Repugs Refuse to Consider Veterans Health Care as The True Cost Of War

[The Straight Story]

House Republicans Refuse to Consider Veterans Health Care as The True Cost Of War
March 18, 2005
By John Gage
National President, AFGE
Washington, DC

On March 16 the House of Representatives passed the Supplemental funding bill for FY 2005. The War Supplemental adopted by the House mirrored the President’s request in that it did not have a dime of funding for veterans’ health care. During the debate of this important funding bill, the Republican-controlled House refused to debate and vote on amendments to ameliorate the current operating deficits at VA hospitals and clinics across the nation.

Caring for veterans is part of the true cost of war but the President and some 220 Republican Representatives don’t seem to want to pay the medical bills after soldiers' have paid the price with psychological or physical wounds.

Isn’t the cost of caring for soldiers when they return home worthy of debate?

VA hospitals across the nation are short-staffed, shutting beds, under hiring freezes and unable to replace broken equipment because the 2005 operating budgets are inadequate to meet demand for care. For example:

http://www.afge.org/Index.cfm?Page=UnionBlog&HitID=286

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. God help us if there is a draft!

nt

[chomskysright]

2. Use this as your 'letter to the editor' as you see fit...

ALL THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS VOTED AGAINST EXTENDED HEALTH CARE FOR VETS


SUPPORT OUR TROOPS WITH HEALTH CARE

Yesterday, North Carolina's two Republican Senators voted 'nay' to add money for veterans’ health care to the 2005 supplemental appropriations bill.

This bill is an emergency supplemental appropriations bill to cover costs of treating returning combat veterans for war-related injuries and to cover shortfalls in funding for VA programs.

The Republican Senate votes in a block. In explaining why, across the board, Republicans did not vote for the bill, Senator Cochran, R-Miss.(Senate Appropriations Committee chairman)stated: "“The administration has not asked for these funds."

Concerns for the health of returning veterans are associated with a high rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and health difficulties associated with exposure to depleted uranium.

The bill would have cost $6.50 for each veteran. Don't our troops deserve better than this?

[MsConduct]

3. Face it, they are all selfish bastards. Steal from the poor, give to

the rich and screw over those who fight and die for their/our country. And they'll be sooooo surprised and dumbfounded when some
disgruntled ex-vet sniper opens fire on them. Sheesh.

[Joey Liberal]

4. Once again, my fellow Veterans have asked for this

The majority of veterans voted for Bush. They are getting what they asked for. I don't feel sorry. Just glad that I have good health care insurance and don't need the VA.

[MollyStark]

5. Wasn't any of this covered in Kerry's bill today?