Info needed--Details of Bush's cuts to V.A.

[Jackpine Radical]

Bush claims to have increased funding to the VA, and this is apparently in some sense true, but I know vet services have been cut & less is being spent per vet served. I need reliable & solid details ASAP for a LTTE.

Muchas gracias
Tusind Tak
Vielen Dank
Merci beaucoup
etc.

[zbdent]

1. If he did "increase" the budget (by a miniscule amount), remember that

his was the logic that -

"If you vote against a tax cut, that's a tax increase."

Ergo, if he promised to veto any increase in a budget for the VAs, it means (by his own logic) that he slashed their budget.

[fishface]

5. Palm Beach Post on his cuts for 2006

Democrats rip Bush's outline for cuts in domestic programs

By Larry Lipman, Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau
Friday, May 28, 2004



WASHINGTON -- Congressional Democrats criticized the Bush administration Thursday for reportedly considering a variety of domestic spending cuts in popular programs in 2006.

Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota said budget cuts outlined in a May 19 White House memo would mean "more hardship for average Americans."

"The administration's policy choices have already contributed to the biggest squeeze on the middle class in history, and this memo promises more of the same," Daschle said. "The administration should change course and start focusing on America's priorities."


>snip<

"The ball is now out for everyone to see.... The only thing that's left in place is the part of the ball that is labeled, 'Tax cuts for my rich friends,' " Graham said.

The memo included these proposals, according to The Associated Press:

• 2.4 percent cut at the Education Department, from $57.3 billion in 2005 to $55.9 billion in 2006.

• 3.4 percent cut at the Veterans Affairs Department, from $29.7 billion in 2005 to $28.7 billion in 2006.

[fishface]

2. here's something

http://www.misleader.org/daily_mislead/Read.asp?fn=df12232003.html

[fishface]

3. From the VFW

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=1576

VFW Terms President's VA Budget Proposal Harmful to Veterans
VFW Appeals to Congress for Relief


Washington, D.C., Feb. 2, 2004--"The president ignored veterans in the State of the Union Address and with today's release of his 2005 budget, it is further evident that veterans are no longer a priority with this administration," said the leader of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., expressing dismay at the disgraceful 1.8% increase in veterans' medical care funding. "We look to Congress to reject the president's inadequate proposal and to provide a budget that fully acknowledges the debt our nation owes its veterans."

VFW Commander-in-Chief Edward S. Banas Sr., of Voluntown, Conn., said that with only a $500 million increase in medical funding, the administration's budget falls $2.6 billion short of what the Independent Budget recommends is needed to fully meet the demands for quality veterans' health care. "This funding package is a disgrace and a sham," Banas said.

"This deplorable budget will do nothing to alleviate the many thousands of veterans who are waiting six months or more for basic health care appointments with VA. Instead, the budget seeks to drive veterans from the system by realigning funding, charging enrollment fees for access and more than doubling the prescription drug copayment. This is inexcusable, especially when no member of this administration or Congress would wait this long for their health care.

"What the administration is proposing for veterans is a shell game. Veterans are being asked to pay for their own health care to make up for shortages in the budget. We are adamantly opposed to charging veterans an enrollment fee and we are opposed to increasing payments that veterans make for prescriptions and for other health care services, especially when millions of this nation's veterans are already locked out of the system," Banas said. "To ask this nation's veterans to subsidize their health care is outrageous. They have already paid for their health care with their sweat and with their blood.

[fishface]

4. From the Wash Post

VA Cuts Some Veterans' Access to Health Care
Huge Backlog, Long Waits Prompt Decision

By Edward Walsh
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 17, 2003; Page A21

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced yesterday that it is immediately cutting off access to its health care system to some higher-income veterans, a move the agency estimated will affect about 164,000 veterans who were expected to enroll in the system during the current fiscal year.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi said he decided to restrict access to the VA health care system because of a growing backlog of about 200,000 veterans who have to wait an average of six months before receiving their first treatment at a VA health care facility.



The growth in the number of veterans enrolling in the VA system "is eating up all of our marginal capacity," Principi said in an interview. "Our clinics, our medical facilities are full."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A4064-2003Jan16

[fishface]

6. My favorite is his threat to veto the $87b for iraq troops

because it would give an additional $1.3 B for vet care.

White House Veto Threat
Tuesday, October 21, 2003

The following letter was sent to Congressional lawmakers by the White House to convey the Bush administration's views on the Iraq spending package being debated:




<snip>

Both the House and the Senate versions of the bill contain provisions that are not directly related to on-going military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere or relief and reconstruction activities. The Administration strongly opposes these provisions, including Senate provisions that would allocate an additional $1.3 billion for VA medical care and the provision that would expand benefits under the TRICARE program.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,100777,00.html

[fishface]

7. and check THIS thread out..from DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x625337