Paul Ryan Defends Military Benefits Cuts

Made the defense in an op-ed for USA Today

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Sunday defended cuts to military retiree benefits, noting that Congress would change a provision for individuals who were "medically retired" or received "survivor's benefits."

In a USA Today op-ed published on Sunday, the Republican budget guru, who spent weeks crafting a two-year bipartisan budget deal with Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-Wash.), noted that the budget chiefs "have agreed to amend the law … well before the reform takes effect in December 2015."

"Many raised concerns that these reforms would affect the retired pay of service members who are medically retired and those receiving survivor's benefits. So Senator Murray and I have agreed to amend the law to exclude them well before the reform takes effect in December 2015," the House Budget Committee chairman wrote.