WP - Funds for Health Care of Veterans $1 Billion Short

By Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, June 24, 2005; Page A29

The Bush administration, already accused by veterans groups of seeking inadequate funds for health care next year, acknowledged yesterday that it is short $1 billion for covering current needs at the Department of Veterans Affairs this year.

The disclosure of the shortfall angered Senate Republicans who have been voting down Democratic proposals to boost VA programs at significant political cost. Their votes have brought the wrath of the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and other organizations down on the GOP.

"I was on the phone this morning with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson, letting him know that I am not pleased that this has happened," said Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "I am certain that he is going to take serious steps to ensure that this type of episode is not repeated."

~snip~

At a noon news conference yesterday, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee covering veterans affairs and the lead sponsor of Senate Democratic efforts to add $1.9 billion to the VA budget, accused the Bush administration of unwillingness "to make the sacrifices necessary to fulfill the promises we have made to our veterans."

In a rare display of bipartisanship on the polarized issue of veterans spending, Craig appeared with Murray at the news conference and said he agreed with many of her comments.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/23/AR2005062301888.html

Supporting the troops some more! THANKS, BUSH!

NOT.

for Iraq.

Crooked m-fers...

I'll bet that money along with some of the suplemental funds for the "War on Terra" won't be going any farther then the Cayman Islands.

Let's face facts, with no accountability, with the Repukes in Congress fighting tooth and nail against any kind of open light
on where and how the money is spent, can anyone here really believe that all of this money is actually making it to where it needs to go.

I will admit that some of it has gone to Halliburton and other administration buddies, but remember the Penatagon couldn't account for a large sum of money during Shrub's first term, and once the flag waving started no one seemed to care.

It could very well be that our troops are dying because the money that was supposed to be spent to provide them with needed equipment
has been routed in another direction, maybe to a private bank account.

Iraq in cash? Randi Rhodes said the money was in duffel bags and they were just handing it out -- no accountability!

really thinks about our troops.

PVA to Voice its Concerns in Capitol Hill Testimony on Proposed Disability Insurance Legislation

http://www.pva.org/newsroom/PR2005/pr05029.htm

June 16, 2005—Washington DC—TParalyzed Veterans of America Deputy Executive Director John Bollinger will testify today before a hearing of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs to convey PVA’s positions on pending veteran disability insurance legislation. The hearing will convene at 1 p.m. in Cannon Room 334.

The Subcommittee will conduct this legislative hearing to consider draft legislation to amend the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program, the Traumatic Injury Protection provisions of Public Law 109-13, and H.R. 1618, the Wounded Warrior Servicemembers’ Group Disability Insurance Act of 2005.

In his testimony, Mr. Bollinger will express PVA’s concerns over recent provisions of the Emergency Supplemental bill that will require soldiers to pay a premium for disability financial coverage during rehabilitation. PVA believes it is the responsibility of the federal government, not the soldier and his or her family, to carry the financial strains of a disability occurring during service.

Referencing the Wounded Warrior Servicemembers’ Group Disability Insurance Act, PVA will recommend several possibilities as to how the financial hardships that these severely disabled men and women face can be addressed. PVA’s recommendations will include that the Department of Defense create a disability benefit similar to the death gratuity that allows for immediate payment.

“It is incumbent upon the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that these severely injured men and women get any and all assistance they need to overcome the challenges they will forever face as a result of their disability,” Bollinger will testify.

“The Army has recently proposed recruiting bonuses of up to $40,000. It would seem if DOD is willing to pay a premium to sign them up, they should be willing to pay the costs to make them financially whole when their soldiers and their families need them most.”

that enough GOP Senators get tired of being embarassed by the actions and lies of the administration that come back and make the senators look really bad to their constituents? A time where they begin to act entrenched against some of the admin actions in an effort to preserve their own political hides? That wasn't going to happen when the president could lead the way to spin out of everything getting a pass on all and riding high approval ratings. But now that the majority of the country doesn't support him, or his programs - does that point in time where the senate once again acts independently from the White House seem to be possibly around a close to reach corner?

Bush is all for supporting the troops (and they do a shitty job of that) as long as they serve his political purposes, but once they are dead or wounded, he has no more use for them than he has for an embryo once it is born.

Where is the OUTRAGE from the AmeriKan MAJORITY?

health crisis for our fighting men and women. When will the American people wake up?

Nixon impounded funds that congress passed to use for things.

Why isnt this being called impounding

by the press or dems?

Bush did the same thing with the 2O bill for iraq redevelopment... spent one or two bill.

this wouldn't happen again

"I was on the phone this morning with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson, letting him know that I am not pleased that this has happened," said Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "I am certain that he is going to take serious steps to ensure that this type of episode is not repeated."

Isn't it CRAIG'S job to take care of this? Slimy scumbag...

:kick: Wonder how the 10 wounded Marines feel about this latest snub by the * administration? :mad:

All anyone has to do is visit the VA hospital nearest them to see how the budget cuts are affecting veterans' health care.

I go to the Dallas VAMC; the Spinal Cord Injury unit is still doing okay, but the rest of the hospital is struggling. None of the doctors or nurses that I speak with support Bush and they feel that his administration has been the worst when it comes to supporting veterans.

Every time I go the VA I come away with respect for the health care professionals there and disdain for the Bush administration.

"...the wrath of the American Legion..." What wrath? Maybe from the PVA, but I don't remember hearing a peep from the Legion, VFW, or other traditional veterans groups before or after the election, no matter what crap Bushco pulled on us vets. Can anybody provide a link to this "American Legion wrath"? Only the Veterans Against the Iraq War (vaiw.org) spoke out against our treatment by Bushco.

Repeat this story casually to everyone you know, and often.

vet friends. They have got to see this.

DH is a PM for a large contractor. Twice they bid on a new VA Hospital - such a great need with all these newly combat-wounded Vets - twice the project was scrapped for lack of funds.

I hope they have state and local people working on this and getting the TRUE information to the veterans.

We need to be pushing this hard on a personal level between veterans, spreading the truth as opposed to the BS spin from the Republicans. Nail their asses on this. It is despicable.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress that its health care costs grew faster than expected and left a $1 billion hole in its budget this year, lawmakers said Thursday.

House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, the Republican from Indiana, said the department can meet this year's health care costs by drawing on spare funds and money from other operations, including building construction.

But next year's health care budget falls well over $1 billion short, said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

snip~~~

The shortage came to light during a routine budget review. Lawmakers said they are still gathering details, but it appears health care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and poor budget forecasting contributed to the problem.

snip~~~

ya think? Who supports the troops?

more...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/23/veterans.budget.ap/index.html

plenty of billions there.

:sarcasm:

along the route King George takes to get to his (our) airplane:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3936217&mesg_id=3936217

Veterans who rely on the federal government for benefits and healthcare could be getting less.
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced it's department will fall at least a billion dollars short this year. Now congressmen here in the valley are demanding President George Bush take action.
The lack of funding for veterans could result in older vets seeing an increase in user fees and they could pay higher co-pays for prescription drugs.
Congressman Ted Strickland and Tim Ryan both are asking for republicans and the president to restore the funding. Strickland and Ryan say the Bush administration gave no indictation that there was a problem with veterans funding.


http://www.wytv.com/news/local/1629162.html

spend another 45 billion to create more vets.

:crazy:

Gov of Ohio!

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=731619

that the VA doesn't need any money. I saw and heard him (VA Head)say it with my own eyes and ears.

Think of this next time you hear a neocon gripe that liberals are hurting the troops somehow.

Nice try, but vote these assholes out.

Oh, no one is looking into that.