Will Veterans Lose if Mitt Romney Wins?

[white cloud]

On Tuesday, Romney named former President George H.W. Bush and former Sen. Bob Dole as honorary co-chairmen of his Veterans and Military Families for Romney. But perhaps more significantly, the group’s national co-chairs, who will advise Romney on veteran policy if he is elected, include James Nicholson, former secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under President George W. Bush.


Some veterans advocates say Romney’s decision to tap Nicholson, who abruptly resigned from the VA in 2007 amid controversy, as well as Anthony Principi and James Peake, who also presided over the VA during George W. Bush’s two terms in the White House, could signal that Romney will embrace some of the policies of the Bush years, which were widely considered to be tough times for veterans.


“A Romney presidency would be a disaster for veterans, as evidenced by whom he’s chosen to advise him,” says Patrick Bellon, executive director of Veterans for Common Sense, a veterans’ advocacy organization. “I think these choices should give all Americans pause. How can voters support a candidate who is showing so clearly that he learned nothing from Bush’s failures? It would be a mistake to trust people like Nicholson who failed veterans in such epic fashion.”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/07/will-veterans-lose-if-mitt-romney-wins.html

[Historic NY]

1. He will just reset the clock back to previous policy...

isn't that the goal of the Republicans.

[HereSince1628]

5. Under Bush, obviously with dem support, the VA expanded coverage to low income vets

without service related medical problems. I don't mean to say there were not MANY problems with VA care for veterans of the Sandlandistan conflicts, there were. But the Bush admin under dem pressure did get coverage for many impoverished vets.

Romney might be a budget cutter, I'd expect that if Paul Ryan is his VP. That could potentially mean cuts to Priority 5 and Priority 8 eligibility that have helped scores of thousands of additional vets during the Great Recession.

[MADem]

2. When Republicans are in office, military readiness and family support suffer.

They buy toys, but they don't support the troops.

They'll have to break out those old "GO NAVY/GO HUNGRY" bumper stickers that were popular awhile back, "BC" (Before Clinton).

[white cloud]

3. more

http://veteransforcommonsense.org/2012/07/07/will-veterans-lose-if-mitt-romney-wins/

[thelordofhell]

4. Yes

[mailman82]

6. I get all my healthcare at the VA.

I have for forty years,every time there were cuts made. Repug was Pres.

[MIDNITERIDER1438]

7. Check this out for Romney's true character

http://www.scribd.com/doc/78582788/McCain-2008-Oppo-File
Found on http://facebook.com/coffeeparty

Romney Proposed Putting Veterans’ Care Facilities In Same Agency Handling Welfare Services.
“Another provision of the governor’s reforms would place operation of the Soldiers’ Homes in Chelsea andHolyoke with the same agency that handles welfare services for the disabled.”
(John J. Monahan, “Veterans GroupsCritical Of Romney Plan,”
Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA], 3/18/03)

2003: Legislators Overturned Romney Veto Of Tens Of Thousands In Funding For Veterans Cemetery.
“[T]he Legislature last night restored more than $150 million of the $201 million cut by Gov. Mitt Romney. …Among the vetoes the Legislature overrode yesterday, on what was the final day of formal deliberations beforelawmakers broke for a summer recess, were: … $86,018 for the Agawam-Winchendon Veterans Cemetery.”
(JohnMonahan, “Most Romney Vetoes Restored,”
Telegram & Gazette [Worcester, MA], 7/18/03)

Romney Tried To Cut $165,000 From Veterans Outreach In 2003.
(Massachusetts Budget And Policy Center, “A ReviewOf The FY 2004 Vetoes And Overrides,”www.massbudget.org, 7/28/03)
Romney Staff Spent Tens Of Thousands On New Televisions And Cross-Country Travel While “MakingFunding Cuts To Programs Including Ones Serving Veterans…”
“Governor Mitt Romney’s staff spent tens ofthousands of taxpayer dollars on cross-country travel and new televisions, VCRs and furniture for their offices intheir first six months in office, according to a published report. … Romney’s aides spent almost $40,000 on newoffice equipment and more than $22,000 on travel … The spending came as Romney was making funding cuts toprograms including ones serving veterans, the mentally disabled and the elderly.” (“ Romney’s Staff Spent Thousands OfTax Dollars On New Office Equipment, Travel,” The Associated Press, 11/16/03)

1994 Romney Remark On Homeless Veterans “Not One Of The Brighter Moments Of His Campaign.”
“From all accounts, Mitt Romney’s visit to that veterans shelter just behind Boston’s City Hall Plaza was not one ofthe brighter moments of his campaign for US senator. When director Ken Smith told him that one of the things theshelter needed was fresh milk, Romney replied jokingly that maybe the veterans should be taught how to milkcows.”
(Michael Kenney, “Romney Comment Leads To Milk Run,”
The Boston Globe , 11/27/94)

My new facebook veterans' page:
http://www.facebook.com/moreveterans
And my brand new blog, latest post:
http://serpline.blogspot.com/2012/07/romney-raves-to-have-ones-cake-and-eat.html