Senate GOP Plans Spending Boost for Vets

[meganmonkey]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Eager to prevent political damage, Senate Republicans intend to raise spending on veterans programs by $1.5 billion to make up for a shortage caused partly by the return of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, congressional aides said Tuesday.

The decision marked a swift response to last week's disclosure that the Department of Veterans Affairs needs $1 billion more for veterans health care this year. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, noting that no formal announcement had been made.

The House simultaneously fought back a Democratic effort to immediately spend an extra $1 billion on veterans health care. The 217-189 vote along party lines killed Democratic attempts to open a foreign aid bill and add the money.

``Veterans need to know that no veteran will be without his health care in 2005, nor will they be without their health care in 2006,'' said Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. ``There are solutions to this problem and those solutions are being addressed.''

more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5104506,00.html

Notice they are 'eager to prevent political damage', not 'eager to give vets what they need'...

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

1. I'm not surprised.

They only reason Republicans do anything is for political gain.
"eager to prevent political damage"...
How about giving our vets the respect and support they deserve becuase they're vets, not because your pwecious wittle political career might take a hit, you damn piles of elephant shit???
:mad:

[Oversea Visitor]

2. They will add some dumb stuff and blame Dem for not supporting

Act 3 scene 1 incoming soon at the hill :evilgrin:

[Rainscents]

3. Lets see if Bush will sign this bill after Senate vote on it.

BTW... This is Democrats bill. Senator Patty Murray (WA). She was on Lou Dobbs the other night and slammed GOP for not supporting her bill.

[Elwood P Dowd]

4. They're going to turn over the VA system to Halliburton

:(

[Tempest]

5. It was the Democrats who first proposed increased spending

Kennedy and Kerry were the first to call for the increase.

But naturally the "liberal" media didn't report it and will give the credit to the Repugs.

[meganmonkey]

7. Shouldn't the headline read "GOP stops OBSTRUCTING Dem effort

to increase spending for Vets"

:banghead:

[Tempest]

8. That would be much more accurate

But it makes the Repugs look bad and the "liberal" media can't have that.

[mom cat]

6. Caught with their pants down, repukes finally act!