The cognitive dissonance is strong with this one:
A Washington lawmaker has been drawing thousands of dollars in disability payments each year while leading efforts to eliminate benefits the state provides to others.
Republican Sen. Joseph Zarelli gets $601 a month from the federal government, indicating that he is considered 40 percent disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to records obtained ... under public records law. He has been receiving the tax-free stipend for years...
What is GOP Sen. Zarelli receiving his 40% disability VA stipend for? A back injury suffered while serving in the Navy back in the 1980's. Yet:
Zarelli said he injured his back while on a ship and that the pain is now chronic, though he is still able to golf, hike and fish - and he spends much of his free time maintaining his six-acre property in Ridgefield.
And not only that:
It's not the only way Zarelli, a conservative budget hawk, has relied on government assistance over the years. He was criticized in 2002 after collecting unemployment checks for months while also drawing his salary as a state lawmaker.
How, exactly, does that work? Now, I don't know what State Senators in Washington were making in 2002,
but as of today:
As of 2010, members of the Washington Senate are paid $42,106/year. Legislators receive $90/day per diem.
So, what does Joe want to cut from the State of Washington budget? Why, all of those slackers sucking on the state government teat, of course - the state Medical Care Services program:
Those programs provide medical care to thousands of residents, along with temporary housing and other non-cash assistance, such as toiletries and bus passes.
About 60 percent of participants in the Medical Care Services program are primarily incapacitated due to a mental issue, while 40 percent have primarily physical problems, according to data from the Department of Social and Health Services. About 40 percent are homeless. The program is designed for people who are unable to work due to their incapacity.
Sometimes, a simple face-palm isn't even enough when trying to understand GOP legislators, whether on a local, state, or federal level. They're all the same.
UPDATE: from the comments, Washington State Kossack PSWaterspirit adds this regarding Zarelli (click for complete comment):
I have a brother who was injured in a construction accident in the state of Washington. His back was injured badly enough that there are times something swells up and he can't walk. On a good day walking is an effort.
Both he and I reside in the state of Washington.
He filed an L and I claim and was promptly put on hard labor by his employer to try to get him to quit, so they fired him saying he was not doing his job...
He finally got a settlement and got on state medical insurance along with some money to help him live.
Recently he was cut off thanks to this jerk who represents my district. He can no longer get insulin for his diabetes, he has no help, no money and relies on the food bank to eat. I expect he won't live much longer...