Thursday, March 17, 2005
Who Said Democrats Are Anti-Military?
Yesterday, the House Republicans voted to reject increased funds for veterans' health care in the war supplemental and today they voted to actually cut veterans benefits in their budget resolution.
The budget resolution passed, primarily along party lines, by 218 to 213.
The GOP budget resolution contains reconciliation orders requiring the House Veterans' Affairs (VA) Committee to cut benefits or to tax veterans by increasing their fees. For fiscal year 2006, the VA Committee must identify $155 million in benefits cuts or increased fees; and $798 million over the next five years.
The amount available for veterans medical programs, including construction, and benefits administration is $127 million below the amount the Congressional Budget Office estimates would be necessary to maintain the level of services that exist in fiscal year 2005. Over five years, the Republican budget resolution cuts almost $16 billion from these discretionary programs.
To quote Rep. Lane Evans (IL), the senior Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, "This is Wrong."
The budget resolution passed, primarily along party lines, by 218 to 213.
The GOP budget resolution contains reconciliation orders requiring the House Veterans' Affairs (VA) Committee to cut benefits or to tax veterans by increasing their fees. For fiscal year 2006, the VA Committee must identify $155 million in benefits cuts or increased fees; and $798 million over the next five years.
The amount available for veterans medical programs, including construction, and benefits administration is $127 million below the amount the Congressional Budget Office estimates would be necessary to maintain the level of services that exist in fiscal year 2005. Over five years, the Republican budget resolution cuts almost $16 billion from these discretionary programs.
To quote Rep. Lane Evans (IL), the senior Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, "This is Wrong."
