The Hill News

Alan Simpson, the GOP co-chairman of President Obama's fiscal commission, on Tuesday questioned some disability benefits paid to war veterans, saying that they are "not helping" the nation's debt crisis. 

Simpson, an Army veteran and former chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, specifically questioned automatic disability awards to those affected by the defoliant Agent Orange, which the U.S. used during the Vietnam War. Simpson said the payments don't mesh with his panel's goal of reducing the debt.

{mosads}"The irony [is] that the veterans who saved this country are now, in a way, not helping us to save the country in this fiscal mess," said Simpson, according to the Associated Press.

The ex-senator came under fire last week for comparing Social Security to a "milk cow with 310 million tits." Several liberal Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups called for his resignation, creating an unwanted controversy for the fiscal panel, which is expected to make its recommendations for reducing the growth of the federal deficit in December. 

His remarks today could again stoke anger among his opponents. 

Simpson commented the same day that Obama gave a major address regarding the end of the Iraq war, citing increased benefits for healthcare and education, especially to treat mental ailments like post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it," the president said.

According to the AP, Simpson declined to say whether the fiscal commission would take up the matter as part of its work.

The panel has already been under intense pressure from lawmakers in both political parties, who are worried the commission will propose either drastic spending cuts or tax increases to reduce the nation's growing debt.

But there is concern about the issue among some key lawmakers.

The chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), told the AP Tuesday he will address the broader issue of such disability payments at a hearing previously scheduled for Sept. 23. 

h/t TPM