Rep. Michele Bachmann backed off a plan on Friday to cut $4.5 billion in benefits to veterans, following strong opposition from several veterans groups. The $4.5 billion proposed cut was one of dozens Bachmann suggested last month in a plan to slash $430 billion from the budget over five years. Those cuts included everything from replacing farm subsidies to privatizing the TSA, FAA and Amtrak.
But since Bachmann released her proposal, veterans groups have voiced the loudest objections, causing Bachmann to drop them from her budget-cutting plans.
“One point on my discussion list was a $4.5 billion proposal that would affect payments made to our veterans,” Bachmann said in a statement posted to her website. “That discussion point has received a lot of attention and I have decided to remove it from consideration. The problem of government spending must be solved, but not on the backs of our nation’s war heroes.”
