Beto O'Rourke proposes new 'war tax' to pay for veterans' care
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Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke unveiled a new plan to boost veterans services. The most fundamental of the pro-veteran steps would be to end the Afghanistan and Iraq «Forever Wars.” Other planks are intended to modernize the DepartmeBeto O'Rourke proposes new 'war tax' to pay for veterans' care
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke unveiled a new plan to boost veterans services. The most fundamental of the pro-veteran steps would be to end the Afghanistan and Iraq «Forever Wars.” Other planks are intended to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs, close up its currently severe staffing shortages (especially in medical care), and provide a »comprehensive approach" to veterans' mental health. O’Rourke’s plan would double Alzheimer's research, and establish a path to citizenship for immigrants that joined the armed services. But it's a new proposed tax to establish a trust fund for veterans of each future war, as each is declared, that is gaining the most attention: At the start of any newly authorized war, a new trust fund will be established within the General Fund of the Treasury for future veterans of that war. [...] Under Beto’s plan, every new [trust fund] would be paired with enactment of new war tax. This new tax would serve as a reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by those who serve and their families. The families of current Armed Forces members or veterans of the Armed Forces would be exempt from the tax. Other taxpayers would pay at a progressive rate, with households making less than $30,000 per year paying $25 per war, but those earning more than $200,000 per year paying $1,000 each. This isn't a new idea from O'Rourke (he twice proposed similar legislation while in Congress) nor is it a radical idea in general. Read more