Restore No Cost Health Care for Military Retirees

We, the undersigned United States citizens and eligible voters, do hereby petition Congress to place the following issues on the 2004 ballot as a national referendum for the people to decide.


First, to enact the necessary legislation to restore the no-cost medical/dental care to our retired military personnel (and their spouses) who faithfully served their country for a career, whether it was a 20 year retirement, a medical retirement, or an authorized early retirement, as long as they were on duty prior to October 1st, 1995. These brave warriors faithfully served their country for an entire career, based on their feelings of patriotism, and the expectation that the government would provide lifetime, no-cost medical/dental care for them and their spouses. In 1995 the government unilaterally breached their promise of said care after these brave men and women had fulfilled their end of the bargain. These men and women placed their lives in danger for an entire career, while seeing many of their brothers lose their lives or body parts to protect all Americans. To deny these people the care promised them is unconscionable, and every American should be outraged, especially since a whole new eneration may soon be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice. If Congress cannot find the money to live up to their obligation to these brave warriors out of the Defense Budget, they shall discontinue whatever amount of funds spent on welfare and foreign aid, necessary to provide it.


Second, to enact the necessary legislation to allow disabled, retired military to receive their Veterans' Administration Disability Pay without being forced to deduct that pay from their retirement checks. Congressmen and all other government employees are allowed to receive their disability checks, if any, without being forced to deduct said amount from THEIR retirement checks. Those same privileges must be afforded to those men and women who fought to protect the freedom of all Americans. It is a national disgrace to continue to perpetrate these inequities on our brave men and women. It shall be funded in the same manner as the first issue above.