Post by: 280plus on July 24, 2007, 01:18:52 AM
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 23, 2007 18:24:04 EDT
Republicans on the House Veterans Affairs Committee are trying to scuttle a committee-passed plan to provide pensions for World War II-era Filipino Scouts by getting a major veterans service organization to question whether this is the highest priority for improved benefits.
In a letter, the 13 Republicans on the committee complain about being blocked on July 17 from offering amendments that would have redirected the $875 million being spent on disability pay and pensions for Filipino veterans, including those who are not American citizens and who dont even live in the U.S.
Each amendment proposed alternative ways to spend the money going to Filipino veterans, the letter says. Two amendments would have reduced the pensions, which would total up to $8,400 a year for a married veteran, and shifted the rest of the money to programs that Republicans see as higher priorities. Two other blocked amendments would have eliminated the Filipino benefits altogether to increase payments for 100-percent disabled veterans and survivors of veterans who have died of service-connected causes.
Republicans complain that the committee chairman, Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., used an unprecedented procedure of calling for a final vote while Republicans were trying to offer the amendments.
Filner said he saw no amendments in front of him, so he didnt recognize anyone to offer an amendment. Rep. Steve Buyer of Indiana, the former chairman and now ranking Republican member of the committee, said amendments were there but Filner simply chose to cut off debate.
By writing the veterans groups and including copies of the amendments with the letter, Buyer and the other Republicans are trying to create seeds of doubt about the bill, HR 760, before it is brought up for debate on the House floor.
A Democratic committee aide said Filners staff had seen the letter but had no immediate comment.
Filner said during the July 17 session in which the bill was passed that he was trying to fulfill a promise made at the end of World War II to provide benefits to people who fought on behalf of U.S. Interests but were not part of the U.S. Military.
He stressed that he is not acting alone; the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has approved a similar bill with similar benefits. The Senate bill also created controversy over spending money on benefits for noncitizens at a time when U.S. Veterans can expect long delays in getting their benefits claims and pensions approved because of a backlog in processing requests, which has raised questions about the wisdom of expanding benefits.
Post by: HankB on July 24, 2007, 03:42:37 AM
There's something wrong about paying people Americans died for . . .
Post by: 280plus on July 24, 2007, 03:47:16 AM
Post by: Jamisjockey on July 24, 2007, 04:05:53 AM
I'd be more inclined to believe we were there to take the PI back so it could be used as a stepping stone to Japan.
And to shore up MaCarthur's ego.
Post by: Leatherneck on July 24, 2007, 04:15:30 AM
TC
Post by: Moondoggie on July 24, 2007, 05:07:19 AM
Answer: NO! (Not unless they became disabled as a result of service.)
Yeah, Congress....you just keep writing those checks like the money can never run out. Those of us who actually paid SS Taxes and spent career service with the gov't are just going to love you when you start bouncing the checks for payments that people actually earned.
We need to erect 535 gallows within sight of the capitol so these clowns can't whine that they had no idea it was coming when it comes.
Post by: The Viking on July 24, 2007, 05:10:09 AM
We need to erect 535 gallows within sight of the capitol so these clowns can't whine that they had no idea it was coming when it comes.
Sounds like something that need to be done outside parliaments all around the world.I'll bring some nails and a hammer
Post by: K Frame on July 24, 2007, 05:32:01 AM
During World War II the Philippines were still a possession of the United States.
While their status had changed from a colony to Commonwealth in 1935, the US still had economic, governance, and military treaties with the Philippines. Their status then was akin to the status of Puerto Rico right now.
The Philippino scouts were employed and paid by the US military.
The United States pays a lot of pension money to individuals who are not citizens of the United States because they served in the US military at some point.
The British do the same thing. As do the French.
As a stepping stone to Japan the Philippines were largely worthless. Nimitz and King's central Pacific stepping stone plan was, until authorization was finally given for the invasion, the sole plan for conquest of Japan.
MacArthur fought long and hard to make sure that the Philippines would be invaded. Yes, part of it was MacArthur ego, but part of it was also the fact that MacArthur was also deeply attached to the Philippines and its people.
Post by: 280plus on July 24, 2007, 10:25:29 AM
Post by: RevDisk on July 24, 2007, 11:10:05 AM
It's not really a case of " . . . trying to fulfill a promise made at the end of World War II to provide benefits to people who fought on behalf of U.S. Interests . . . " it's a case of paying people we were helping. The Philipines were invaded and occupied by Japan, and the USA fought to liberate them; that Filipinos also fought against Japan just demonstrates they they were worth helping.
There's something wrong about paying people Americans died for . . .
There's something wrong about paying people Americans died for . . .
Japan surrended September 2, 1945. Philippines achieved independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. Philippine Scouts were members of the US Army, commanded by American officers. Upon independence, United States offered all Filipinos in the Philippine Scouts units full U.S. citizenship. The overwhelming majority of the survivors accepted.
Look up the campaign record and casualty rate of the Philippine Scounts before dismissing them. They died for our country while at serving our country's orders, remember that.
Each pension would be for a US Army veteran, overwhelmingly likely a US citizen.
Post by: Leatherneck on July 24, 2007, 11:33:32 AM
TC
Post by: Sergeant Bob on July 24, 2007, 11:41:36 AM
Japan surrended September 2, 1945. Philippines achieved independence from the United States on July 4, 1946. Philippine Scouts were members of the US Army, commanded by American officers. Upon independence, United States offered all Filipinos in the Philippine Scouts units full U.S. citizenship. The overwhelming majority of the survivors accepted.
Look up the campaign record and casualty rate of the Philippine Scounts before dismissing them. They died for our country while at serving our country's orders, remember that.
Each pension would be for a US Army veteran, overwhelmingly likely a US citizen.
How many US citizens who were 4 year Army veterans got pensions? A lot of them died for our country too.
Post by: K Frame on July 24, 2007, 11:42:20 AM
There may be a compelling reason why.
Post by: MechAg94 on July 24, 2007, 12:49:22 PM
Post by: Thor on July 24, 2007, 12:52:28 PM
Question: Did we pay pensions to our own GI's who fought for 4 yrs in WWII??? (Many of whom were drafted.)
Answer: NO! (Not unless they became disabled as a result of service.)
Yeah, Congress....you just keep writing those checks like the money can never run out. Those of us who actually paid SS Taxes and spent career service with the gov't are just going to love you when you start bouncing the checks for payments that people actually earned.
We need to erect 535 gallows within sight of the capitol so these clowns can't whine that they had no idea it was coming when it comes.
Answer: NO! (Not unless they became disabled as a result of service.)
Yeah, Congress....you just keep writing those checks like the money can never run out. Those of us who actually paid SS Taxes and spent career service with the gov't are just going to love you when you start bouncing the checks for payments that people actually earned.
We need to erect 535 gallows within sight of the capitol so these clowns can't whine that they had no idea it was coming when it comes.
I'm with Moondoggie, 100%. I served 20 years in order to get a pension. Why should they get something that the regular service member doesn't ??
Post by: 280plus on July 24, 2007, 02:31:11 PM