VA funding scheduled for MORE cuts by Bush if he is re(s)elected!

[Gimpy]

Looks like the ding-bat-in-chief isn't satisfied with his piss-poor record of performance so far of inadequately funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and breaking promise after promise to all the military veterans of this country. According to a recent whitehouse memo uncovered by the Washington Post, G-FREAKIN-W is planing to slash and cut funding even FURTHER in 2006 if he gets re(s)elected! (see article below)

It begs the question.............How could ANY military veteran support such a disgrace of a candidate for president????

Just three and 1/2 short years ago many, many folks around here and other web sites were shouting from the rooftops that IF G-DUBYA didn't "keep" his "promises"..........they would be the first to say......."OUT THE DOOR"! Where are those folks NOW???? :cd: :cd: :cd: :cd: :cd:

####START####

2006 Cuts In Domestic Spending On Table
By Jonathan Weisman

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 27, 2004

The White House put government agencies on notice this month that if President Bush is reelected, his budget for 2006 will include spending cuts for virtually all agencies in charge of domestic programs, including education, homeland security and others that the president backed in this campaign year.

Administration officials had dismissed the significance of the proposed cuts when they surfaced in February as part of an internal White House budget office computer printout. At the time, officials said the cuts were based on a formula and did not accurately reflect administration policy. But a May 19 White House budget memorandum obtained by The Washington Post said that agencies should assume the spending levels in that printout when they prepare their fiscal 2006 budgets this summer. "Assume accounts are funded at the 2006 level specified in the 2005 Budget database," the memo informs federal program associate directors and their deputies. "If you propose to increase funding above that level for any account, it must be offset within your agency by proposing to decrease funding below that level in other accounts."


J.T. Young, a spokesman for the White House Office of Management and Budget, said the memo, titled "Planning Guidance for the FY 2006 Budget," is a routine "process document" to help agency officials begin establishing budget procedures for 2006.

"Agencies have asked for this sort of direction," Young said. "Budgeting is basically a year-long process, and you have to start somewhere."

But the cuts are politically sensitive, targeting popular programs that Bush has been touting on the campaign trail. The Education Department; a nutrition program for women, infants and children; Head Start; and homeownership, job-training, medical research and science programs all face cuts in 2006.

"Despite [administration] denials, this memorandum confirms what we suspected all along," said Thomas S. Kahn, staff director on the House Budget Committee. "Next February, the administration plans to propose spending cuts in key government services to pay for oversized tax cuts."

But with the budget deficit exceeding $400 billion this year, tough and painful cuts are unavoidable, said Brian M. Riedl, a budget analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Federal agencies' discretionary spending has risen 39 percent in the past three years. "I think the public is ready for spending cuts," Riedl said.

The administration has widely touted a $1.7 billion increase in discretionary funding for the Education Department in its 2005 budget, but the 2006 guidance would pare that back by $1.5 billion. The Department of Veterans Affairs is scheduled to get a $519 million spending increase in 2005 (which is the lowest increase in more than 10 years), to $29.7 billion, and a $910 million cut in 2006 that would bring its budget below the 2004 level.

Also slated for cuts are the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Small Business Administration, the Transportation Department, the Social Security Administration, the Interior Department and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Agencies would have the option of preserving current funding levels for programs under their control if they find money from other parts of their budget. But the computer printout contains specific program cuts.

The Women, Infants and Children nutrition program was funded at $4.7 billion for the fiscal year beginning in October, enough to serve the 7.9 million people expected to be eligible. But in 2006, the program would be cut by $122 million. Head Start, the early-childhood education program for the poor, would lose $177 million, or 2.5 percent of its budget, in fiscal 2006.

The $78 million funding increase that Bush has touted for a homeownership program in 2005 would be nearly reversed in 2006 with a $53 million cut. National Institutes of Health spending would be cut 2.1 percent in 2006, to $28 billion, after a $764 million increase for 2005 that brought the NIH budget to $28.6 billion.

Even homeland security -- a centerpiece of the Bush reelection campaign -- would be affected. Funding would slip in 2006 by $1 billion, to $29.6 billion, although that would still be considerably higher than the $26.6 billion devoted to that field in 2004, according to an analysis of the computer printout by the House Budget Committee.

####END####

Like I said before...............where are the folks who said they would stop supporting Bush if he didn't make good on his campaign "promises" from the 2000 campaign?????

Well.....................I say "OUT THE DOOR IN 2004!"

[MORTARDUDE]

I have been playing the "Delta Force :Black Hawk Down" video multiplayer game online for about a month. My handle is "NamVet70". Have made contact with a lot of Vietnam vets, wannabes ( blew two away by asking their MOS..one said he flew Chinooks over Hanoi....tee hee ), and many active duty military. In between our virtual-battles, the subject of the VA health care system has come up many times. I just tell it like it is. Almost a year to get into the hospital for PTSD therapy.
Patients used for experiments. Slipshod nurse care. But I also emphasize how the Vet Center has helped me. I also encourage them to write their elected officials to ensure that when they get out that adequate health care will be available. It is a never-ending batlle. Thanks for posting this !

Larry

[39mto39g]

This is all I have to read. "a recent whitehouse memo uncovered by the Washington Post"

Crap. crap, crap of yea and Crap.

Ron

[Arrow]

I'm right here Steve. There has been a slight change in my priorities due to an act of War against this nation when our homeland was attacked on September 11, 2001.

Priority #1 National Defense

I'm not going to trust my security and the security of my family to John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and Hilliary Clinton. I'm concerned enough as it is.

Steve you keep talking about the VA needing more money but how is that going to solve the administrative failures within the VA itself? We have people that have been entrenched in thisbureaucracy fordecades that do not know how to prioritize.

A case in point. The Milwuakee VA is understaffed on the Palliative Care Unit. So what are they doing? Why, they are using monies to build rooms on another wing so that each person on that wing will have asingle room and a private bath. They can't handle their patient load, they need more staff, but they are spending the money on construction.

Excuse me but what good is all the busy work doing for the WWII Vet that is dying on the Pallaitive care unit and layed in his own shit for 35 minutes after the nurses were notified to care for him? First hand eye witness account by my bro who was in the room with him.

Just one of a thousand examples of what happens when the government keeps throwing money at abureaucracy that can'tclean up shit in a timely manner.

Arrow>>>>>>>

[Gimpy]

that makes it OK to keep underfunding the VA???

I am truthfully sorry for the situation you have mentioned. You are absolutely correct that the "system" needs plenty of work to improve conditions and situations like that. But, it sure as HELL ain't gonna get it "right" under this current bunch of misfits!

These past three and one-half years prove that!

I realiize that government cannot possibly do everything that all of our citizens request, and it is confronted with difficult choices. It must choose to do what is best with the resources it has. What is best involves moral and practical considerations.

National defense and adequately funding and operating the VA and correcting current deficiencies within the system(s) (defense Department & VA) should receive equal priorities, not one over the other...............they ARE the SAME!

Under both, caring for those who have made (and are making) extraordinary personal sacrifices for our Nation and its citizens to protect us from enemies determined to deprive us of our freedoms and prosperity outranks ALL other goals of government, even though those goals may be meritorious themselves.

Veterans? programs must remain a national priority. Along with National Defense......................not reduced to a lesser stature of importance BECAUSE of it!

As indisputable as this principle is, not all in this government appreciate the nature of our indebtedness to disabled veterans and our corresponding overriding obligation to care for them first before pursuing other goals. All you need do is review the last three and one-half years of deception, lies and treacherous behavior by the current administration.

They are seeking to shirk that obligation and default on that debt without being held accountable, these politicians have devised crafty and underhanded ways to disguise or misrepresent the real nature and consequences of their actions that it may often be difficult for the voters to know what is genuine and what is false.

Fortunately, there are many, many, many of us out there who are wise to their devious and despicable attempts to disguise their outrageous and downright treacherous behavior. I just wish, hope and pray that more of "us" will wake up before it's too late.

If Bush gets re(s)elected, you, me and millions of others will be suffering more than we ever thought possible, mark my words!

Peace & health to you & yours,

[Arrow]

Originally posted by Gimpy

National defense and adequately funding and operating the VA and correcting current deficiencies within the system(s) (defense Department & VA) should receive equal priorities, not one over the other...............they ARE the SAME!

Under both, caring for those who have made (and are making) extraordinary personal sacrifices for our Nation and its citizens to protect us from enemies determined to deprive us of our freedoms and prosperity outranks ALL other goals of government, even though those goals may be meritorious themselves.

You are right. It should not have to be a choice. But I'll make that choice rather than trust John Kerry, Ted Kennedy or Hilliary Clinton with my own security or the security of this nation.

I look at MA and see what John and Ted have done to that state. Good heavens I would leave MA, walking, with a jar full of pennies and a Kroger sack just to get away from that mess.

(Sorry Andy & Griz) (their native soil don't ya know)

Hillary can not disguise her socialist worldview. We havealready gone farther down that path than I thought I would live to see in my lifetime.

I don't want to wake up one morning and see UN Blue flying from sea to shining sea.

I thank you for the well wishes sir and wish you & yours, health, peace, and prosperity.

Arrow>>>>>>>>>

[phuloi]

What Ron said.
The leftist media in this country will stop at nothing to discredit our president.Very sad.

[Gimpy]

Originally posted by little sparrow

[font="Comic Sans MS"]You are right. It should not have to be a choice. But I'll make that choice rather than trust John Kerry, with my own security or the security of this nation.[/font

Trust?? How ironic. This is actually what this issue is REALLY about after all, isn't it?

Many veterans like myself have opposed the Bush administrations move to strip billion$ from vital veterans? programs such as disability compensation and medical care. Hopefully more of us will continue to put forth the truth and the facts about their failures and abandonment of veterans causes.

To pejoratively characterize an honorable, reputable, and conscientious public servant like John Kerry as an ?untrustworthy? candidate to replace George Bush as CIC after Bushs' record of "broken promises", misinformation and outright lies is akin to the height of hypocrisy!

To simply say that Bush, because he SAYS he stands for what is right, reflects very negatively upon his supporters and their partys leadership. Bush (and his partys leadership) demonstrates that they have no hesitation in punishing honesty and integrity if it is at odds with their party?s national agenda, even to the point of "trashing" members of their own party who "disagree" with them for Gods sake.

Just as they have many Republican representatives and Senators who have voiced objections to the presidents lack of support for Veterans. This, without question, clearly reveals that veterans are not a priority in Bush agenda. And this, along with his miserable record and their partys leadership clearly demonstrate he and his "party" are "untrustworthy"!

I have serious problems and concerns that this countrys current leadership and its direction are seriously misguided. The "neo-con" phenomenon of the past few years (about 10 now) is fast approaching a reckless and disastrous conclusion.

Unfortunately, personal courage and integrity of the kind necessary to be an honest and true advocate for veterans is extremely rare in today?s hostile, mean-spirited political climate?and certainly unappreciated by those who do not view veterans as a priority national obligation.

George Bush never could keep his promises by "talking the talk"...........one reason, more than likely is because he never "walked the walk"!

John Kerry has "walked the walk"!

I thank you as well for your kind words and thoughts,

PS====GRIZ........................the "media" don't need to try and "discredit" him.................he's doin a fine job all by his self!

[Arrow]

Steve,

You really should go remove all those nice things you said about me before John Kerry was chosen as the front runner for the Democrats.

I wish you peace, joy andhealth for all your days...

Arrow>>>>>>>>

[Gimpy]

I don't think so.

I REALLY believe you're still a nice person, honestly. Maybe a little misguided and prone to being gullible at times.

I am too, at times.

But, not THIS time!

Like our friend Andy says,

STAY HEALTHY!