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August 19, 2004 at 08:00 PM
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has proposed changes to programs for military personnel that could affect private insurers and financial advisors.[@@]
Kerry, the junior senator from Massachusetts, released a package of proposals for reforming the military Wednesday before he spoke at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Cincinnati.
Many of the military reform proposals focus on topics such as doubling the size of special forces units, but Kerry also talks about benefits issues and tax issues that affect members of the National Guard and Reserve.
“The last thing our servicemen and women need on their minds is the stress of wondering if their loved ones back home will be okay,” Kerry said during the VFW speech, according to a prepared version of his remarks. “What they need is a president who protects their families while they are putting their lives on the line protecting the American family. That means making sure families have competitive pay, good housing, decent health care and quality education for their children.”
The biggest military benefits change Kerry has suggested would extend eligibility for the enormous TriCare military health insurance program to all members of the National Guard and Reserve.
