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.
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.”
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.
- Make sure they have the body armor and armored Humvees they need
- Send them to war only when absolutely necessary
- Make sure the evidence supporting your war is unimpeachable
- Follow the Geneva Conventions so they won’t get tortured
- Don’t cut their combat pay or Veteran’s Administration benefits
