From: MRGRG-MS@yahoogroups.com [mailto:MRGRG-MS@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Floyd Sears
Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 7:14 PM
To: !MRGRG e-mail network
Subject: [MRGRG-MS] The Sun Herald | 02/22/2006 | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

 MRGRG-MS Main Page

The following letter which was extracted from http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/editorial/letters/13930398.htm was published by the Biloxi, MS, Sun Herald today, 22 Feb 06. We need for this to be repeated about 1 million times in 1 million newspapers.

TriCare premiums should go only toward health care

I express my deep concern over the Defense Department proposal to increase TriCare fees sharply over the next two years for under-65 retirees and their families.

I find it inconceivable that the Defense Department would recommend tripling health-care premiums for certain military retirees under TriCare as a means to help meet the costs of providing for our national defense.

On Feb. 7, before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Secretary Rumsfeld charged the Congress with creating defense health care cost increases that adversely impact military readiness. "The Department's health care costs have almost doubled over the past five years," he said. "If current trends continue, health care funding pressures will soon cut into budgets for training, equipment, and a range of other investments vital to winning the War on Terror and maintaining the quality of life for our troops and families."

Excuse me! Since when do the health-care payments of retirees fund "training, equipment, and a range of other investments"?

It is imperative that the administration and Congress do the right thing. To renege on the commitment to provide adequate funding for benefits earned through a career in armed service would send the wrong signal to those who now serve, have served, and those who might serve in America's Armed Forces, especially in a time of war.

I urge our elected representatives in Congress to make appropriate adjustments in budgetary priorities to provide full funding for the military health-care system in this year's budget.

Further, health-care funds should be earmarked for that purpose so that they cannot be diverted to other purposes.

HUBERT TIMS
Ocean Springs

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