Political Quotes

“I see that S. 1963, a bill to repeal certain reductions made by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, is on the calendar. I didn't vote for the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, and my no vote was cast for one reason--this so-called CPI-minus-1-percent injustice done to military retirees. Military retirees under the age of 62--according to this newly passed bipartisan budget bill signed by the President--will not be able to keep up with the cost of living because their annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, would be reduced each year by 1 percent. I think we have clearly pointed out to the American people the injustice of this provision in the Budget Act. An enlisted person would lose approximately $80,000 out of his or her pocket over their lifetime. These military retirees have fulfilled every part of their bargain. After they have done their share and subjected themselves to worldwide duty--perhaps serving in a war zone any number of times--the government comes along in the form of this bill and says: We have changed our minds. We are not going to give you your full cost of living. We are going to take a percent of that each year. For officers it is even more than $80,000 over their lifetime. I believe most Americans now realize that it was a mistake to do this. It needs to be corrected, and we need to go back and keep our promise to military retirees. We have an obligation to do this for our military retirees.…”