From Wes Clark; "End the Widow's Tax"

[babylonsister]

Dear xxxx,

I was proud to join House Leaders Nancy Pelosi, Ike Skelton, Lane Evans, and John Salazar last year on Capitol Hill to unveil the new GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, legislation designed to improve benefits for our soldiers and their families today, while providing long overdue benefits for our veterans and military retirees.

We recognized that something needed to be done to eliminate the "widow's tax," which penalizes the survivors of those killed in combat by reducing the benefits to which they are entitled.

Unfortunately, the one-party Congress has chosen to pursue their own agenda -- focusing on making the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans permanent. As for the "widow's tax?" An amendment to repeal it was removed from the latest defense authorization bill by the Republican Congressional leadership.

It's just wrong, and it's bad for military readiness. This is not the time for politics. This is not the time for special interest haggling and pork barrel politics. If we are going to maintain the best volunteer, professional army in the world, we must provide soldiers with the peace of mind that comes from knowing the rest of us will take up for their families if they are killed. How can we expect good, qualified people to remain in military service? It is our duty, as a grateful nation, to stand up for our veterans and their families.

Send a letter to President Bush and your Members of Congress, and urge them to end the "widow's tax" today.

I want to share with you the story of Dan Shea, a member of our WesPAC community. Dan's brother, Lt. Col. Kevin Shea, was killed in Falluja on September 14, 2004. Like many soldiers, Kevin believed the government would take care of his wife Amy and their two children if anything should happen to him. But because of the "widow's tax," this is not the case.

A widow of a service member killed in the line of duty is supported by the survivors' plan paid by the Department of Defense and a dependent's compensation paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs. But under the current law, the payment from the Defense Department is reduced dollar for dollar by the Veterans Administration's payment: The "widow's tax."

I invite you to read Dan's op-ed in today's New York Times on how the "widow's tax" is hurting his family.

And then please, contact President Bush and your Members of Congress. Tell them to end the "widow's tax" today.

I leave you with Dan's own words from the conclusion of his op-ed:

"If President Bush really wants to honor the men and women fighting this war -- and dying like my brother -- then he should call on Congress to eliminate the "widow's tax." It's the least he can do."


Sincerely,

[Joe for Clark]

1. God bless General Clark.

This administration does not give a shit about those kids fighting, they really don't.

The only thing they CAN do is thump their breasts, and proclaim their patiotisism.

But not if it cost them - oh no - where are their kids???

General Clark is right-on, and the sick truth is there are worse things, too.

You gotta wonder what happened to the day when leaders really did believe in a cause.

What happened to the day our Presidents kid flew combat in Europe against the Nazis. Where did those Presidents go??

They sure didn't go to Texas, apparently.

Joe

[Auntie Bush]

3. Clark is on the ball as usual! ALWAYS on the right side of the issue!

He and I agree 100% on everything. I would trust that man with precious grandson. I kn ow he wouldn't do anything if it wasn't a last resort. Then he'd do his best to take care of those coming home. No doubt about it! That man has a heart of gold.

[Joe for Clark]

7. Yes,

I think he is now a conscience of the country. And proud to speak his mind.

He is what we were all meant to be.

I am so proud to stand with him. I know he knows the stakes. I know he knows how to win, too.

And I think it is the reason he lost in 2004. I think God has something more important coming for him. I really do.

I think something is coming, and I think it is very bad. But I do feel a little better knowing he is in the corner of our ring. And I do believe, he is one of the smartest people this country has ever produced. Best of the best, so to speak.


Joe

[henslee]

2. Wes sure makes the most of his political capital. Good on him and his

sense of civic duty.

[Adelante]

4. babylonsister, here is the link

Write to Bush and Congress

http://ga4.org/campaign/widowtax


A simple form. Just do it!

[babylonsister]

5. Thank you, WesDem. I haven't advanced enough to figure

out how to get that from an e-mail! :hi:

[Adelante]

6. I know

What you do is click on the link in the email so it opens in your browser and then copy and paste the url. That's what I do, anyway.

[Adelante]

8. And here is the link for the Times Op-Ed

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/13/opinion/13shea.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

It's written by a Clarkie, Dan Shea.

[Donna Zen]

9. Dan Shea deserves our support!

I remember the day that Dan came on the blog at CCN to tell the group that his brother had been killed in Falujah. It seems that by holding the marines there waiting for bush's election, the troops were in great danger. Since that awful day, I've met the wonderful Dan Shea. His brother was an engineer with a masters and an instructor at Annapolis.

Now, after fighting in bush's dirty, his wife and little girls are basically left to fend for themselves.

republicans support the troops? The entire friggin party of liars can kiss my arse.

[judy from nj]

11. I remember that day

Dan really wrote a great letter, I'm so glad that the NY Times published it.

[Tinksrival]

12. I'll never forget that post on the CCN too.

I let out a blood curdling scream that sent everyone in the house running. I can't believe this hasn't been addressed yet. It's been ten months since I heard Dan speak about this in Little Rock at the NCCM event and I signed up for the USDR action alerts right away. It so frustrating to be e-mailing and writing these asshole in Washington and they just don't care. A widows tax on the families of fallen soldiers? Come on, how low can they get? It seems hopeless especially to write the head asshole *. But I will. We can't let these families feel forgotten. It's the least I can do.

[incapsulated]

10. Done. n/t

[CarolNYC]

13. This really is disgraceful...

God bless Dan and his family and Amy and the girls.

[wiley]

14. Not unbelievable anymore

Republicans will call for tax cuts except if the taxes are a burden and unfair to individuals and families, especially those who serve this country in uniform.

Thanks, Wes.
Thanks, Kevin.
Thanks, Dan.


:patriot:

[FrenchieCat]

15. I read Shea's Oped in the NYT

and I said to myself...Hey, I know that family!

Death cannot be undone! This administration is shameful!

[dogman]

16. It's really sickening that money given to politicians comes before lives

given for country. This administration seems determined to destroy this Country's military.