Some Tennessee veterans are worried about possible cuts to the military. The Pentagon is already facing $450 billion in reductions over the next decade, and that could double, depending on the outcome of the Congressional supercommittee this month.
On a teleconference yesterday, two Tennessee congressmen fielded calls from vets and their families.
Reps. Scott DesJarlais and Phil Roe heard concerns from properly equipping soldiers, to paying out veterans’ benefits.
The prospect of trimming military benefits upset many who spoke to the two representatives. A caller introduced as Thelma from Dunlap says much of her family is in the service:
“And these kids are not going because they want to be in harms way. They’re going to try protect and the innocent people over there. But they’re just not getting their fair share.”
Veterans of wars from Korea to Iraq called in, at times drawing emotion from Rep. Roe, himself a veteran.
“My face is red now, it angers me so much: when you play games with people in the field. We had people calling our office, young women whose husbands were there, saying, ‘Dr. Roe, I don’t think that I’m going to have enough money for my rent and food the 15th of this month.’ I cannot tell you how infuriated that made me.”
Roe stressed that military benefits are earned, not entitlements. He said a promise made for veterans is a promise kept.
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