hornetguy
15-Year Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 2,353
I wonder what the fiscal cost will be, because if you assume that 10-20% of military members are homosexual, and if 50% of them are in a committed relationship, the benefits side will implode from a fiscal stance.
Housing alone could be insane. If the avg is 800 a month in BAH, or 10K a yr for each of these members, that could be millions within the 1st yr.
That does not include health benefits, especially now when many military dependents are being forced off base for their health care.
Then finally add in PCS pay and you add another strain on the DoD budget that is already overburdened.
I do see social issues hit the fan minute one the ink dries on the repeal. Either way there will be lawsuits filed because of the civil union issue not being resolved from a federal standpoint.
If the military acknowledges the civil unions, than those members from states that do not will sue from a civil rights issue. If they do not acknowledge the civil unions, than it would be a discrimination case. Either way it is not a path that I think will be good for morale.
I don't think the benefits issue will be as big a fiscal burden as expected. how many members get married in a year? How many new members enter per year that are married? While you might have a 1-2 years "surge" in benefits collecting, I don't think you'll see as large of a strain as we think.
Plus, once they solve this issue, whether in a year or 5 years, the questions of money for benefits will not be an issue I think. Anyway, anyone (not saying you've said this, its a general statement) who wants to hold back on a civil rights issue because it will strain the budget is nuts IMO. 1950: I'm sorry African-American man, we can't afford to take your race at the moment. Try again once we have more money!