DESPICABLE: Nearly 10,000 soldiers FORCED to repay decade old bonuses

[OldBrownsFan]

With as much money as the federal and state governments waste, especially the liberal mecca of California, I find this move to force soldiers to pay back bonuses that California says were overpaid a decade ago absolutely disgusting:

 

NBC BAY AREA

– California National Guard soldiers who received bonuses of $15,000 or more for their willingness to re-enlist and go to war now must pay back that money with interest, according to letters they received from the California Guard over the past decade.

Nearly 10,000 soldiers, many of whom served multiple combat tours, have been ordered to repay the large re-enlistment bonuses — and slapped with interest charges, wage garnishments and tax liens if they refuse — after audits revealed widespread overpayments by the California Guard at the height of the wars last decade, according to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported the story.

In 2012, Christopher Van Meter, an Iraq War veteran guardsman with 21 years of service and a purple heart, was stunned when he received the letter that said he had to repay $25,000 in re-enlistment bonuses and $21,000 in student loans.

“It was awful; it was gut-wrenching,” said Van Meter, a Manteca resident. “I was frustrated and in denial and not sure what’s going on.”

Van Meter was not alone. The California National Guard sent similar letters to nearly 10,000 soldiers. The bonuses were supposed to be paid to soldiers in high-demand assignments such as intelligence or to noncommissioned officers badly needed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2010, a federal investigation found thousands of bonuses and student loan payments were given to California guardsmen who did not qualify.

Van Meter and his wife fought the repayment for two years but ultimately began payments of $1,300 a month until that became too stressful on their household.

“In the end, we decided to refinance our house so the debt would go away in 2014,” Van Meter said.

The Guard said the bonuses were paid with taxpayer money and legally they it must get the money back. A class-action lawsuit has been filed in federal district court in Sacramento on behalf of the soldiers who received bonuses.

http://therightscoop.com/despicable-nearly-10000-soldiers-forced-repay-decade-old-bonuses/

 

[calfoxwc]

it wasn't their fault. What a clusterfook. under obaMao's regime, that is how it works.

 

grab money from those who have it, and lavish it on those who don't.

 

for dem votes. The overpayment? was a mistake, but it wasn't the fault of the

veterans.

[Clevfan4life]

Again, its californias state legislure not obama. But if u want the feferal govt to dictate minutia affairs of the states like that.....be careful what u wish for.

[calfoxwc]

you should be careful of how you shove your foot into your mouth.

 

82redleg

Council Member

Join Date: Feb 2007

Location: Mother Sill

Posts: 224

Short answer is that the state pays when activated by the state governor for state purposes, in accordance with Title 32 of the US Code, while the fed pays when activated by the POTUS for federal purposes, in accordance with Title 10 of the US Code.

Of course, as you noted, there are many baroque procedures to confuse things, the biggest one that the fed will sometimes transfer $$ to the states for state active duty, because NG on state duty can do things (law enforcement activities) that they can't do once federalized.

07-01-2011 #3

Bob's World

Council Member

Join Date: Nov 2008

Location: Florida

Posts: 2,689

Over 95% of day to day National Guard budgets are Federal. States only pay a small portion for facilities; and also pay for Guardsmen activated for a State-level emergency. All equipment, training fuel, ammunition, etc; all regular pay, is federal; obviously all mobilization costs are federal. Most of this is Title 32, not sure if MOB costs are Title 10 or not.

__________________
Robert C. Jones
Intellectus Supra Scientia
(Understanding is more important than Knowledge)

"The modern COIN mindset is when one arrogantly goes to some foreign land and attempts to make those who live there a lesser version of one's self. The FID mindset is when one humbly goes to some foreign land and seeks first to understand, and then to help in some small way for those who live there to be the best version of their own self."Colonel Robert C. Jones, US Army Special Forces (Retired)

[calfoxwc]

Cleve - once again, thank you for emotionally knee jerking - it surely has made everybody's day.

[OldBrownsFan]

Why not thank the soldiers for their service and their sacrifice and say we made the mistake and will waive it...thanks again for your service...Uncle Sam

[calfoxwc]

the contract to re-enlist for a bonus is a legally binding contract. If the amounts were in error,

it isn't the soldier's fault. That is either fraud on the pentagon officer's fault, or somebody

elses...or just incompetence. The fault in on the high officials.

 

The other problem here, is that the veterans have been very, very,very poorly taken care of....

 

and obaMao is no fan of our military.. all dirtbag marxist obaMao would have to do, is exec order

a no-fault for the veterans who are being hounded by the pentagon and the lefty state of California.

 

He is SUPPOSED to be a COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. Now, does that mean he deliberately let this happen,

and agrees with all those thousands of veterans remortgaging their homes, etc etc etc, to try to pay that money back?

When it was the bonus that enticed them to re-enlist in the first place?

 

This is the worst stink from Washington DC in history, all things included into one swamp.

[Clevfan4life]

I stand corrected, it is the pentagon pushing this. Tje california national guard are saying they have no choice in the matter but say if congress waives these debts thats that. Wow, i mean wtf? I agree if obama doesnt step in here and do one of his midnight exec orders this is bullshit ad fuck kim

[BaconHound]

This isn't Monopoly when Banks, Companies and the Government overpay you don't get to keep it.

[Clevfan4life]

This isn't Monopoly when Banks, Companies and the Government overpay you don't get to keep it.

But 10-15 years later?

[DieHardBrownsFan]

This isn't Monopoly when Banks, Companies and the Government overpay you don't get to keep it.

Banks, companies and the feds don't fight overseas fuck face maggot.

[bbedward]

I mean it's fucked up that they get letters 10+ years later that demand not only what they received but also interest.

[Clevfan4life]

I mean it's fucked up that they get letters 10+ years later that demand not only what they received but also interest.

I think thats only if they refused to pay it initially. They said you have a certain grace period to repay but then you'll get intetest. Horseshit strongarm tbh

[bbedward]

Idk who could just pay an unexpected bill for $20,000

[The Cysko Kid]

This should tell you what a crappy job the government is actually doing when they're just now figuring out they overpaid a ton of people a decade ago.

[MLD Woody]

Be less emotional Cleve. Be rational and Blake everything bad on Obama

 

 

 

This situation is messed up though. Hopefully it gets resolved.

[calfoxwc]

was probably going to lose higgardly votes...so Carter stepped in and suspended it.

 

Thank goodness, except wait til higgardly might possibly be "president"

 

http://patriotoutdoornews.com/17324/breaking-carter-suspends-pentagons-demand-cash-bonuses-paid-california-soldiers

[Clevfan4life]

Im glad they called this one back. Theres bankers running around that had a hand in nearly shitcanning our economy and walked with 10's of millions, some with 100's. But lets go after a few thousand follars from veterans. Ficking merica

[bbedward]

What about the people that refinanced their home to pay it, will they get a refund?

[FairHooker11]

I stand corrected, it is the pentagon pushing this. Tje california national guard are saying they have no choice in the matter but say if congress waives these debts thats that. Wow, i mean wtf? I agree if obama doesnt step in here and do one of his midnight exec orders this is bullshit ad fuck kim

 

on the contrary, this is very much in obamas wheelhouse of overlooking and ignoring the servicemen and women....

[FairHooker11]

in fact the chicago thug probably had ben rhodes fire off a memo to the underlings at the pentagon calling for this bonus recall

 

wasnt til ashtray carter found out his authority was challenged and he called an audible...... good on him at least