Democrats on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee are trying to give full veterans’ status to World War II era Filipino soldiers and their survivors; not Americans of Filipino descent, but citizens of the Philippines. And they’re planning to pay for it by taking away benefits from US veterans.

The Filipino veterans’ provisions in HR 760 are similar to a plan passed by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. If signed into law, it would provide full veterans’ status to World War II era Filipino soldiers and even their survivors. This would include pay for service related disabilities, survivor pay for service-connected deaths, as well as pensions and death benefits.

Those who are living in the Philippines, and are not U.S. citizens, would receive $6,000 to $8,400. Low-income widows would receive $3,600.

I have witnessed some contentious hearings in my years in public service. VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner, D-Calif., was determined to pass the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. When the exchanges between the chairman and ranking member (and former chairman) Steve Buyer, R-Ind., became too heated, Filner ordered a recess to plot strategy with the Democratic majority. The measure passed on a straight party-line vote and Filner refused to recognize any additional Republican amendments.

Providing veterans’ benefits to Filipino service members is only half of the issue.

Perhaps more egregious is how the Democrats offset the cost of the new benefits. Because of House PAYGO rules, any new entitlement spending (such as the Filipino Veterans Equity Act) must be funded by either a corresponding cut in existing spending or matching revenue gains.

In this case, the Democrats on the Veterans Committee voted to save nearly $1 billion by eliminating a $2,200 special monthly payment to veterans who are less than 100 percent disabled, but 60 percent or greater disabled.

(Hat tip: Eyes of Blue.)

UPDATE at 11/26/07 9:04:03 am:

LGF reader Ringo adds some context:

I believe that Filipino soldiers during WWII fought under the US flag (the Philippines was a US territory at the time) and by order of FDR were promised full veterans benefits at the time. Many Filipino WWII vets were also offered the papers needed to immigrate to the US and thousands did just that.

If I’m correct, I believe that it was an act of congress in the late 1940’s that changed the benefits which Filipino vets could claim. Filipino WWII vets have been fighting this ever since. HR 760 was designed to correct this perceived wrong.

That puts a different light on the matter, but it’s still an outrage to take money away from US vets to pay for it.