The VA is slowly being 'DISMANTLED'!

[Gimpy]

what'd I tell ya!

I rest my case!

[BLUEHAWK]

The VA is NOT being "dismantled", slowly or otherwise.

"Veterans Administration Gets Record Budget for 2004
From Robert Longley,

Health care alone up $2.9 billion from 2003

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will receive a record budget of $64 billion for the current fiscal year, up $4.2 billion from the previous spending level.

"I'm grateful for President Bush's leadership in ensuring that VA can honor our nation's commitment to its veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "I'm also appreciative of the support that Congress has shown when it comes to taking care of veterans."

The budget for fiscal year 2004, which began Oct. 1, 2003, comes as VA is putting the finishing touches on the administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2005, which will be formally unveiled Feb. 2.

Among the major items in fiscal year 2004 budget are $28.4 billion (including $1.7 billion in collections) for health care, up $2.9 billion from the previous year, and $32.8 billion in benefits programs.

Other VA budgetary categories include:


$143.4 million for the National Cemetery Administration, an $11 million hike over last year, plus nearly $32 million in grants for state cemeteries; (Also See: VA Set to Add 6 New National Veterans Cemeteries)

Full funding to expedite the handling of veterans' claims for disability compensation and pensions -- a total of $1 billion for all programs;

Nearly $176 million for health care and other programs to assist homeless veterans, an increase of over $22 million from fiscal year 2003;

$101 million to support state extended-care facilities, $3 million more than last year; and

$522 million for construction, plus the authority to transfer another $400 million to health care construction.
"This budget will ensure VA is able to meet the needs of the latest generation of combat vets who are now returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, while continuing to care for those from earlier conflicts," Principi said."

[Source: U.S. Veterans Administration]

[BLUEHAWK]

"Department of Veterans Affairs

Anthony J. Principi, Secretary

www.va.gov 202?273?4800

Number of Employees: 218,323

2005 Discretionary Budget Authority:
$29.7 billion; $32.1 billion (with collections)

Organization: Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, and National Cemetery Administration.

Major Assets: The Department owns 30,217 acres of land and 5,558 buildings; operates 158 hospitals, 840 ambulatory care and community-based outpatient clinics, 133 nursing homes, 206 community-based outpatient psychiatric clinics, 57 regional benefits offices, and 120 national cemeteries."

[BLUEHAWK]

I can cut and paste, too!

"WASHINGTON ? Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi announced today that President Bush will seek $67.7 billion in the fiscal year 2005 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a $5.6 billion increase in budget authority, primarily targeted for health care and disability compensation.

"The budget proposal reaffirms the president?s support for providing the best possible health care and benefits to our veterans,? Principi said.

The budget request represents a $1.2 billion, or 3.8 percent, increase in discretionary funding over the enacted level for 2004. Overall, the 2005 budget requests $32.1 billion in discretionary funding (mostly for health care) and $35.6 billion in mandatory funding (mostly for disability compensation, pensions and other benefits programs).

"With the resources requested in this budget, VA will continue to increase veterans' access to our health care system, reduce the time it takes to process claims for benefits, and ensure our national cemeteries are lasting memorials commemorating veterans," Principi said.

Improving Access to Health Care

The president?s budget requests $29.5 billion for VA?s medical care, an increase of $1.17 billion, or 4.1 percent, over the 2004 level and more than 40 percent above the level in 2001. The medical care budget includes $2.4 billion in collections from third-party health insurance and co-payments from veterans.

"The president's proposal includes ending copayments for several categories of veterans, including the poorest of the poor and our POWs," Principi said. "We will eliminate the pharmacy copayment for our most disadvantaged veterans. We will pay for emergency room care or urgent care for veterans in non-VA hospitals."

With the total resources for medical care, VA will be able to provide care to nearly 5.2 million patients, over 1 million more than in 2001, which marks a 20 percent increase.

The department has taken several steps during the last year to reaffirm its health care commitment to the highest priority veterans, particularly service-disabled veterans. VA recently issued a directive that ensures veterans seeking care for service-connected medical problems will receive priority access to VA?s health care system. This new directive says that all veterans requiring care for a service-connected disability must be scheduled for a primary care evaluation within 30 days of their desired date.

As a result of the new policy and other regulatory changes presented in the budget, the number of patients within the core service population -- service-disabled veterans, those with low incomes and veterans with special needs such as spinal cord injuries -- will grow to nearly 3.7 million in 2005. Veterans in the highest priority groups will comprise 71 percent of the total patient population in 2005, up from 66 percent in 2003. VA devotes 88 percent of its medical care budget to meet the needs of these highest-priority veterans.

The policy and regulatory changes included in the 2005 budget would require more advantaged veterans to assume a small share of the cost of their health care. These proposals are consistent with recent Medicare reform that addresses the difference in the ability to pay for health care. Among the most significant legislative proposals in the budget are:

? ending pharmacy copayments for veterans in Priority Categories 2 through 5 with incomes between $9,894 and $16, 509;

? ending all copayments for former prisoners of war;

? authorizing the department to pay for emergency room care or urgent care for enrolled veterans in non-VA medical facilities;

? ending hospice copayments;

? increasing co-payments for pharmacy benefits for veterans in Priority Categories 7 and 8 -- those not being paid for service-connected disabilities with income above an income threshold -- from $7 to $15; and

? establishing an annual user fee of $250 for veterans in Priority Categories 7 and 8, who have higher incomes and no compensable service-connected disability.

"My top priority in health care is to ensure that resources are available to care for those veterans who are most deserving of VA?s medical services," Principi said. "The proposals in this budget will assist us in continuing that focus on our core service population in our health care system."

In a major initiative, the 2005 budget would allow the department to pay for emergency room care or urgent care for veterans in non-VA hospitals who have insurance if they have enrolled for care in VA?s health care system. This provision would ensure that veterans with life-threatening illnesses can seek and receive care at the closest possible medical facility. In addition, VA proposes to eliminate the co-payment requirement for all hospice care provided in a VA setting and all co-payments assessed to former prisoners of war.

The medical care resources included in the president?s 2005 budget will allow the department to continue to improve veterans? access to health care. During the last three years, VA has opened 194 new community clinics, bringing the total to 676.

Nearly nine out of every 10 enrolled veterans now live within 30 minutes of a VA medical facility. This expanded level of access has resulted in an increase in the number of outpatient visits from 44 million in 2001 to 51 million in 2003, as well as a 26 percent rate of growth in the annual number of prescriptions filled to a total of 108 million last year.

To further highlight the emphasis on the delivery of timely, accessible health care, the department has set a 2005 performance goal of 93 percent for the share of primary care appointments that will be scheduled within 30 days of the desired date; 99 percent of all appointments will be scheduled within 90 days. For appointments with specialists, the comparable performance goal is 90 percent within 30 days.

Veterans of the nation?s recent conflicts are among those for whom the department provides care. Of the veterans of the war in Iraq who have been discharged by the military, 12 percent, or 9,700, have sought and received VA medical care. More than 9 percent of discharged veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom -- nearly 1,400 -- have received VA health care.

The 2005 budget includes $524 million to move forward with the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) program, more than doubling funds from last year to modernize VA's health care infrastructure.

"CARES is about caring for veterans' future needs," Principi said. "We want the highest quality of health care closer to where most of our enrolled veterans live."

Reducing the Time to Process Claims

VA administers six benefits programs ? disability compensation, pensions, education, housing, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and life insurance. The 2005 budget includes $1.9 billion in funding to support the management of these programs. This funding level is $26 million, or 2.2 percent, above the level for 2004, and includes resources for about 12,200 full-time staff.

The proposed budget will enable VA to meet an increasing workload in processing claims for financial benefits, such as disability compensation. One of the key initiatives the president identified when he assumed office in 2001 was to improve the timeliness of claims processing.

Between 2001 and 2003, the average number of disability compensation claims completed per month grew from 40,000 to 68,000. Last year, the backlog of pending claims for compensation and pension peaked at 432,000. By the end of 2003, the department had reduced this inventory to just over 250,000, a drop of over 40 percent.

At the same time, VA has reduced the time a veteran waits for a decision on a claim. In 2002, it took an average of 223 days to process a claim. Today, it takes about 150 days.

"I am gratified with our recent success in improving disability claims processing, and we will continue to work to have the level of service delivery veterans deserve," Principi said. "We are on track to reach an average processing time of 100 days by the end of 2004 and expect to maintain this standard in 2005."

Among the programs supported by the budget are VA's "benefits delivery at discharge" operations at 136 military installations around the country. The department has assigned rating specialists and physicians to bases where servicemembers can have their claims processed before they leave active duty in the military. This initiative makes it more convenient for separating servicemembers to apply for and receive the benefits they have earned, and helps ensure claims are processed more rapidly.

The 2005 budget will continue to support outreach to separating servicemembers and their families through transition assistance workshops, now held at 176 military installations. Additional briefings will be held not only for separating and retiring active duty member, but also for Guard and reserve members. In 2003, more than 110,000 active duty personnel attended transition workshops and 86,000 people attended the briefings.

Meeting the Burial Needs of Veterans

The president?s 2005 budget, which requests $455 million for VA's burial program, sets in motion a multi-year expansion, the largest expansion of the nation's cemetery system for veterans since the Civil War. When completed, the expansion will increase the capacity of VA's national cemetery system by 85 percent.

Of the FY 2005 total, $181 million is for VA burial benefits and payments, and $274 million in discretionary funding for operating and capital costs for the National Cemetery Administration and the state cemetery grant program. The discretionary total is $9 million, or 3.4 percent, over the level for 2004.

"With the resources requested for the burial program, VA will be able to significantly expand access while continuing our progress toward maintaining national cemeteries as shrines," Principi said.

During 2005, five new national cemeteries will provide service in the areas of Atlanta, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Calif.; and south Florida. Collectively, these new cemeteries will offer a burial option to more than 1.7 million veterans. The number of veterans living within 75 miles of a national or state veterans cemetery will increase to 83 percent in 2005 with the opening of new national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries. The figure was 73 percent in 2001.

The budget requests $81 million in construction funds for the burial program in 2005, including initial development of the new cemetery in the Sacramento area as well as expansion and improvements at the Florida National Cemetery (Bushnell, Fla.) and Rock Island National Cemetery in Illinois. Funds are also requested to initiate planning at six new national cemetery sites directed by Congress. These areas include: Philadelphia; Jacksonville, Fla.; Sarasota, Fla.; Birmingham Ala.; Columbia/Greenville, S.C; and Bakersfield, Calif. In addition, $32 million is requested for the state cemetery grant program.



Management Improvements

One of the president?s management initiatives calls for VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) to enhance coordination of the delivery of benefits and services to veterans. VA and DoD have established a high-level Joint Executive Council to develop and implement collaborative efforts. The two departments are focusing on three major issues:

? facilitating electronic sharing of enrollment and eligibility information for services and benefits;

? establishing an electronic patient health record system that will allow rapid exchange of patient information between the two organizations by the end of 2005; and

? increasing the number of shared medical care facilities and staff.

VA has several initiatives underway that will lead to greater efficiency and will be accomplished largely through centralization of several major business processes. The department is realigning its finance, acquisition, and capital asset management functions into business offices across the department.

In addition, VA is establishing an Office of Business Oversight that will provide stronger oversight of these functions by the Chief Financial Officer, will improve operations through more specialization, and will achieve efficiencies in staffing. As a result of this realignment, VA will strengthen compliance and consistency with finance, acquisition, and capital asset policies and procedures.

The department continues to make excellent progress in implementing the recommendations of its Procurement Reform Task Force, with 43 of the 65 recommendations completed. These procurement reforms will optimize the performance of VA?s acquisition system and processes by improving efficiency and accountability. VA will realize savings of about $250 million by the end of 2004 as a result of these improvements, a figure that will rise after all 65 recommendations have been implemented.

During 2005, one of the department?s primary focuses in information technology will be cyber security. VA will provide continuous protection to VA systems and networks. This will require purchases of both hardware and software to address existing vulnerabilities.

"I am excited to join President Bush in presenting the 2005 budget," Principi said. "The resources requested in this budget will help ensure that VA continues to honor our nation?s obligation to the men and women who served this country in uniform."

# # #

People wishing to receive e-mail from VA with the latest news releases and
updated fact sheets can subscribe at the following Internet address:
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/opalist_listserv.cfm

[BLUEHAWK]

Funding for Veterans up 27%, But Democrats Call It A Cut

Money for Veterans goes up faster under Bush than under Clinton, yet Kerry accuses Bush of an unpatriotic breach of faith.

February 18, 2004
Modified: February 18, 2004


Summary

In the Feb. 15 Democratic debate, Kerry suggested that Bush was being unpatriotic: ?He?s cut the VA (Veterans Administration) budget and not kept faith with veterans across this country. And one of the first definitions of patriotism is keeping faith with those who wore the uniform of our country.?

It is true that Bush is not seeking as big an increase for next year as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs wanted. It is also true that the administration has tried to slow the growth of spending for veterans by not giving new benefits to some middle-income vets.

Yet even so, funding for veterans is going up twice as fast under Bush as it did under Clinton. And the number of veterans getting health benefits is going up 25% under Bush's budgets. That's hardly a cut.


Analysis



Funding for veterans benefits has accelerated in the Bush administration, as seen in the following table.



Fiscal years ending Sept. 30

Source: US Budget: Table 5.2 - Budget Authority by Agency



In Bush?s first three years funding for the Veterans Administration increased 27%. And if Bush's 2005 budget is approved, funding for his full four-year term will amount to an increase of 37.6%.

In the eight years of the Clinton administration the increase was 31.7%

Those figures include mandatory spending for such things as payments to veterans for service-connected disabilities, over which Congress and presidents have little control. But Bush has increased the discretionary portion of veterans funding even more than the mandatory portion has increased. Discretionary funding under Bush is up 30.2%.

By any measure, veterans funding is going up faster under Bush than under Clinton.

One reason: the number of veterans getting benefits is increasing rapidly as middle-income veterans turn for health care to the expanding network of VA clinics and its generous prescription drug benefit.

According to the VA, the number of veterans signed up to get health benefits increased by 1.1 million, or 18%, during the first two fiscal years for which Bush signed the VA appropriations bills. And the numbers continue to grow. By the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30, the VA estimates that the total increase under Bush's budgets will reach nearly 1.6 million veterans, an increase of 25.6 percent.

And according to the VA, the number of community health clinics has increased 40% during Bush's three years, with accompanying increases in the numbers of outpatient visits (to 51 million last year) and prescriptions filled (to 108 million).

But They Keep Repeating: "It's a Cut"

That's just the opposite of the impression one might get from listening to Democratic presidential candidates debate each other over the past several months. One thing they seem to agree on is the false idea that Bush is cutting funding for veterans.

Examples:

Oct 9, 2003:

Sharpton: As this president waved the flag, he cut the budget for veterans, which dishonored people that had given their lives to this country, while he sent people like you to war.

October 27:

Dean: I've made it very clear that we need to support our troops . . . unlike President Bush who tried to cut -- who successfully cut 164,000 veterans off their health-care benefits.

Jan 4, 2004:

Kucinich: Look what's happened with this budget the administration has just submitted. They're cutting funds for job programs, for veterans . . .

Jan 22, 2004 :

Kerry: And while we're at it, this president is breaking faith with veterans all across the country. They've cut the VA budget by $1.8 billion.

Feb 15, 2004 :

Kerry: And most importantly, I think he's cut the VA budget and not kept faith with veterans across this country. And one of the first definitions of patriotism is keeping faith with those who wore the uniform of our country.

And even the Democratic National Committee website proclaims, "Bush Cuts Funds for Veterans' Health Care," despite what the numbers show.

Veterans Groups Want More

While it's false to say the veterans budget has been cut, and false to say that any veteran getting benefits has been cut off, it is true that funding is not growing as rapidly as demand for benefits, or as rapidly as veterans groups would like.

Veterans groups are unanimous in calling for more money than the administration or Congress have provided. Four groups -- AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States -- have joined to ask for $3.7 billion more than the administration is requesting for next year.

Even Bush's own Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi -- in a rare break with administration protocol -- told a House committee Feb. 4 that had asked for more money than Bush was willing to seek from Congress. "I asked OMB for $1.2 billion more than I received," he said, referring to the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Some Denied Benefits; A Cut Proposed

In January, 2003 the Veterans Administration announced that -- because the increase in funds couldn't meet the rising demand -- it would start turning away many middle-income applicants applying for new medical benefits.

That led to accusations that Bush was denying benefits to veterans. " We have 400,000 veterans in this country who have been denied access in a whole category to the VA," Kerry declared during a debate Oct. 9, 2003. The VA's estimates of the number who might be denied benefits is much lower, and in fact nobody can say with certainty how many middle-income veterans might have signed up for medical benefits if they had been allowed.

Meanwhile the VA continues to add hundreds of thousands of disabled and lower-income veterans to those already receiving benefits, and has kept paying benefits to all veterans who were already receiving them.

The middle-income veterans who currently aren't being allowed to sign up are those generally with incomes above 80% of the mid-point for their locality. The means test cut-off for benefits ranges up to $40,000 a year in many cities. And any veteran with income less than $25,162 still qualifies no matter where they live. Those figures are for single veterans. The income cut-off is higher for those with a spouse or children.

Veterans groups have called for "mandatory funding" of medical benefits, which would automatically appropriate whatever funds are required to meet demand. Kerry has endorsed mandatory funding, which would allow middle-income veterans with no service-connected disability to resume signing up.

The administration also has proposed to make the VA's prescription drug benefit less generous. Currently many veterans pay $7 for each one-month supply of medication. The administration proposes to increase that to $15, and require a $250 annual fee as well. Congress rejected a similar proposal last year. The proposal wouldn't affect those -- such as veterans with a disability rated at 50% or more -- who currently aren't required to make any co-payments.

And it should be noted that the administration is proposing to increase some benefits, including ending pharmacy co-payments for some very low-income veterans, and paying for emergency-room care for veterans in non-VA hospitals.

All this means Bush can fairly be accused of trying to hold down the rapid growth in spending for veterans benefits -- particularly those sought by middle-income vets with no service-connected disability. But saying he cut the budget is contrary to fact.

(Note: FactCheck.org twice contacted the Kerry campaign asking how he justified his claim that the VA budget is being cut, but we've received no response.)"


Sources



Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2005 "Table 5.2 -- Budget Authority by Agency" (Washington, Government Printing Office) 3 Feb 2004.

US House of Representatives, Committee on Veterans Affairs, ? Statement of Anthony J. Principi , Secretary Of Veterans Affairs? 4 Feb 2004.

US House of Representqatives, Committee on Veterans Affairs, ? Statement of Peter S. Gaytan, Principal Deputy Director, Veterans Affairs And Rehabilitation Division, The American Legion? 4 Feb 2004.

US House of Representqatives, Committee on Veterans Affairs ? Statement Of Joseph A. Violante , National Legislative Director, The Disabled American Veterans? 4 Feb. 2004.

US House of Representatives, Committee on Veterans Affairs ? Statement of Vietnam Veterans of America , Presented by Richard F. Weidman, Director, Government Relations? 4 Feb 2004.

Press Release , Rep. Lane Evans (D IL)"Bush administration ?05 VA budget reflects misplaced priorities, places greater burden on some veterans" 2 Feb. 2004.

Suzanne Bamboa, ?Principi Wanted $1.2B More for VA Budget,? Associated Press 4 Feb. 2004.

[Gimpy]

Where the hell have YOU been hiding lately? Are you aware that most of what you have 'cut & pasted' is over a year old and has been thoroughly discredited by nearly ALL the Military Service Organizations? Did you really believe all that propaganda bull$hit that you've 'cut & pasted' from some radical right-wingers?

Yea, and I mean the VA itself alright! You think they don't receive their marching orders from the Whitehouse and the Republican leadership in Congress........surely your not THAT naive, are you?

Why don't you put up what the REAL TRUTH is from sources like the DAV, VFW AMVETS, American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Retired Military Officers Association, etc., if you are so inclined to produce the accurate accounting of what has taken place since Bush and his cronies have been in office.

###############

Veterans Left Behind as VA Continues Drastic Cut Backs:

VVA ....5/27/2005

10:36:00 AM

To: National Desk

Contact: Mokie Porter Vietnam Veterans of America, 301-585-4000, Ext. 146; http://www.vva.org

WASHINGTON, May 27 /U.S. Newswire/

-- The Budget Resolution passed by both houses of Congress will result in staff reductions in every VA Medical Center at a most inauspicious time?as veterans return from the war in Iraq and as increasing numbers of veterans need care from the system, said Thomas H. Corey, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).

The impact will be significant among those returning troops who suffer from mental health issues such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), those who have sustained loss of limbs, and other serious injuries. In addition to devastating decreases in the availability of care for veterans that will result from such budget cuts, the VA seems determined to contest even long-standing disability compensation for PTSD from veterans currently receiving VA benefits and health care.

A recent VA Inspector General's (IG) report concluded that following a brief review of certain grants of service-connected benefits for PTSD, the "subjectivity" involved in such determinations has resulted in over-granting of benefits. As a result, the VA will be reviewing PTSD grants between 1999 and 2004, with an eye toward revoking benefits if the claim was adjusted incorrectly.

"VVA believes that the "subjectivity" offered to the IG report is a euphemism for poor training and quality control of VA adjudication staff. "We must make it crystal clear to Congress that the budget appropriation for fiscal year 2006 year is at least $3.5 billion less than what is needed to fund the VA medical programs adequately," Corey said. "This is a critical time. Without these resources, veterans will have longer waits to see specialists, much-needed maintenance will be deferred, and medical equipment will not be purchased."

"Together, through the Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform veterans service organizations will demonstrate against these drastic cutbacks. Veterans' health care is not a welfare program. It is a benefit earned by rendering honorable service to our country. If we don't act forcefully now, we will continue to witness the erosion of what was one of the finest health care programs in the nation."

------ Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is the nation's only congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated to the needs of Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA's founding principle is "Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another."
http://www.usnewswire.com/

#####End####
And this:

From: "Lisa Bogle, Disabled American Veterans"

Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 11:44:54 -0400 (EDT)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reported a shortage of needed funding to care for eligible veterans, including veterans of the current overseas wars. VA has admitted to Congress in making a request for $1.977 billion more than it said it needed only six months ago, they and the Presidents budget had erred in forecasting the actual number of veterans who will need VA in the new federal fiscal year that begins in October.

In addition, after years of denial by VA, Secretary Jim Nicholson has revealed to Congress VA?s shortfall for this year is about $1.2 billion.

House Appropriations


On receiving this shortfall news from Secretary Nicholson two weeks ago, the House hastily passed a new supplemental appropriations bill to add $975 million to VA?s health care account this year--only to discover last week that VA?s shortage was even higher.

The House bill is now stalled in the Senate.

As members of Congress return to their states and districts for the summer recess with differences between VA funding levels pending before the House and Senate, conferees from both chambers must come to an agreement before the VA receives anything. Whichever approach is used to address the immediate fiscal needs of VA, Congress must act quickly to resolve this reprehensible situation.

Moreover, looming is the fiscal 2006 gap attributed to the same weaknesses in VA?s and the Whitehouse budget team's funding methodology that led to this year?s unbelievable situation.


? First we urge you to contact your Representatives to thank them for their efforts to ensure VA receives the additional funding needed to treat sick and disabled veterans.

? Second we ask that you call upon Representatives to ensure the fiscal year 2006 increase of $3.35 billion remains in the conference agreement and to support increased funding to meet veterans? health care needs.

? Third, tell your Representatives that VA?s and the Whitehouse's method of forecasting budgetary needs has proven itself to be a failure, leaving thousands of veterans without vital health care. The DAV has recommended a method to guarantee VA adequate funding, and a number of bills have been introduced to make that change. At a minimum, Congress needs to hold hearings to look at better ways to ensure stable funding to care for America?s sick and disabled veterans.

##########

Not only is what I've placed before you as "proof" are the FACTS, but Bush's 2004 budget proposal was a sham to begin with! Joe Fox of Paralyzed Veterans of Americans said "the reductions will slam the poorest disabled veterans and cut GI Bill benefits for soldiers who are currently serving in Iraq." It could also eliminate 9000 doctors from an already taxed system. Fox said it was "an in-your-face insult to the veterans of this country."


"Pressures on the VA health care system have escalated to a critical point that can no longer be ignored by our government," said Joe Violante, legislative director for the Disabled American Veterans.


Due to a shortage of funding there is a backlog in claims from Gulf War veterans of almost 500,000 (a third of veterans of that war) and another 500,000 compensation and pension cases backlogged.

Also because of budget cuts, the VA has had to treat more than 1.4 million additional veterans in the last seven years with 20,000 fewer staff employees. According to DAV this means hardships for any veterans who need new benefits in the future. The cuts a particularly devastating because soldiers are amongst the lowest paid people in our society.

And, there are more than two thousand active soldiers and their families that currently have to accept food stamps in order feed themselves.

President Bush, however, suggested only a 2% raise for low-ranking soldiers in his 2003 budget. And his 2004, 2005 and 2006 budgets are 'cutting' MORE jobs from the VA with resulting loss of services than the years before! But, you and many, many other middle and upper-class and wealthy folks got that damn TAX CUT, didn't you?


I'll be glad to supply you with more compelling evidence..........but from the looks of your response thus far it dosen't seem it will undo that mangled mess of propaganda floating around in that hard head of yours that you've been spoon fed by your republican "puppet" masters.

I'll believe the hard working and dedicated folks at the DAV, VFW AMVETS, American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Retired Military Officers Association, etc., rather than the Republican 'propaganda' machine.....thank you very much!

[Gimpy]

HERE'S SOME MORE FOR YA!............


###START###

Funds for Health Care of Veterans $1 Billion Short

2005 Deficit Angers Senate Republicans, Advocacy Groups

By Thomas B. Edsall

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, June 24, 2005; A29

The Bush administration , already accused by veterans groups of seeking inadequate funds for health care next year, acknowledged yesterday that it is short $1 billion for covering current needs at the Department of Veterans Affairs this year.

The disclosure of the shortfall angered Senate Republicans who have been voting down Democratic proposals to boost VA programs at significant political cost. Their votes have brought the wrath of the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and other organizations down on the GOP.

"I was on the phone this morning with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson, letting him know that I am not pleased that this has happened," said Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "I am certain that he is going to take serious steps to ensure that this type of episode is not repeated."

The $1 billion shortfall emerged during an administration midyear budget review and was acknowledged only during lengthy questioning of Jonathan B. Perlin, VA undersecretary for health, by House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) at a hearing yesterday.

"We weren't on the mark from the actuarial model," Perlin testified. He said that the department has already had to use more than $300 million from a fund that had been expected to be carried over to the fiscal 2006 budget, and that as much as $600 million for planned capital spending will have to be shifted to pay for health care.

At a noon news conference yesterday, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee covering veterans affairs and the lead sponsor of Senate Democratic efforts to add $1.9 billion to the VA budget, accused the Bush administration of unwillingness "to make the sacrifices necessary to fulfill the promises we have made to our veterans ."


In a rare display of bipartisanship on the polarized issue of veterans spending, Craig appeared with Murray at the news conference and said he agreed with many of her comments.

Murray cited an April 5 letter written by Nicholson to the Senate in a bid to defeat her amendment: "I can assure you that VA does not need emergency supplemental funds in FY2005 to continue to provide timely, quality service that is always our goal," he had said.

Murray aides said they obtained a draft copy of the midyear review in early April, suggesting that the department knew of the budget problems at the time Nicholson wrote the letter. (More evidence of 'cover-up' from this bunch of despicable, theiving jerks in the Bush Whitehouse & cabinet positions.....Gimp)


VA spokesman Terry Jemison refused to release a copy of the document, saying, "We don't provide information about pre-decisional budget passback and midyear reviews."

Nicholson issued a statement yesterday: "The health care needs of America's veterans are among VA's highest priorities. Working with our partners in Congress, I'm confident that VA's budget will continue to provide world-class health care to the nation's veterans."

Craig and other Senate and House Republicans declined to say how much the fiscal 2006 budget would be raised above the level proposed by the administration. They said any attempt to supplement the current fiscal 2005 appropriation will have to await more detailed information on the shortfall this year.

Craig said he plans to hold a hearing next week on VA funding needs.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on military construction and veterans affairs, said she had just been informed of the $1 billion fiscal 2005 shortfall."We can never fall short on our promises to those who have sacrificed so much," Hutchison said. (GD hypocrite! She's one of the Senators whose been condemning the Democrats for OVER-STATING budget needs----------where the hell has she been these last 5 years-----with her damn head in the SAND like most Republicans I suppose, huh?----Gimp)


The House has already approved a $68.1 billion Department of Veterans Affairs appropriation for fiscal 2006 that has been sharply criticized by the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Disabled American Veterans.

Richard Fuller, legislative director of the Paralyzed Veterans, said the money problems this year and next were obvious to anyone visiting VA clinics and hospitals.

"You could see it happening, clinics shutting down, appointments delayed," Fuller said.

Joseph A. Violante, legislative director of the Disabled American Veterans, said Perlin's testimony yesterday confirms the veterans' assessment that the administration is "shortchanging veterans."

The Bush administration and House Republicans have been the main focus of anger among veterans organizations.

Their "policies are inconsistent with a nation at war," said Steve Robertson, legislative director of the American Legion. They violate the basic military value of "an army of one, teamwork, taking care of each other," he said.

The administration and Congress, Robertson said, are promoting policies that "subdivide veterans into little groups, the ones that 'deserve' and the ones who 'don't deserve.' "

Veterans groups are particularly angry with Buyer , who was specially chosen by the House leadership to chair the House Veterans Affairs Committee to keep spending down. Buyer was selected to replace Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.), who had alienated House leaders by pushing for high levels of spending on veterans programs.

Buyer recently sparked new controversy in an interview published by the American Legion Magazine in which he said the department should concentrate on serving a "core constituency," and he disputed assertions that "all veterans are veterans and all veterans should be treated the same."

The Indiana Republican has defended the House's fiscal 2006 spending levels for veterans, contending that VA health care would actually grow by $1.6 billion under the House legislation.

American Legion National Commander Thomas P. Cadmus countered that nearly $1 billion of the $1.6 billion increase would be achieved by cutting other medical accounts: $533 million from the medical administration account, $417 million from medical facilities and $9 million from medical and prosthetics research.

Yesterday, Buyer called on the Senate to "drill down" into VA money problems to determine the legitimate needs for fiscal years 2005 and 2006.

In addition to their unhappiness with spending levels, veterans groups are bitter over the changes initiated by the Republican leadership in the jurisdiction of appropriations subcommittees . VA funding was shifted from the subcommittee that includes housing and NASA programs to the subcommittee on military quality of life and Veterans Affairs and related agencies, which forces the Veterans Affairs Department to compete for limited funds with such programs as Defense Department health care, military cemeteries and military construction.

"The American Legion is not about to write Congress and say 'take away from DOD heath care' [in order to boost VA funding]. That's completely unacceptable," Robertson said.

The veterans lobby has already beaten back two controversial Bush administration proposals: a $250 enrollment fee for veterans joining the health care system and an increase in the prescription co-payment, from $7 to $15.

Leaders of the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans and the Disabled American Veterans all noted a striking partisan division in Congress on veterans issues, with Democrats giving them much more support than Republicans.


Traditionally, Violante said, "Republicans have been supportive of defense," but he said Bush administration policies and votes in the House and Senate suggest that the GOP does not view the care of veterans as "a continuing cost of war."

In the 2004 election, exit polls showed that voters who had served in the military were decisively more Republican than those who had not. President Bush carried the one out of five voters who had served by 16 percentage points, 57 to 41, while Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) barely won those who had not served, 50 to 49.

The Bush administration's priorities are "a little bit different now and veterans aren't a priority," Violante said. He described this as "terrible -- I think it's unconscionable."

#####End#####

May the diseases, injuries, pain and suffering of all disabled veterans and their families come to pass on each and every one of those within the Bush administration as well as the members of Congress who have brought this misery upon this nations military veterans and their dependents.


George W. Bush is nothing more than a slippery, sniveling, snobbish, slimy, slithery snake-in-the-grass that will NOT tell the truth and/or lie his ass off about anything he thinks he can get away with. He P-R-O-M-I-S-E-D he would make SURE that ALL Veterans would be assured of their E-A-R-N-E-D benefits before AND after the 2000 election AND the 2004 election.........


But ,.........And I believe I've been saying that for more than 5 years now, haven't I?


WTF does it take for the conservatives, republicans, Christian or otherwise.....to WAKE THE HELL UP and understand what the FACTS ARE???

[BLUEHAWK]

You keep getting some of it right, but the key part wrong.

The Bush administration has asked for increased VA funds.

Those funds have not been allocated as yet.

Congress approves all budgets.

[Gimpy]

Originally posted by BLUEHAWK You keep getting some of it right, but the key part wrong.

No, it's YOU who won't admit the 'wrong' part of this issue!---Gimp

The Bush administration has asked for increased VA funds.

Sure they have, the evidence shows that. But, what YOU fail to mention is according to ALL the documented evidence supported by the military service organizations and EVEN the VA itself...................Bush has NOT asked for ENOUGH 'FUNDS' to adequately support the VA system of health care and benefits delivery!----Gimp


Those funds have not been allocated as yet.

Nor has the amount proven to be actually NEEDED as the documentation I've provided shows...........---Gimp


Congress approves all budgets

And WHO, pray tell, is in the 'MAJORITY' control of the Congress as we speak??? And has been JUST as 'GUILTY' as the President in allowing these injustices against veterans to take place these last FIVE (5) years!.............Oh, don't tell me you don't know?

I'll help you out a little, OK.........THE REPUBLICANS! THAT'S WHO!____ Gimp

.

[SuperScout]

The eternal question of "... enough funds...." has been asked by every federal, state, and city governmental entity since Umok and Igluk formed their Intracavern Protection Society. Admittedly, this Congress, like everyone before them, has made some egregious errors in how the limited amount of monies are allocated. Within the VA, errors are continually made as they try to maintain Eocene aged buildings because of local pressure to provide benefits to three surviving veterans, when they could spend the same amount of money in a different area of the state, and serve hundreds of veterans. But local pressure demands that the decrepit and money-draining facilities be kept open. In a perfect world, every veteran would get the treatment, medicines and monetary compensation they so richly deserve, but in the meantime, we have to work to correct the imperfections with which we are presented. Screaming into a computer, vile name-calling, and bomb-throwing rhetoric doesn't get us there.