US lobby contract may jeopardize equity pension bill for Filipino veterans
A group pushing for the enactment by the US Congress of a bill granting equity pension benefits to Filipino World War II veterans is raising apprehension that the Philippine government’s six-month lobby contract worth $500,000 with an American firm identified with the Democrats could jeopardize the fate of the long-awaited compensation measure.
Primarily, the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. said the proposed written agreement with the lobby firm does not mention the Filipino veterans’ issue as a Philippine government priority.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy C. Gaa said the contract with lobbyist Stuart E. Eizenstat, partner and chair of the International Practice of Covington and Burling LLP, is “almost a done deal."
A public signing of the contract is planned to show transparency in the government transaction over hiring a US lobbyist, as well as underscoring that lobbying is an accepted way of doing things in Washington, DC.
Eric Lachica, executive director of ACFVI, said the Filipino veterans have conveyed their concerns to Gaa on January 4, and recommended the hiring of an influential Republican lobby firm to complement or partner with the Covington lobby to reaffirm the Philippine government’s non-partisan relationship with the Bush administration and the US Congress and to reach a bi-partisan compromise on the pending bills that would benefit ageing Filipino war veterans.
“Based on our coalition's long experience of working with the key legislators on Capitol Hill, bipartisan support is necessary and essential from the US President, Republican and Democratic senators and congress members to pass bills," he said.
Lachica furnished GMANews.TV a letter signed by ACFV leaders and addressed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, expressing their “deep concern" about the choice, terms and bipartisan effectiveness of the Covington lobby firm during the crucial six months of the Bush administration.
Partisan
Apart from the non-inclusion of the equity bill in the priority list, the ACFV said “the sole choice of former US Ambassador to the European Union Stuart Eizenstat, a former Clinton and Carter cabinet official, and his Covington firm may create a partisan perception with the Bush White House and the Republican Senators that the Philippine government may be overwhelmingly supporting Democrats during this election year."
“Based on public reports (fundrace.huffingtonpost.com), Eizenstat and his firm raised more than $72,000 in 2007 for Democratic presidential candidates - 85% of the law firm employees' total donations," said the Virginia-based ACFV that claims a membership of 4,000 members.
“Understandably, we are worried that your government's six-month $500,000 representation contract with Covington firm may impede or jeopardize our equity campaign. We request urgent remedial action be undertaken by your office," the veterans said.
Among the signatories to the letter dated January 7, 2008 were ACFV president Patrick Ganio Sr, vice president for membership Franco Arcebal and Lachica.
The letter was also furnished to Ambassador Gaa; Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine Embassy Office of Veterans Affairs; Secretary Ronaldo Puno, presidential adviser and Secretary of Local Governments; Col. Emmanuel De Ocampo, president of Veterans Federation Philippines; Cmdr. Ignacio Palad, American Legion Philippine Dept.; Ms. Alma KERN, chairperson, National Federation Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA); Ms. Loida Nicolas Lewis, TLC Beatrice International; and, US Filipino leaders.
ACFV recalled that President Arroyo secured a commitment last September from President Bush that he would sign into law the Filipino veterans’ equity pension bill once it is transmitted to his office.
Benefits
The equity bills were approved in the veterans affairs committees in the US Senate and House in June and July, respectively.
Under H.R. 760, Filipino World War II veterans could get a flat-rate pension of $8,400 annually if they are married; $6,000 annual if they are not married and $3,600 for their widows whether they are based in the US or in the Philippines.
These amounts were higher than what the Senate committee on veterans affairs suggested: $3,600 per year for a single veteran; $4,500 per year with one dependent; and $2,400 per year for the surviving spouse.
Besides monetary benefits, the equity bill also proposed to give Filipino veterans health care, service-connected disability compensation, non-service connected disability compensation, dependent indemnity compensations, death pension and full burial benefits.
To accomplish this, the US government, according to its Department of Veterans Affairs, would need an additional $518 million in the first year of its implementation. This covers $510 million in medical and memorial benefits and $8.8 million in administrative costs.
The veterans had expected the passage of Senate bill S. 1315 authored by Hawaiian Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye and House bill H.R. 760 of Representatives Bob Filner and Darrell ISSA before the end of 2007.
“Unfortunately because of extreme partisan wrangling in Congress last November and December on the Iraq War versus US domestic spending priorities, our Equity bills were held hostage. Moreover, because of Senate Republican opposition led by Sen. Larry Craig (Idaho) to the ‘over generous’ special pensions proviso for Filipino veterans residing in the homeland, our Equity bills are now in legislative limbo," the ACFV letter said.
The bills provide dignified pensions for US Filipino WWII veterans in the Philippines - depending on the final Senate-House Conference committee version. According to the US Congressional Budget Office, both bills provide US VA medical care to Filipino veterans there.
Lachica said the veterans were glad about news reports that House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr received a verbal assurance from his American counterpart, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that she would "try to organize a financial package" for equity benefits to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity bill H.R. 760 and in S. 1315. - GMANews.TV
Primarily, the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. said the proposed written agreement with the lobby firm does not mention the Filipino veterans’ issue as a Philippine government priority.
Philippine Ambassador to the US Willy C. Gaa said the contract with lobbyist Stuart E. Eizenstat, partner and chair of the International Practice of Covington and Burling LLP, is “almost a done deal."
A public signing of the contract is planned to show transparency in the government transaction over hiring a US lobbyist, as well as underscoring that lobbying is an accepted way of doing things in Washington, DC.
Eric Lachica, executive director of ACFVI, said the Filipino veterans have conveyed their concerns to Gaa on January 4, and recommended the hiring of an influential Republican lobby firm to complement or partner with the Covington lobby to reaffirm the Philippine government’s non-partisan relationship with the Bush administration and the US Congress and to reach a bi-partisan compromise on the pending bills that would benefit ageing Filipino war veterans.
“Based on our coalition's long experience of working with the key legislators on Capitol Hill, bipartisan support is necessary and essential from the US President, Republican and Democratic senators and congress members to pass bills," he said.
Lachica furnished GMANews.TV a letter signed by ACFV leaders and addressed to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, expressing their “deep concern" about the choice, terms and bipartisan effectiveness of the Covington lobby firm during the crucial six months of the Bush administration.
Partisan
Apart from the non-inclusion of the equity bill in the priority list, the ACFV said “the sole choice of former US Ambassador to the European Union Stuart Eizenstat, a former Clinton and Carter cabinet official, and his Covington firm may create a partisan perception with the Bush White House and the Republican Senators that the Philippine government may be overwhelmingly supporting Democrats during this election year."
“Based on public reports (fundrace.huffingtonpost.com), Eizenstat and his firm raised more than $72,000 in 2007 for Democratic presidential candidates - 85% of the law firm employees' total donations," said the Virginia-based ACFV that claims a membership of 4,000 members.
“Understandably, we are worried that your government's six-month $500,000 representation contract with Covington firm may impede or jeopardize our equity campaign. We request urgent remedial action be undertaken by your office," the veterans said.
Among the signatories to the letter dated January 7, 2008 were ACFV president Patrick Ganio Sr, vice president for membership Franco Arcebal and Lachica.
The letter was also furnished to Ambassador Gaa; Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine Embassy Office of Veterans Affairs; Secretary Ronaldo Puno, presidential adviser and Secretary of Local Governments; Col. Emmanuel De Ocampo, president of Veterans Federation Philippines; Cmdr. Ignacio Palad, American Legion Philippine Dept.; Ms. Alma KERN, chairperson, National Federation Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA); Ms. Loida Nicolas Lewis, TLC Beatrice International; and, US Filipino leaders.
ACFV recalled that President Arroyo secured a commitment last September from President Bush that he would sign into law the Filipino veterans’ equity pension bill once it is transmitted to his office.
Benefits
The equity bills were approved in the veterans affairs committees in the US Senate and House in June and July, respectively.
Under H.R. 760, Filipino World War II veterans could get a flat-rate pension of $8,400 annually if they are married; $6,000 annual if they are not married and $3,600 for their widows whether they are based in the US or in the Philippines.
These amounts were higher than what the Senate committee on veterans affairs suggested: $3,600 per year for a single veteran; $4,500 per year with one dependent; and $2,400 per year for the surviving spouse.
Besides monetary benefits, the equity bill also proposed to give Filipino veterans health care, service-connected disability compensation, non-service connected disability compensation, dependent indemnity compensations, death pension and full burial benefits.
To accomplish this, the US government, according to its Department of Veterans Affairs, would need an additional $518 million in the first year of its implementation. This covers $510 million in medical and memorial benefits and $8.8 million in administrative costs.
The veterans had expected the passage of Senate bill S. 1315 authored by Hawaiian Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye and House bill H.R. 760 of Representatives Bob Filner and Darrell ISSA before the end of 2007.
“Unfortunately because of extreme partisan wrangling in Congress last November and December on the Iraq War versus US domestic spending priorities, our Equity bills were held hostage. Moreover, because of Senate Republican opposition led by Sen. Larry Craig (Idaho) to the ‘over generous’ special pensions proviso for Filipino veterans residing in the homeland, our Equity bills are now in legislative limbo," the ACFV letter said.
The bills provide dignified pensions for US Filipino WWII veterans in the Philippines - depending on the final Senate-House Conference committee version. According to the US Congressional Budget Office, both bills provide US VA medical care to Filipino veterans there.
Lachica said the veterans were glad about news reports that House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr received a verbal assurance from his American counterpart, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that she would "try to organize a financial package" for equity benefits to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity bill H.R. 760 and in S. 1315. - GMANews.TV
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