Democrats, veterans press for extended mental-health care for servicemembe

[lebkuchen]

More mental health resources are needed to deal with stress from Iraq and Afghanistan now, before those veterans develop even more serious mental problems, according to Democrats and veteran support agencies.

On Thursday both groups lobbied for legislation to increase funding for mental health treatment, to extend health-care coverage for veterans returning from war, and to force the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a long-term plan for treating troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Earlier, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson offered a mixed reaction to a host of Democrat-sponsored bills, voicing support for general plans to improve mental health care but rebuffing most of their legislative efforts.

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Nicholson opposed a measure to expand post-war health care coverage from two years to five years, saying it would needlessly complicate the current system.

But Dennis Cullinan, legislative director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said mental health problems can take years to develop, and the extra years of health care coverage “gives these men and women an important safety net, and gives them peace of mind as they return from combat.”

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Nicholson said his department is adequately funded.

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http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=29632


**Nicholson used to Chair the Republican National Committee. When Bush put him in his current post, this is what ABCNews had to say about the financial standing of the Veteran's Affairs Office:

He (Nicholson) will be taking over the Department of Veterans Affairs during a time of serious financial strain, when soldiers are returning from war and in the face of numerous budget battles.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Inauguration/story?id=371875&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

**Today, Nicholson is turning down between $100 to $300 million dollars in funding to help returning wounded! Where is his patriotism? Where is his sense of decency?

[DeepModem Mom]

1. Thanks for this post, lebkuchen. nt

[truthisfreedom]

2. excellent post. thanks!

excellent news as well.

[salin]

3. Part of the "Me First" GOP

probably afraid he would lose his job if he uttered support for anything from a Dem - which is perceived by bushco as disloyalty.

So once again, screw the vets with needs - but "I got mine" (job for bushco).