Democrats Press for More Veterans Funds (Kerry and Byrd)

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats say they will press for a vote as early as Tuesday to address a $1 billion shortfall in the budget for veterans' health care programs.

Two congressional panels have summoned Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson to Capitol Hill to testify about the VA's miscalculation of how much would be needed for the current fiscal year for veterans' health care. VA officials told the House Veterans Affairs panel that additional costs for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and poor budget forecasting contributed to the problem.

Even before further details are known, Democratic senators fashioned amendments for a pending Interior Department spending bill, ranging from a $600 million proposal by John Kerry, D-Mass., to a $1.4 billion plan by Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.

Nicholson is expected to testify that the VA can juggle its budget — taking $600 million in capital infrastructure spending and $400 million in carry-over funding for next year — and avoid the need for emergency funds for the current budget year ending Sept. 30.

Funding for next year is another question, and lawmakers are likely to face pressure to add emergency funds for veterans' health care programs above the $28.8 billion approved by the House last month.

~snip~
more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050627/ap_on_go_co/congress_veterans_1

[MH1]

1. Go Kerry!! Go Byrd!!

Of course the administration is trying to pretend there's no problem. "Nothing to see here folks, move along..."

[rox63]

3. Meanwhile...

* and his crew of war criminals are creating more disabled veterans with each day the war goes on. I hope Kerry and Byrd are able to knock some sense into the Senate with this effort.

[driver8]

2. Hey -- another one billion dollars Haliburton can steal and add to

their coffers!

I'm a veteran, so I hope that Byrd and Kerry are successful with this.

[NVMojo]

4. I support this as long as HALLIBURTON can't touch it!!!

[mom cat]

5. No. Just have Halliburton pay the $1 billion outright.

[CAG]

6. The FY06 budget is terrible for veterans as it stands now.

But, ya know, we got our "Support the Troops" bumper stickers on!!!!

[ohtransplant]

7. * and his gang of thugs don't support the troops

OR our veterans. If they did, they'd put their money where their collective mouth is - instead of war profiteering and lining each others' pockets.

Support the troops? Ha! The gang in control should be ashamed and military families and veterans should be screaming at the top of their lungs.

Look who is watching out for our veterans. Lurkers take note. It's the Dems who want to provide for our injured and our disabled. It's not the boy who would be king. Mission Accomplished My Ass!

[johnaries]

8. Now THAT's how you Support Our Troops!

Screw the ribbons....

[LiberalAndProud]

9. E-mail this to every Republican you know.

Which party supports the troops?

[second edition]

10. Real benefits and caring from the Democrats.

We just don't talk about it we do something about it. Thank you Senators'Kerry and Byrd.