Last week, the Senate passedThe amended version Honoring Our PACT Act. The House is expected to approve the bill. This bill represents the largest increase of benefits for veterans since decades.
However, congressional Democrats claim that an increase in spending on veterans is justifiable by increases in spending for non-defense programs. This is a brazen display of political opportunism. Such “logic” would be confusing in normal times, but is grossly negligent during the worst inflation crisis in decades.
The Honoring Our PACT is the basis [Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics] Act is addressing potential cases of toxic exposure from what are referred to as “burn pits.” Burn pits were shallow excavations or barrels in which servicemen or contractors burned trash produced during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The bill categorizes many medical conditions as “presumptively” caused by burn pits. That means those conditions are assumed to be caused by the burn pits, regardless of the specifics of a veteran’s case.
The Government Accountability Office concluded that 2016And 2018The effects of burn pit exposure were not fully evaluated by the Department of Defense.
The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments owe American vets and the American people a thorough understanding of the adverse effects of burn pits on health. This will enable them to develop specific and targeted plans to address the problem.
Presuming that a number of conditions are presumptive is medical equivalent to throwing money at the problem.
As it stands, cost of the legislation is eye-popping—at least $275 billion over a decade, and with no attempt to cover the cost through badly needed reductions to lower-priority expenditures.
But this is just the beginning of the problem.
The bill would also shift tens to billions per annum in veterans benefits from the discretionary (which is addressed every other year) to the obligatory category (which is usually left on autopilot).
The Honoring Our PACT Act would see an increase in federal spending, but discretionary spending should be lower than in previous years.
This accounting technique is being used by Democrats in an attempt to make it easier for them to win elections. attempt to justifyYou can increase other discretionary spending. This is similar to moving a monthly bill into a secondary checking account and then claiming that the change allows you to spend on shopping sprees.
Such reasoning would be laughable if used in the context of a household budget, yet it’s being presented with a straight face in Washington.
If the “savings” shell game moves forward, Democrats would have an opportunity to ramp up funding for racially biased “equity” initiatives, absurd pork projects, transportation programs that reduce car lanes, and subsidies that allow universities to hire legions of woke bureaucrats.
Senate Republicans have a chance to stop the double-dip spending spree.
In order to pass the annual appropriations bills, a bipartisan agreement will be required on spending levels. Republicans must demand that nondefense spending levels reduce in order to shift veterans benefits.
Stopping the twofold spending rise is crucial. Excessive federal spending is one of the principal causes of today’s inflation and is the reason why America is getting hit harderIt is higher than other developed countries.
Working families are currently experiencing the worst inflation in decades. This is on top of a shortage of essential goods such as baby formula.
Rather than viewing genuine federal responsibilities like caring for veterans as an excuse to rack up endless amounts of debt, Congress should take its responsibility to current and future generations of Americans seriously by getting our nation’s finances in order.
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