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H.R. 1818, The Disabled Veterans Commissary and Exchange Store Benefits Act (205 comments ↓ | 4 wiki edits)
H.R. 1818 would amend title 10, United States Code, to extend military commissary and exchange store privileges to veterans with a compensable service-connected disability and to their dependents.
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Visitor Comments
RPK
October 27, 2009, 12:26am (report abuse)Actually the discussion was not about COLA but about the erosion of benefits for seniors in general. They see the growth of entitlement programs for others as being funded out of their pockets. They believe they will pay more taxes and receive less in return because of the growth in these programs. To be honest, your Safeway remarks make no sense. There are no government programs at Safeway for seniors. I really don't see the tie-in here.
So according to what you said above it seems that a growing number of citizens are saying "Enough" already. I don't have any answer. I am trying to find out what veterans have to say. This is one place out of many I have asked this question. Every time the veterans have come back with similar answers. Things like "The country owes me." and "There will never be enough to compensate me for my sacrifice." are common threads. Those kinds of comments certainly don't serve to calm any other group's concerns.
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) October 27, 2009, 7:57am (report abuse)RPK says in part: "Every time the veterans have come back with similar answers. Things like "The country owes me." and "There will never be enough to compensate me for my sacrifice." are common threads. Those kinds of comments certainly don't serve to calm any other group's concerns."
Somewhere along the way I missed the droves of Vets saying this??! Point in fact is, as a disabled vet, I don't feel the country "owes" me anything.. a benefit package came with my service, part of which is compensation for my injuries/illness or whatever the government deems is "service connected" - How much are bullets thru the thigh, knee or chest worth..? Don't know - don;t care.. all we signed up for was to serve and all we expect is to be compensated for losses incurred in service .. anything else is a bonus - like this bill.. it's a a way to help vets thru tuff times..
~Dave
Tracer
October 27, 2009, 9:24pm (report abuse)"all we expect is to be compensated for losses incurred in service .. anything else is a bonus - like this bill.. it's a a way to help vets thru tuff times.."
That sounds very much like an admission that this bill is nothing but welfare.
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) October 28, 2009, 7:45am (report abuse)"Tracer" says in part: "That sounds very much like an admission that this bill is nothing but welfare."
?? WTF !! How is "shopping" at the PX welfare? Seems to me like there are one or two folks here that are hell bent on making vets out to be cheats and frauds.. you just don't like the idea of disabled veterans being afforded a benefit - I'll never understand this mentality - but then I don't really give a rats ass about those folks who would bash veterans anyway..
SUPPORT OUR VETS !! SUPPORT THIS BILL!
~Dave
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) October 28, 2009, 2:43pm (report abuse)RPK opines in part - "There are no government programs at Safeway for seniors. I really don't see the tie-in here."
Really...? Hmmm Lemme see.. Food stamps, medicare, medi-cal, WIC. Maybe seniors or other recipients of these "benefits" shouldn't be able to to shop at Safeway.. now I know that is as ridiculous as it sounds and I don't feel that way for a minute but you get the point now?? .. kinda like not allowing disabled veterans to shop (translate that into "spend money" which will benefit active duty and reserve forces) at the PX/BX/NEX or Ships Store..
Wake up RPK and SUPPORT OUR VETS like every good American should!!
~Dave
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) October 28, 2009, 3:49pm (report abuse)More for RPK's consideration when making uninfomred comments..
"Safeway pharmacies are a participant in federal health care programs and receive reimbursement
from Medicaid agencies for prescriptions dispensed to Medicaid beneficiaries. As an entity that
receives payments from Medicaid which meet the requirements under section 6032 of the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005, Safeway is required to comply with certain provisions of the Deficit
Reduction Act."
Under the Deficit Reduction Act, Safeway is required by law to establish certain policies and
provide all employees with information regarding: (1) the federal False Claims Act and similar state laws, (2) an employee’s right to be protected as a whistleblower, and (3) Safeway’s policies and procedures for detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state and federal health care programs.
Continued..
~Dave
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) October 28, 2009, 3:50pm (report abuse)(last part of this diatribe - point made...)
"Further, contractors, subcontractors, agents, and other persons which or who, on
behalf of Safeway, furnish or otherwise authorize the furnishing of Medicaid health care items or
services, perform billing or coding functions, or are involved in monitoring of health care
provided by Safeway are required to adopt these policies and procedures to continue to do
business with Safeway."
SUPPORT OUR VETS!! SUPPORT OUR SENIORS!! SUPPORT THIS BILL!!
~Dave
To StefaniesDad
October 28, 2009, 9:04pm (report abuse)Biy you sure like peeing into the wind don't you? Or is that spitting? Either way you are sure getting wet. And the more you do the more coarse you become. Looks like your true personality is starting to show through that veneer of civility you initially used as a cover.
It is usually those who are in the wrong who yell the loudest and make the lost strident statements. Sound familiar there StefaniesDad? If not go look in the mirror.
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) October 28, 2009, 11:18pm (report abuse)In Andy Johnson's words.. "I am crushed!!" ?? Whatever dude (or dudette) ..
I was making a point .. you employ a juvenile tactic I have seen many times in court from defense attorneys. "When you have no defense, attack the witness' credibility.. it doesn't work there and won't work here either. This is a good bill meant for good people. Get used to it. Whether it passes or not this time, eventually it will.
SUPPORT OUR VETS!! SUPPORT THIS BILL!!
~Dave
To StefaniesDad
October 29, 2009, 12:01am (report abuse)I truly doubt this one has a chance of ever passing. There isn't enough payback for the politicians to make it worth their while. And don't trot out that lame old saw about votes. There aren't enough voting vets to make a difference.
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) October 29, 2009, 6:50pm (report abuse)(from another's post "Concerned" on HR108 for reference)
"Through an increase in eligibility of commissary and PX privileges on US Military Installations to any disabled veteran, veterans will be given an economic incentive to locate nearby to said installations. This, in turn, will afford them On-the-Job-Training (OJT) benefits through existing Vocational Rehabilitation opportunities. These veterans would undoubtedly find the transition easier than to that of a purely civilian environment as they would be surrounded by a military structure and culture, though in a civilian setting. Once established, they can then move throughout the federal government to fill needed vacancies."
*This bill costs the taxpayers nothing.
*This bill underscores the Presidents commitment to Veterans.
*This bill serves ALL service connected disabled Veterans and their familes.
*This bill increases MWR allowances for active duty and reserve troops.
SUPPORT THIS BILL! SUPPORT VETS!
~Dave
Vet2Fed
October 30, 2009, 3:14pm (report abuse)To bring things back on point. As a Veteran, I feel that any proposed benefit wherein the benefit outweighs the cost is worth pursuing. I fail to see how or why seniors could possibly see this benefit as cutting into their slice of the pie - This proposal is virtually a no-cost benefit... $9 for an ID card per veteran who opts to shop at the PX/Commissary and we're not talking about a huge number here... this is merely dust as compared to the Senior Citizen's "pie". This bill represents a huge benefit. If the cost outweighed the benefit, I'd be strongly opponosed to it.
To StefaniesDad
October 30, 2009, 4:01pm (report abuse)"This bill costs the taxpayers nothing."
That's naive. Nothing ever goes through the government that doesn't have a cost affixed to it.
In fact, it appears you have decided that the rest of the country can just suck it up and give the veterans everything they want. You can all wave the flag and cry "Veterans First" all you want but just remember that the rest of the folks out here have to pay for it. And there are those who are getting tired of the continuing demand for more.
...
October 31, 2009, 3:52pm (report abuse)StefaniesDad likes to close with
"SUPPORT THIS BILL! SUPPORT VETS!"
What it should really say in order to really put across his true feelings is
SUPPORT THIS BILL! SUPPORT ME!
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) October 31, 2009, 7:35pm (report abuse)Picked up yet another co-sponsor!!
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 10/13/2009
SUPPORT ALL VETS !! (Yes, including me...) SUPPORT THIS BILL!!
~Dave
lar atlanta
October 31, 2009, 11:35pm (report abuse)This bill to allow Disabled Veterans access to the Commisaaries is a no brainer. It would cost the government nothing. Yet it would be a nother benefit for those veterans,who may need to stretch their beneifts. This issue has been around for years and it seems that not one is pushing this forward, like the DAV and other veteran groups that have the ear of the president and congress
Doc Jorge
November 3, 2009, 9:28am (report abuse)Maybe someone can format a letter to congress and every vets just copy and paste them send them to their legislators.
For lar atlanta
November 4, 2009, 7:44pm (report abuse)You are correct - this is a no-brainer. It should be thrown out and never brought back again.
There is no compelling reason to approve another giveaway for veterans.
RPK
November 5, 2009, 12:23am (report abuse)This is the kind of thing that will threaten many veterans programs in the future. While it does not directly affect this bill it is an indication of how more and more around the country feel. You can believe this - this senator is not the only one who is thinking this way in the U.S. Congress.
http://tinyurl.com/ycj4vhw
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) November 5, 2009, 12:01pm (report abuse)Thanx for the link RPK.. now here is the truth of the matter regarding this unrelated bill..
This Senator is concerned with paying for the bill - he is concerned about cost in this Democratically controlled quagmire we've found ourselves in.
HB1818 (this bill) has no or very little cost (maybe 9 bucks for an ID card) which could be born by the Veterans benefitting from the bill..
Here is the opening for the above article: "The senator holding up consideration of an omnibus veterans’ health bill doesn’t hate veterans and their families, but he does hate the idea of creating new benefits without paying for them, his spokesman says.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., is using Senate rules to block a vote on S 1963, a major veterans bill, unless he has the chance to offer amendments to pay for the new benefits it creates, especially stipends, health benefits, counseling and other programs aimed at family caregivers of seriously wounded combat veterans.
SUPPORT ALL VETS!!
~Dave
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) November 5, 2009, 12:02pm (report abuse)PS: This Senator reflects NO THREAT to veterans benefits - he even says that in the article.
SUPPORT THIS BILL !! SUPPORT ALL VETS!!
~Dave
RPK
November 5, 2009, 8:47pm (report abuse)You can keep spouting the no cost idea all you want. The fact remains that anything the government does has costs. This will add cost and much more than your fictitious $9.00
As you said this senator is concerned with paying the bills. How many bills do you suppose are generated by veterans benefits? And just how long before the cutting begins. It has happened before and it very well could happen again. If you keep pushing for more and more there will be resistance and eventually cuts will occur. I suppose some would call it greed on the part of veterans when they never seem to be satisfied and always want more.
Vet2Fed
November 6, 2009, 7:25am (report abuse)Actually, even DOD calls the card cost "negligible in the following article:
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=1706
In this arrticle, again published by DOD, they are quoted as $6-$8:
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=2701
This is the problem with trying to push this bill forward - the opposition attempts to kill the bill by injecting doubt and deception by questioning the facts and stating unverifiable information. RPK, here are our facts and numbers. Can you back up your statements?
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) November 6, 2009, 7:56am (report abuse)RPK says: "You can keep spouting the no cost idea all you want. The fact remains that anything the government does has costs. This will add cost and much more than your fictitious $9.00"
I join Vet2Fed in saying: "Back it up".
.. and while I'm thinking about it, it seems that you started here by talking about seniors.. while this group certainly has a bigger hunk of the pie then do Vets, alot of us here are seniours or approaching 'seniorhood' as well.. no one else has mentioned that the elderly are against this bill 'cept you .. interesting but hollow statement me think..
~Dave
SUPPORT ALL VETS !! SUPPORT THIS BILL !!
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) November 6, 2009, 7:58am (report abuse)PS: Attention all Vets - NEWSSFLASH !!
USAA has expanded thier membership offering to include ALL veterans now.. this is a money saving service big time !! Go to USAA.com for more info!
~Dave
SUPPORT OUR VETS!! SUPPORT ALL VETS !! SUPPORT THIS BILL!!
RPK
November 6, 2009, 5:41pm (report abuse)If you believe the cost of the card is the only cost to be incurred you live in a fantasy land. But then again, that seems to be how it is.
As to the question about seniors, that is how it is in my district. You may be senior or not, but you are also one who has a vested interest in this legislation passing. If that happens you get to be a double-dipper, or worse. You get the benefit of this bill if it passes and you also get your senior benefits. A larger number than you might think do not get that extra benefit.
I suppose it won't ever be clear to you until it happens. Unfortunately by the time you realize what has happened it will be too late to back up. If I were a cynical person I would probably believe you are trying to suck up as much as you can because you know it won't last.
StefaniesDad
(logged in user) November 8, 2009, 8:26am (report abuse)RPK says: "If I were a cynical person I would probably believe you are trying to suck up as much as you can because you know it won't last."
When logic, knowledge and common sense fail to walk tall, s/he degrades to posting this sort of thing..
I'm done responding directly to it's comments.
Generally speaking this bill has far more upsides then down - it will pass in some form some day - we have to keep fight for our benefits, existing and proposed. Write your representatives and ...
SUPPORT ALL VETERANS !! SUPPORT THIS BILL!!
~Dave
Vet2Fed
November 9, 2009, 8:07am (report abuse)RPK, You keep on implying that our estimates of the cost are misrepresented, but you fail to provide concrete data to support what, if any additional costs there would be.
According to existing MWR data, only 40% of retirees take advantage of Commissary/PX. I think we could safely assume that the same number or fewer disabled vets would do the same. That means that fewer than half as many disabled vets would visit the commissary on a given day as retirees. I asked the Director of Logistics at our local facility what additional costs were associated with allowing retirees onto bases... he said no funds were allocated for retiree traffic. Now why, would allowing Veterans access be any different?
Vet2Fed
November 10, 2009, 8:46am (report abuse)More facts we should all consider as we stand on the eve of Veterans Day: 1 in 3 of the nation's reported homeless are Veterans.
Studies show that most have dificulties reintegrating into society after their military service.
The VA currently spends Billions to help reverse this shocking statistic.
This bill could help keep those veterans from becoming homeless in the future by giving them an incentive to live and work near/on DoD installations. It would ease their transition back into Civilian life while still providing the military structure and support network.
Wouldn't it be nice to reduce the Billions currently being spent and have fewer homeless by getting them off of the "entitlements programs"?
RPK
November 10, 2009, 1:16pm (report abuse)Have you considered the costs to the merchants who will lose these customers? Have you considered the reduced taxes? Have you considered the increased use of resources to travel to the military base? Perhaps not direct costs but costs just the same.
As to your repeated spiel about moving veterans into the federal workforce I would ask you very bluntly - If these folks are having the mentalproblems you and others have indicated do you really believe they are the people we want working on military installations? Does the term "Going Postal" have any meaning to you? Is it really a good idea to employ these individuals near the same kinds of things that caused their problems in the first place?
And personally I question the truth of the reported one in three statistic you quote.
Vet2Fed
November 10, 2009, 2:24pm (report abuse)RPK,
See the following link:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/veterans.html This data was updated September 2009 and is thus quite current.
As for your comments on "going postal", I am disapointed in you. Just because someone is homeless and is having difficulty adapting to society, doesn't mean they have an prediliction toward violence. It is exactly that kind of shortsighted and prejudicial mentality which we need to overcome with this bill.
Finally, as for the "lost revenues", studies have shown that military personnel spend a good deal of money off base - why would they do that if they have everything they need on base? The same can be said for those who would go to a PX/Commissary - they would actually help the local economy and if they have savings would spend those savings elsewhere. Have you heard of something called the "Money Multiplier"? Increased commerce is good for the economy as a whole.
RPK
November 10, 2009, 3:36pm (report abuse)I'm not the one who brought up the difficulties reintegrating into society. I do believe that was you. A careful study of those who have had these kinds of problems will show a number who have, in fact, "gone postal."
You want us to believe these folks are going to drive to a base to shop in order to save money and then turn around and spend more money outside the gate. That does not wash. And yet again what about the hometown merchant who now doesn't have that customer? Where is your so-called money multiplier then?
All you do is talk around in circles in an attempt to support your position.
Carl Krolczyk
November 12, 2009, 3:08am (report abuse)As a disabled veteran living overseas in Germany I think this bill would be appropriate. Disabled veterans in most cases didn't ask to become disabled, especially those that occurred during war time. I feel that a 30% disabled vet shoulkd have the same rights to shop at the commissary and PX. The prices are better in the military stores than on the local economy and would save us he trouble of going with a friend shopping. I know for a fact AFFES Europe counts on non-eligible customers. It is sometimes a strange feeling to be asked by a German national for an ID card at the PX...
Vet2Fed
November 12, 2009, 9:42am (report abuse)RPK, I'm done trying to reason with you... As I present facts, you muddy things with unverifiable suppositions - and you accuse me of talking in circles...
RPK
November 13, 2009, 9:41am (report abuse)So far Vet2Fed, you haven't presented any "facts" but just your unfounded ideas that things would be better if this passed. I don't see the benefits being worth the costs. And you still can't dispute that there are costs involved. But since you don't have any verifiable proof I guess that is all we should expect.
Corky
(logged in user) November 19, 2009, 12:24am (report abuse)You so-called veterans are a bunch of worthless, no-account losers who just want someone else to take care of your lazy asses. Lying, cheating, thieving, scumbags, all of you.
DedicatedVet
November 19, 2009, 1:38pm (report abuse)Corky, God Bless You.....
For DedicatedVet
November 19, 2009, 3:05pm (report abuse)Sorry, there is no such thing as "God". For all of you who have to have something to grab onto as a way to deny your mortality, truth is the dirtnap really is the end, No heaven, no paradise, no nothing but rotting in a box.
JCH
November 19, 2009, 5:52pm (report abuse)I'm a disabled vietnam Vet ( RPG in the DMZ by a VC ) and I support this Bill !
To JCH
November 20, 2009, 1:08am (report abuse)I'm sure you do. That way you can rip off the governmant for another freebe. Just another one who want's someone else to support you. Loser.
Vet2Fed
November 20, 2009, 8:03am (report abuse)once again, Corky, RPK, to... or for..., whichever the personality DuJour misses the point and is trying to stir things up...
Just Saying
November 20, 2009, 5:15pm (report abuse)You can say you support this bill or don't support this bill. I don't care. I left the service and have rec'vd what I consider fair comp for my disabilities. That being said, I do support this bill for 1 reason. People who work at the VA have the ability to shop the exchange online. No matter if they've served in the military or retired from 20 years of service. I figure if they can shop at the Px online, then veterans who have sacrificed some part of themselves should also have that right. If I'm wrong then so be it. That's my opinion.
For Just Saying
November 20, 2009, 5:57pm (report abuse)Could you provide a reference that validates your claim that VA employees can shop the PX online?
Poor Just Saying
November 22, 2009, 12:41am (report abuse)Same old crap. Blurt something out that can help your position. It doesn't have to be true because you won't have to prove it. BULLS**T! Just more lies from the scammers and con-artists who like to call themselves veterans. None of you deserve anything. You already steal enough from the government. NO MORE!
Jason B
November 27, 2009, 1:24am (report abuse)Over my lifetime I have worked with a lot of folks who have reason to complain – the unemployed, the homeless, folks on welfare, terminally ill patients in a hospice. And not one of these groups has the intensity of whining that a bunch of veterans can generate. I really suspect that the veterans whine can be heard in outer space. It is that loud. Why don’t all of you moaning assholes take a break and go crawl in a hole someplace. Give the rest of us some time to recuperate from your constant pissing and moaning.