More Lies & Deception From Repubs in Congress!

[Gimpy]

STEVE BUYER SENDS MALICIOUS LETTER TO LEGION COMMANDER AS HE AGREES TO MEET WITH VSOs --

American Legion fires right back at House Vets' Chair. Once again, Buyer proves just how small he really is.


Well, the "war of words" between Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the American Legion continues.

Background here with back links... http://www.vawatchdog.org/old%20news...23-2006-10.htm

Read below...from Buyer to Legion...and from Legion to Buyer.

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U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS


June 8,2006


Department commanders
The American Legion

By email

Dear Commanders:

On May 5, the national commanders of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US., Disabled American Veterans, and AMVETS wrote a letter addressed to meand also sent to my colleagues expressing concerns about my decision to move annual
budget and legislative hearings of veterans' and military service organizations into February, before the Veterans' Affairs Committee develops its Budget Views and Estimates recommendations to the Congress on the annual VA budget.


A week later, on May 12, still having not received the letter, I realized the intention of the political stunt. I replied to the national commanders that day, offering my perspective.


The VSOs and MSOs have a wealth of knowledge that is of great value to the committee, thus my decision to move the hearings forward. Coupling these hearings with a September "look back, look ahead" hearing will historically and dramatically increase the
opportunities for the views of veterans' advocates to be heard before the committee. Thisis an innovation that makes great sense.


When the May 5 letter was sent, none of the national commanders had ever called or asked to see me on any issue, and when they were invited to testify at budget and legislative hearings in February, they instead sent subordinates to represent them. I then offered an invitation to work with me and stated, "my door remains open to you."


Unfortunately, some cannot move beyond unproductive rhetoric. Commander Bock, in a May 13 National Commander's update that came to my attention, wrote, "I believe, the chairman is very stubborn and is determined to Kick Veterans out of Congress." This is a false and malicious statement; nothing could be further from the truth. Commander Bock's statement is a misrepresentation that brings discredit to the national headquarters of the American Legion. Legionnaires, who do so much good on behalf of fellow veterans, their families and their communities, deserve better.


I have worked to the benefit of the soldiers and veterans for 26 years. I authored TRICARE for Life, increased the VA budget, supported Concurrent Receipt, improved pharmacy benefits for military retirees, led the fight on Gulf War illness research, and
successfully pressured VA and DoD to conduct pre-and post deployment health assessments and to develop interoperable electronic medical records. When on Memorial Day President Bush signed the bill prohibiting disruptions at military funerals in national cemeteries, I was with him and two families who had been abused by protesters. I cosponsored and helped lead that bill through Congress.


I don't accept the status quo when our veterans need change. Doing what made sense and what has not been done before, I ensured that the views of VSOs and MSOs are heard before we develop our Budget Views and Estimates. We received valued
testimony. Bringing into the system such access for your members' views and accountability for all of us is principled leadership.


Please note that in response to my invitation, the national commanders and their executive directors have accepted my offer of a meeting here on June 20. They will then be my guests that evening at a reception and the Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial.


As I wrote them on May 3 1 in a letter formalizing this event, I look forward to a constructive dialogue on behalf of America's veterans and families. I take this opportunity to express to you the sane hope and to thank you and the members of your
departments for the great work you do for veterans, their families and our communities.


Best regards,


Steve Buyer
Chairman


*******END********


THE AMERICAN LEGION

JUNE 9, 2006


Representative Stephen Buyer, Chairman
House Veterans Affairs Committee


Chairman Buyer:

Although you failed to copy me on the letter you emailed to the Department Commanders of The American Legion yesterday afternoon, my staff did share it with me. I must say I was somewhat surprised at the letter, and particularly it's tone and the vitriolic language you chose to include. The fact that you would use such malicious tone and language in an attempt to malign the National Commander is not unexpected. However, that you would dispatch another inflammatory letter immediately following a meeting during which Majority Leader Boehner spoke at length of open communications, reaching out to those with views other than ones own, and the harmful effect of partisanship on the Congress, is rather surprising to me.


You included as another attachment to the email a copy of your May 12th letter addressed to the undersigned and the National Commanders of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US, Disabled
American Veterans and AMVETS, as well as the Interoffice Memorandum from your Staff Director, under the same date, which contains a series of inaccuracies . Mr. Buyer, at my request those documents and the others we have exchanged were distributed to the Department Commanders as well as other primary Department and National American Legion officials on May 22, 2006. The American Legion is a transparent organization. Advocacy is one of the primary missions of this great organization, and one cannot advocate without communicating.


We are a veterans' service organization, not a secret society.


After yesterday's meeting I was mistakenly under the impression we were mutually on our way toward open communications. However, that is obviously not the case, and I would be interested, Mr. Chairman, in knowing whether or not the entire Veterans' Affairs Committee is aware, and in approval of, the tact you have taken in expressing your disagreement with The American Legion, and for that matter, most of the other major veterans organizations. It is because of our belief in transparency that I am sharing this letter with & members of the Committee as well as your leadership in the House of Representatives.


I am truly looking forward to our meeting scheduled for June 20,2006. I would like to add to the agenda for that meeting the funding issues relating to the replacement medical care facility in Denver, refurbishing operating rooms at the Columbia, Missouri VAMC, and the spinal cord injury center in Milwaukee, and the construction of a new medical center in Biloxi. The funding for these facilities was either restricted or rejected by the Appropriations Committee. We also need to discuss the funding for the new medical center in New Orleans, authorization for which was reportedly blocked by you when the emergency supplemental bill was being debated on the floor of the House. I am concerned that we, a nation at war, are not settling the debt we owe our returning service members and veterans when it comes to providing the resources necessary to afford them quality health care.


Mr. Chairman, I trust that you will not take delivery of the message contained in this letter in a defensive manner. If we are to collectively and mutually provide advocacy for those who have served this nation in uniform, it surely must be done in a civil and bipartisan manner.


Sincerely,


Thomas L. Bock
National Commander

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Disabled American Veterans


Year: 2005
Issue: Veterans Issues
Website: http://www.dav.org
Email:
Disabled American Veterans
807 Maine Avenue, Southwest
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: 202-554-3501

"Formed in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, the million-member DAV is the official voice of America's service-connected disabled veterans -- a strong, insistent voice that represents all of America's 2.1 million disabled veterans, their families and survivors."

The following ratings indicate the degree that each elected official supported the interests of the organization in that year.


INDIANA - U.S. House- 4- Stephen E. 'Steve' Buyer - Republican - 0 -(That's a BIG FAT ZERO!----Gimp )


Yep, that lying jerk Buyer is a REAL good example of "Republican support" for Veterans alright!

So says the DAV, American Legion, VFW and on, and on, and on!

Folks better wake the hell up before it's too late!.....