Republican Congress Allows Mafia-Like Abuse of Heroic Troops and Military Families
by Brent Budowsky | Sep 22 2006 - 8:42am
Independent audits have shown that up to 19% of active duty troops are paid so poorly, and face such financial hardship, that they are forced by necesssity to seek emergency loans from predatory lenders at horrendous interest rates.
Previous audits have shown that rates charged for these "payday loans" regularly rise as high a 300% to 400%. Recent reports now accuse some lenders of grotesquely ripping off heroes who serve and their families with rates as high a 791%.
This is one more example of why military families of America and those they love in service would receive far more fairness, respect and support from Democrats in Congress.
This latest outrage follows a long list of areas of neglect. The Republican Congress did not provide adequate body armor, helmets and bandage to troops under fire. They do not provide adequate support for military and veterans health care programs. There are even attempts to cut back on support for emergency brain trauma injuries for wounded troops. Military pay scales are too low, troop rotations create major problems because of inadequate levels of troop strength and those who serve in the Army, Marine Corps and Reserves have been victimized by involuntary service that borders on a backdoor draft.
A Democratic Congress would work hard and diligently to put an end to these wrong and unfair practices that harm our troops, disrupt their families, and endanger our national security.
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