and has to cut. Once it gets cutting they will of course target the social programs. Basically grow the deficit until there is a crisis which necessititates immediate action.

[LynnTheDem]

30. "Propose" = photo op DISTRACTION, to be shot down by Congress

All talk, no walk. As always with bush.

Pentagon; Veterans' Benefits Hurtful To National Security

[American Tragedy]

35. Great idea. Maybe now they'll be more careful with our soldiers' lives

knowing that they have such a high price tag on each individual death.

[Skittles]

36. this is ominous

you know he doesn't give a damn about the soldiers so there has to be another motive. Now just THINK about what that motive could be.

[sandnsea]

37. This is psycho

A few months ago everybody was bitching because we didn't do enough for the widows. Now you're bitching because Bush has been embarrassed into doing the right thing? And you wonder why people call you the reactionary looney left. I swear, some days...

[BadGimp]

44. anyone wanna bet this passes?

eom

[ze_dscherman]

39. What about disabled and/or mentally ill vets?

How much are they going to get - those that actually still need the money?

[hector459]

43. Dems pushed for this now Bush is taking credit.

Here comes the draft!!!