Obama Demands Military Health Care Fees Increase 400%

Obama threatens veto of defense bill if military health care fees not increased

On Friday, the Obama Administration threatened to veto a defense appropriations bill in part because it does not include increased health care fees for members of the military, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

“The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation,” the White House wrote.

"The Administration asks the House to reconsider the TRICARE fee proposals, which are essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs. The $1.8 billion in savings are part of a carefully balanced FY 2013 Budget request," the statement added.

"If the President were presented with H.R. 5856, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill," the statement says.

The Free Beacon added:

President Obama’s most recent budget proposal includes billions of dollars in higher fees for members of TRICARE, the military health care system, and is part of the administration’s plan to cut nearly $500 billion from the Pentagon’s budget.

According to the Administration, the increases are “essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs.”

Talk show host Rush Limbaugh, among others, said that the proposal "is an effort to increase enrollment in the state-run insurance exchanges mandated under the president’s controversial health care law," the Washington Free Beacon said.

In February, we reported that the Administration plans to cut health benefits for active duty and retired military personnel and their families while not touching the benefits enjoyed by unionized civilian defense workers.

At the time, congressional aides suggested the move was intended to force service members into Obamacare.

The Hill reported that the "House Rules Committee was approving the rule for the defense appropriations bill Thursday, and it’s expected to be taken up in the full House in July when Congress returns from recess."

http://www.examiner.com/article/obama-threatens-veto-of-defense-bill-if-military-health-care-fees-not-increased