Veterans face consecutive budget cuts

[BadgerKid]

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration plans to cut funding for veterans' health care two years from now — even as badly wounded troops returning from Iraq could overwhelm the system.

Bush is using the cuts, critics say, to help fulfill his pledge to balance the budget by 2012.

After an increase sought for next year, the Bush budget would turn current trends on their head. Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly — by more than 10 percent in many years — White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter.

The proposed cuts are unrealistic in light of recent VA budget trends — its medical care budget has risen every year for two decades and 83 percent in the six years since Bush took office — sowing suspicion that the White House is simply making them up to make its long-term deficit figures look better.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070212/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_budget_veterans

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In today's lowering of the lows, Bush is 'for' the war but 'against' the vets? Raw deal big time.

[Monkeyman]

1. As a vet it make me angry. But this blank is going after the poor

Seniors, programs that help Kids in school and other programs for the working man or women.

[ninkasi]

2. He's doing it

so that he can keep slashing the share of taxes the wealthiest Americans pay. It's shameful, and needs to be stopped. Why keep penalizing the most vulnerable of us, so that the ones who don't need more money get it anyway? He's a sociopath and a sadist. I think he must get a sense of satisfaction out of making the veterans, the elderly, the children, and the poor even more miserable. It's just a natural progression for him, from blowing up frogs as a youngster, to making life more miserable from already suffering citizens.

[atreides1]

4. The Republican version of Euthanasia

That's all these budget cuts are, Bush and his Republican death machine is practicing a form of euthanasia only instead of it being quick and painless they prefer to impose on the people a slow and lingering death, and watch it from above!!!!!

[LynnTheDem]

3. There they go again, the Republic Party "supporting" our troops.

With "support" like that, our troops don't need foreign enemies.

[UTUSN]

5. But but "HELP (was) ON THE WAY" in 2000!!1 I don't know who to be more angry at:

Shrub-CHEENEE ---------or--------- the gullible, wingnut veterans who VOTED for them, the VFW and the American Legion. I was infuriated in 2000 to see six Medal of Honor holders, using their medals on display for partisan political purposes, standing on the Shrub stage declaring their support for Shrub. I have called the national headquarters of the VFW and their magazine over their negative slant against KERRY in '04 and about other of their wingnut stances at other times. :grr: (I seldom use smilies, that's how mad I am.)

[Javaman]

6. Honestly, who in their right mind would want to join the military these days???

They don't get the equipment or armor, they don't get fed properly, now if you get wounded and need help from the VA, your benefits are cut.

Notice I didn't say one thing about getting shot at.

[denverbill]

7. Democrats should bring Bush budget AS WRITTEN to a floor vote.

Let every Republican go on record as being for it or against it. No Democrat will vote for it, but it would be nice to have all those Republicans on the record as being for cuts to veterans benefits.

[UrbScotty]

8. More veterans, less money.

How f***ed up.