One in Three Lawmakers Want Cuts to Military Pensions Restored

Nearly a third of lawmakers in Congress want to end the military pension cuts in the budget deal brokered by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), which President Barack Obama signed.

According to The Hill, “more than 150 House members and 35 senators have signed onto efforts to repeal the cuts” in the budget deal, which reduced “the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for working-age military retirees” by about $6 billion for those under 62 years of age. 

The budget deal also provided taxpayer benefits to illegal immigrants, increased spending beyond the sequester level, and raised various taxes. Veterans have blasted Ryan, who has doubled down on the cuts, for not understanding the sacrifices of those in the military.

The Hill notes that even with the widespread lobbying in favor of eliminating the cuts, “House and Senate leaders have not said whether they plan to bring up any bills to restore the military benefits cuts” because they cannot agree on offsets. Further, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) “did not include the military pension issue in his January legislative agenda.”