John Plahovinsak
My Opinion: Senator Robert Blumental recently said that veterans are being unfairly penalized for being wounded or disabled in combat. He is right — disabled and wounded veterans are being penalized because of a current federal policy!
Both Senator Blumental and Representative Gus Bilirakis are trying to eliminate the “wounded veterans’ tax” in Congress, and they are certainly getting positive support from our elected officials.
Their remedy in eliminating the “wounded veterans’ tax” is the passage of the Major Richard Star Act by Congress. Senate Bill 1032 has seventy-one (71) Senators that are co-sponsoring the bill, and H.R. 2102 has 274 House Representatives also co-sponsoring the bill.
Since 2004, veterans who collect both military retirement after 20 years of service and veterans’ disability benefits receive both compensations in full if they have a disability rating of at least fifty (50%) percent.
However, according to existing federal policy, veterans who have less than twenty (20) years of service and a disability rating under fifty (50%) percent get a dollar taken out of their retirement compensation for every dollar they receive in disability compensation.
The disability rating is assigned by the VA and assesses how much an injury or disability may impact a veteran’s health and ability to function.
“Veterans are retired early because of the wounds and the injuries they receive, and they’re entitled to disability compensation for them,” said Blumental, “but then their retirement pay is reduced dollar for dollar because of that disability compensation.”
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), over 50,000 disabled veterans are negatively impacted by the “wounded veterans’ tax.” The CBO estimated in 2022 to compensate these disabled veterans, it would cost $9.75 billion during the next 10 years.
This Memorial Day, Army veteran Dan Nevins journeyed to Washington to advocate for the passage of the Major Richard Star Act. He wanted to ensure that veterans will be able to receive their full retirement pay and disability compensation.
Squad Leader Nevins lost both of his legs in 2004 after an explosive device was detonated below his vehicle. His platoon sergeant was killed in the blast. Nevins thought that severely wounded veterans, like himself, would receive their full retirement benefits and disability pay, but he was wrong.
Apparently, 274 House of Representatives, who co-sponsored H.R. 2102, agree that Congress should honor the country’s commitment to veterans.
Perhaps we should pause and thank the seven (7) Ohio Representatives who have committed to co-sponsor the Major Richard Star Act. They are: Representatives Joyce Beatty; Shontel Brown; Michael Carey; Greg Landsman; Max Miller; Emilia Sykes and Michael Turner.
Senator Blumenthal said he sees “a number of paths” for the bill. He plans to offer it as an amendment to an annual defense policy bill later this year.
And in the coming weeks, Blumenthal is going to try to bring it up under unanimous consent and “see who has the nerve to come forward and say we should deny our veterans basic fairness.”
The 50,000 disabled veterans negatively affected by the “Wounded Veterans’ Tax” applaud Senator Blumenthal’s actions!
BioSketch: John Plahovinsak is a 32-year retired Army veteran, who served from 1967 to 1999. He is the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio’s Hospital Chairman and Adjutant of Chapter #63 (Clermont County). He can be contacted at: [email protected].
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