Democrats Press for More Veterans Funds

[kerrygoddess]

AP News reported that Senate Democrats are pressing “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.

MORE & LINKS - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1166

[coloradodem2005]

1. Of course...

...we all know that the Republicans are the ones who butter the veterans' bread. :eyes:

[snowbear]

2. This made me think of that veterans group "Rolling Thunder"

I still remember them making big news during the '04 campaign.

They came out in full force (and evidently there's a LOT of them) to endorse George W. Bush because as they said..

...After serious contemplation, we have decided that President Bush is far better at protecting veteran's benefits than Senator Kerry would be.

~~~~~~ What a JOKE!

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[Imagevision]

3. not to mention the troops having to deal with mental problems

watching/seeing your buds get blown up can take its toll, how far does the VA. help the troops with these matters?? It's not like their fighting an enemy that broadcasts who they are wearing uniforms.