Broken promises to veterans

[reprehensor]

Broken promises to veterans

NATURALLY, the political world's pulse quickened last week when John Kerry flew back here for a vote on a veterans' health care issue, only to be sandbagged by the Republican Senate leadership, which postponed the vote just long enough for him to miss it. What was missing from the brief dust-up was a discussion of the issue that produced Kerry's change in plans and the Republicans' childish maneuvering -- befitting a political culture that loves the politics of anything and ignores the substance of almost everything.

As it turns out, the issue before the Senate has been before it -- and the House -- of Representatives several times and goes to the heart of the promise made to people who serve in the military that they will enter a health care system designed to provide the care they require.

The truth is that the country breaks that promise every day, and indeed it is President Bush's intention to go on breaking it as far as the eye can see, just as it is his intention to let the government continue to save a few bucks by deducting veterans' disability payments from their military retirement benefits.

That a promise is being broken on health care cannot be denied. For years, Kerry and other members of Congress in both parties have battled to make the health care promise for the country's 26 million veterans unbreakable, instead of subject to annual discretion.

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[luaneryder]

1. It is shameful.

The influx of Afghanistan and Iraq vets have flooded an already poorly managed and financed system. Even if a vet is admitted to the system there is no guarantee of healthcare because of long waiting periods for appointments.