Reservists and Guardsmen Get Fucked By Congress. Again.
Tricare provision removed from defense budget plan
Amendment would have opened benefits to part-time soldiers
By Leo Shane III / Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON — A provision in the 2006 defense budget proposal that came out of the House Armed Services Committee last week, which would have extended Tricare benefits to more reservists and Guardsmen, was stripped from the bill this week because of budgetary reasons.
In a memo to members of the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said the proposal cost more than anticipated according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, which pushed the legislation’s total price tag above limits previously set by the committee.
Under a little-used rule, that gave Hunter the authority to pull the proposal from the legislation.
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., would have opened the Tricare Reserve Select program to any drilling reservist or National Guard member willing to pay the premiums.
The provision passed 32-30 during last week’s committee markup of the defense budget, with Hunter opposing it.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that extending Tricare Reserve Select would cost $230 million in 2006 alone and nearly $4.4 billion more over the next four years.
That includes offering the health care switch to 120,000 federal employees who currently serve in the Guard or Reserve, who could see lower premiums under the military health plan.
Hunter said if the amendment had not been removed, the bill could be ruled out of order when brought before the full House for a vote.
In a statement Tuesday, Taylor said the budgetary problems could be resolved if the amendment was reworded to exclude reservists who are federal employees. Hunter declined to make that change, Taylor said.
“To say that I’m disappointed is an amazing understatement,” Taylor said.
“The bottom line is that this is a technicality that could easily be resolved if the chairman wanted to get it resolved. His actions tell me that he doesn’t.”
A full House vote on the budget proposal is scheduled for Wednesday.
Link in headline.
Amendment would have opened benefits to part-time soldiers
By Leo Shane III / Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON — A provision in the 2006 defense budget proposal that came out of the House Armed Services Committee last week, which would have extended Tricare benefits to more reservists and Guardsmen, was stripped from the bill this week because of budgetary reasons.
In a memo to members of the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said the proposal cost more than anticipated according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, which pushed the legislation’s total price tag above limits previously set by the committee.
Under a little-used rule, that gave Hunter the authority to pull the proposal from the legislation.
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., would have opened the Tricare Reserve Select program to any drilling reservist or National Guard member willing to pay the premiums.
The provision passed 32-30 during last week’s committee markup of the defense budget, with Hunter opposing it.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that extending Tricare Reserve Select would cost $230 million in 2006 alone and nearly $4.4 billion more over the next four years.
That includes offering the health care switch to 120,000 federal employees who currently serve in the Guard or Reserve, who could see lower premiums under the military health plan.
Hunter said if the amendment had not been removed, the bill could be ruled out of order when brought before the full House for a vote.
In a statement Tuesday, Taylor said the budgetary problems could be resolved if the amendment was reworded to exclude reservists who are federal employees. Hunter declined to make that change, Taylor said.
“To say that I’m disappointed is an amazing understatement,” Taylor said.
“The bottom line is that this is a technicality that could easily be resolved if the chairman wanted to get it resolved. His actions tell me that he doesn’t.”
A full House vote on the budget proposal is scheduled for Wednesday.
Link in headline.
posted by Christy at 12:48 AM
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