posted on July 20, 2004 11:29:54 AM new
Here's a chronology of Bush saying one thing then doing another. I often wonder if he's ever told the truth? (It's an easy read.)
posted on July 20, 2004 11:33:55 AM new
Here we go again.
KD were you skylite? Asking because this is a link he posted and I tried questioning him on....and he never would answer.
I called the name and number on the link....no one there by that name. hmmmmmm
And skylite wouldn't address any of my questions when he posted this same link a few months back.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Those are only two reasons why we need to:
Re-elect President Bush!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Jul 20, 2004 11:35 AM ]
Bush is not lying if and only if his mouth is shut.
While the people who surround him lie too, his corporate controlled media cover for the entire administration.
Good site, Kraftdinner but it only covers one year or so.
From the Nation..."Reporters and editors who "protect" their readers and viewers from the truth about Bush's lies are doing the nation--and ultimately George W. Bush--no favors. Take a look at the names at that long black wall on the Mall. Consider the tragic legacy of LBJ's failed presidency. Ask yourself just who is being served when the media allow Bush to lie, repeatedly, with impunity, in order to take the nation into war."
posted on July 20, 2004 11:56:09 AM new
Sorry Linda but I'm not Skylite. He was on Shaw Cable (ISP) which is out west. I'm in Ontario.
You keep bringing up what a dork Kerry is and how bad Clinton was but fail to see what Bush is doing to his country while promoting the fear of terrorism.
Here's my favorite Bush site Linda. The tongue-in-cheek name will shock you and many others, but I hope you get a minute to take a look at it.
posted on July 20, 2004 12:02:01 PM new
So, helen, I suppose you know who the author of that link is? Are you saying he works for the appropiation committee?
------
And yes....the Nation ...blaming the media for not pointing out Bush's lies. Gosh, the NYT, LA Times, Washington Post etc. are doing all they can to NOT report the CORRECTIONS when all these anti-Bush book writers, story tellers , are proven to have lied.
Time and time again the left makes up all these accusations....and time and time again they're disproven down the road.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 20, 2004 12:05:24 PM new
Linda, you just have to do a couple of googles to find out the truth of each statement on the site.
It's truly pathetic how some Bushophiles deliberately blind themselves to what their hero is doing or has done. No, no one is perfect. Every one tells a lie now and then. What is amazing is how neo-cons can still work up a lather about a lie regarding sex which harmed no one, yet steadfastly ignore lies that affect lives. Not just in Iraq. Right here at home.
____________________
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
posted on July 20, 2004 12:11:25 PM new
KD - Never called him a dork.
He's a spineless man with no character....and I think the old Grocho Marx quote fits him extremely well.
Those are my values. If you don't like them, I have others." - Groucho Marx
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Those are only two reasons why we need to:
Re-elect President Bush!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Jul 20, 2004 12:14 PM ]
posted on July 20, 2004 12:23:22 PM new
bunni Linda, you just have to do a couple of googles to find out the truth of each statement on the site.
I did bunni. I read it when skylite first posted it...and saw many untruths listed. I did my homework and with facts in hand decided I was going to call that person and discuss why he would say what he did when I could offer proof they weren't true.
But again....he didn't work on the approprations committee.
So....who's being honest here?
There was a time when a lie being pointed out meant something to the more moderate dems here. Not any more. Now any lie can be posted, the left automatically believes it to be true and we, on the right, are challeged to prove it wrong.
How about the left coming forward and saying they know for a *fact* this person works for the appropriation committee - and that this was sanctioned by the DNC?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 20, 2004 12:28:15 PM new
A spineless man? To me, a spinelss man is one who doesn't look after veterans in the middle of 2 ongoing wars. A person who's policy is out-of-sight, out-of-mind. Bunni said it very well in another thread.
I have no interest in communicating with you. How can you criticize the source of information here when you are exclusively using unreliable and heavily biased media and then further slanting that faulty information by heavy bolding of phrases that support your position.
posted on July 20, 2004 12:48:44 PM new
Again, another lie from the left, KD.
I've posted proof -about a million times - that spending for veterans has increased 27% in his first three years. Should be closer to 50% by the end of his forth year.
But do the facts matter to the left? No....who can believe government reports....not many lefties here - that's for sure. Otherwise they'd stop repeating all these false statements....already disproven.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 20, 2004 12:54:42 PM new
LOL helen - That's right....when you cannot offer proof...then you're, once again, not going to speak to me. It's been your pattern for years. But boy...when you WANT to prove to the world you're correct...you sure are willing to then - and can pull up threads from a hundred years ago.
So...admitting that this author doesn't work for the DNC nor in the appropriation department huh helen?
Maybe YOU'D like to spend time pulling up proof of all those items listed where you and KD think Bush lied. Show us your proof. After all...you're the ones claiming it proves Bush has lied.
-------------------
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 20, 2004 12:56:46 PM new "So, helen, I suppose you know who the author of that link is? Are you saying he works for the appropiation committee?"
I've never mentioned an "appropiation committee" or correctly spelled, an appropriation committee. I wonder how you came up with that? I won't bother to ask because I already know that you can't answer.
And why would you suppose that I know the owner of a website posted by KD???
posted on July 20, 2004 01:01:43 PM newLOL helen - That's right....when you cannot offer proof...then you're, once again, not going to speak to me. It's been your pattern for years. But boy...when you WANT to prove to the world you're correct...you sure are willing to then - and can pull up threads from a hundred years ago. So...admitting that this author doesn't work for the DNC nor in the appropriation department huh helen? Maybe YOU'D like to spend time pulling up proof of all those items listed where you and KD think Bush lied. Show us your proof. After all...you're the ones claiming it proves Bush has lied.
Proof of what??????
I don't even know what you are talking about when "you" refer to the DNC or the appropriation department. Most people would guess the Democratic National Committee but who knows what you have conjured up in your paranoid mind.
Why don't YOU tell us about it, linda??????
Are you aware that Kraftdinner started this thread?
posted on July 20, 2004 01:08:11 PM new
Linda_K, Your failed leaders flip flop like fish out of water. Like you they are nothing but a gang of lier's. Less and less people are buying your failed leaders and your lies. The more you post the more lies and half truths you tell. I find people like you and your failed leaders disgusting.
AMERICA NEEDS TO OUTSOURCE BUSH/CHENEY AND THEIR DISGUSTING SUPPORTERS.
posted on July 20, 2004 01:17:36 PM new
The republicans take a page from the democrat's handbook and learn.
"Gee, I don't know, George, you mean we lie out our ass to them and they love us for it?"
"Hey, it worked for the previous administration. We just have a good time and tell them whatever lies they want to hear."
"OK, but we'll have to bring in some professionals to show us how to do this right."
'Don't worry we've already got a couple of people on board from the Hollywood crowd. And research shows the best part is that the lies don't even have to be believable!"
posted on July 20, 2004 01:24:47 PM new
I hate these long c&p posts as much as you all do, but maybe this will help explain Linda's "27% increase".
"The Administration's budget request for Department of Veterans Affairs health care is a shocking one, providing once again a woefully inadequate funding level for sick and disabled veterans." (Richard B. Fuller, PVA Legislative Director, 2/4/04)
"This deplorable budget will do nothing to alleviate the many thousands of veterans who are waiting six months or more for basic health care appointments with the VA. Instead, the budget seeks to drive veterans from the system by realigning funding, charging enrollment fees for access, and more than doubling the prescription drug copayment. This is inexcusable." (Edward S. Banas, Sr., VFW Commander-in- Chief, 2/2/04)
* Inadequate funding for health care. Under the President's Fiscal Year 2005 Budget, budget authority for veterans' medical care will rise to $27.051 billion from $26.544 billion appropriated by Congress in Fiscal Year 2004 - an increase of only $507 million, or 1.9 percent. Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander-in-Chief Edward S. Banas, Sr. stated that "this funding package is a disgrace and a sham." (VFW Press Release, 2/2/04) Even VA Secretary Anthony Principi admitted that President Bush shortchanged veterans, testifying to the House Veterans Affairs Committee that he asked the White House for $1.2 billion more than VA received.
* New fees and copayments. Last year, President Bush proposed establishing steep new fees and copayments for Priority 7 and Priority 8 veterans. Congress, with bipartisan opposition to this proposal, increased the President's meager veterans' budget to block this proposal. Despite Congress's action last year, President Bush has again called for establishing $250 annual fees for Priority 7 and Priority 8 veterans, and increasing pharmaceutical copayments from $7 to $15 for these same veterans. As Richard Fuller, Legislative Director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) points out, "punitive copayments and charges are designed not so much to swell projected budget increases as they are to deter veterans from seeking their care at VA medical facilities." (House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing, 2/4/04) Along with a continuing prohibition against new Priority 8 veterans enrolling in the system, these additional fees are intended to discourage approximately 210,000 veterans from seeking VA health care.
* Priority 8 enrollment ban. The Bush Administration claims that its Fiscal Year 2005 VA budget "fully funds all those Priority Group 8 veterans already in the system, ensuring that no veteran currently in the system will be denied care." First of all, this claim is not only false, but its funding comes with the price of new copayments and fees for these Priority 8 veterans. Second, this political doublespeak is simply another way of saying that the ban on new Priority 8 veterans enrolling in the VA medical system, imposed last year by President Bush, will continue through Fiscal Year 2005.
* Medical research cutbacks. The President's budget cuts funding for VA medical and prosthetic research by $50 million from the Fiscal Year 2004 budget approved by Congress - translating into the loss of 149 projects. The VA Medical Research function funds research into development of new prosthetic technologies, treatment of mental illness, prevention of cancer, effects of pathogen exposure, and other important efforts. The President's proposal would set funding back six years - to Fiscal Year 1999 levels.
* Exacerbated claims backlog. When President Bush took office, he promised to significantly reduce the backlog for processing veterans' disability claims by September 2003. Despite this promise, there are currently 348,000 veterans across the nation waiting an average of 189 days - over 6 months - to have their disability recognized by the VA. These veterans are being told that they must wait for priority health care, prescription drugs, disability compensation, and other benefits because the bureaucracy is too slow to process their paperwork.
Instead of addressing this backlog, President Bush's budget proposal would cut 540 staff who review claims for benefits like disability and pension payments. Such a cut is likely to further exacerbate this already intolerable waiting period, precisely at a time when a new generation of veterans returning from Iraq will be filing disability claims.
posted on July 20, 2004 01:38:44 PM new
KD - Again, I'd like to see your proof that the author of that article you posted originally.....actually works on the appropriation committee for the democratic party.
Thank you.
-------------
On the veterans issues. This is my opinion.
We could NEVER give enough to and for the benefit of those who risk their lives, who have served this country in our Armed Forces. And as a mother of a currently servicing Marine....one would only hope everyone here would think I would want all the benefits for him [and all the others] that our government could possibly provide.
That said....what I have proved is that funding under THIS administration has only gone up...GREATLY. Of course to those mentioned in your articles...it's never enough. Understandable.
And I have seen few who are happy with the amount they are given to support their particular area of importance. All think their area should receive MORE funding.
Using another example is the NCLB bill. The left is constantly screaming he's not giving enough funding. Why? Because he's not giving the max. amount allowed? Does that back up their claims that he's not giving it enough money do begin the job? No, it doesn't. But it sure makes it look differently to those who read 'he set up this program and now won't fund it'. They mislead.
But that in no way equals the lies spread by the left. That he is cutting funding...he's not. He's increased it.
This President does support our troops and our military more than any democratic president could ever THINK of doing. It's the dems who want our military dollars spent on social programs rather than National Security. The Republican party has always supported our military.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 20, 2004 01:57:21 PM new
Gee, the VFW is now "the left."
____________________
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
posted on July 20, 2004 02:05:34 PM new"KD - Again, I'd like to see your proof that the author of that article you posted originally.....actually works on the appropriation committee for the democratic party."
Get real Linda. I don't play the proof game!
Also, I would think more money would need to be allocated in war times compared to non-war times, so an increase would be a sure thing. But in this case, the increase is only bridging the rate of inflation, so the soldiers are actually getting less care.
posted on July 20, 2004 02:32:12 PM new
KD - I don't play the proof game!
No surprise there....that's already evident. You can't - just playing the 'blame game'.
Next time someone asks me to post support or proof....I'll refer them to you. No need, it appears, to back up any false statements anyone makes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 20, 2004 02:58:09 PM new
Linda, any time anyone here has tried to show you (and some select others) proof of anything, it's either ignored or there are claims of doctoring. If the writer was standing right beside me and whispered in my ear that he DID write the article, what difference would it make? The contents are either true or they're not.
posted on July 20, 2004 03:04:39 PM new
Just for the record....on what HAS actually been done for those who have and are serving our country...
-----------
Veterans Support Our Commander in Chief George W. Bush
[url]
President Bush Honors Our Veterans
"Our veterans have borne the costs of America's wars and have stood watch over America's peace. And, today, every veteran can be certain: The nation you served and the people you defended are grateful." President Bush, November 11, 2003
Keeping His Word
President Bush has fulfilled, and in many cases surpassed, commitments to veterans on four key issues:
Allowing Veteran Medicare Recipients to Continue Receiving TRICARE Benefits - The President signed the FY 2001 Defense Authorization Bill which allows veterans to continue to receive their TriCare health benefits even when they become Medicare eligible.
Timely Access to Quality Healthcare - The average time that a veteran has to wait to see a primary care physician has dropped 90% since 2001. The waiting list was 300,000 in 2001 and is now below 30,000. With the funding in the FY 2005 request, the VA will meet its goal scheduling non-urgent primary care for 93% of veterans within 30 days and 99% within 90 days.
Reduce the Backlog of
Disability Claims -
When President Bush took office, the number of claims waiting to be processed had soared to over 600,000 and as a result, many veterans were waiting an average of over 230 days for a claim to be processed. The VA has slashed its inventory of pending disability claims by 58% to 253,000 and reduced the average length of time it takes to process a claim by 30% to about 160 days. In 2005, 2.7 million veterans will receive $24.9 billion of these tax-free benefits from the VA.
Classify Diabetes as a Disability - The President proudly signed the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001, which allowed diabetes to be considered a service-connected disability for veterans.
Supporting Concurrent Receipts
Concurrent Receipt -
On November 24, 2003, President Bush signed legislation providing concurrent receipt of both military retired pay and VA disability compensation for those military retirees most deserving, the combat-disabled, reversing a century of law preventing concurrent receipt.
A Significant Increase in Resources
Making up for the 1990s
- President Bush has provided more new funding for veterans in four years than President Clinton did in eight years. President Clinton averaged a 3 percent increase per year in the VA budget while President Bush has averaged an 8 percent increase per year. Since President Bush came into office in 2001 the VA budget has increased from $48 billion to $65 billion.
A Dramatic Increase in Funding -
The President is proposing to increase funding for the VA by $5 billion next year - from $60.3 billion last year to $65.3 billion for the next fiscal year. This represents an 8% percent jump and more than 38% increase since 2001.
40% More for Medical Care -
The President's $30 billion request for medical care in his FY 2005 budget represents more than a 40% increase from when he took office. As a result, 1.4 million more veterans will receive care in 2004 than in 2000 and 194 new community-based clinics will open to be more responsive to veterans' needs.
Improving Access to Health Care
Creating a Modern, Effeciant, World-Class Health Care System -
Through the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES), President Bush is working to restructure VA hospitals around the country to provide veterans with efficient access to quality health care. The FY 2005 budget more than doubles the amount previously request for construction of new and improved facilities.
The President has proposed a 20% increase in outpatient health care services, create 48 new outpatient clinics, and construct two new VA hospitals.
Emergency Care - The President's budget allows the VA to pay for emergency room care for veterans in non-VA hospitals. Veterans with life-threatening illnesses should seek and receive care at the closest possible facility.
Prescription Drugs - The President took the unprecedented step of allowing veterans with a prescription from their private physician to have those prescriptions filled by the VA - saving veterans hundreds of dollars in prescription drug costs. This will benefit approximately 200,000 veterans.
Eliminating Copayments - The President has eliminated copays for veterans receiving hospice care. In addition, the Budget will eliminate all forms of copays for prisoners of war who have provided unique service to our Nation.
Caring for Families
Veterans Benefits Act of 2003. On December 16th, 2003, President Bush signed a bill authorizing $1 billion over the next ten years for new and expanded benefits for disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and children.
Restores Spousal Benefits. The spouses and children of veterans who are killed in action, or die of service related causes will receive Dependents Indemnity Compensation which allows the surviving spouse or dependent children to receive the full amount of accrued benefits if the veteran dies while their claim is still pending. Home loan guarantees are available to surviving spouses.
Education & Health Benefits for Children. Pensions are available to surviving spouses and unmarried children of deceased veterans with wartime experience. Dependents education assistance is available to spouses who have not remarried and the children of veterans who are killed in action, or die of service related disabilities.
Support Today for Tomorrow's Veterans
Better Pay and Housing - President Bush has increased basic salary and payments for food and housing almost 29 percent since taking office. President Bush has provided historic increases in military compensation. Under former President Clinton, military pay decreased an average of almost 2% per year relative to consumer price index.
Since President Bush took office, military pay increased an average of 5.2% per year relative to consumer price index. The average compensation is now more than $40,000 for enlisted members and more than $79,000 for officers.
Better Benefits - Service members also receive retirement benefits and health care for themselves and their families at little or no charge.
Tax Relief - On December 16, 2003, the President signed the Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 to provide tax relief and other benefits to members of the armed services and their families.
Prevents Double Taxation. This law prevents states from using the income earned by a service member in determining the spouse's tax rate when the spouse works and taxed in a state other than the state in which they maintain their permanent legal residence.
Protection from Eviction. Service members and their families are protected from eviction from housing while on active duty due to nonpayment of rents and housing leases up to $2,400 per month - up from $1,200 per month.
Life Insurance. Updates life insurance protections provided to activated Guard and reserve members by increasing from $10,000 to $250,000 the maximum policy coverage that the federal government will protect from default for nonpayment while on active duty.
[url]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
posted on July 20, 2004 03:15:07 PM new
Just for the record Linda, mine doesn't need to be played backwards to be understood.
Bush VA Spending Fails To Grow With Health Care Costs
Despite Bush's claims, "the annual percentage increase it requested for veterans' health care is 5.4 percent -- hardly a windfall considering that the consumer price index for medical care was 13 percent during fiscal year 2002. VA officials have testified that it would take a 13 to 14 percent hike in the VA's health care budget just to maintain the status quo." [Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL) Op-Ed, The Hill, 9/17/03]
Veterans Forced To Wait Months For Initial Visits to VA Doctors
At least 230,000 veterans are being forced to wait over six months for their initial visit to a doctor at the VA medical facilities. In some parts of the country veterans are waiting nearly two years for those visits. Bush's VA Secretary Anthony Principi has acknowledged the danger in these delays, stating "I'm concerned [the delays are] causing quality to be degraded."
The "Independent Budget," an analysis of the VA budget provided by veterans groups, has said "The Department of Veterans Affairs health care system is in critical condition." Meanwhile, the Bush administration opposed a Senate addition to the Iraq supplemental bill that would have added $1.3 billion to veterans' health care. [Air Force Magazine, 10/02; http://www.pva.org/independentbudget/pdf/IB_04excsum.pdf; OMB Director Joshua Bolton to Rep. David Obey (D-WI), 10/21/03]
Bush Administration Is Closing Seven Veterans Hospitals
In early August 2003, the Bush administration announced it was closing hospitals in its efforts to "restructure" the Department of Veterans Affairs. The administration is closing hospitals in:
Joy Ilem, assistant national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, "questioned the need for closures and other cutbacks. 'Everyone is aware of the difficulty VA has meeting demand,' Ilem said. 'When we have hundreds of thousands of veterans on waiting lists (for medical appointments), we don't want to see facilities closed due to fiscal problems.'" There are currently 163 VA hospitals in the US. [Associated Press, 8/4/03, 10/28/03; Department of Veterans Affairs]
In mid-August, as Bush vacationed in Texas, a thousand veterans and supporters rallied in Waco, Texas to protest the closing of that VA hospital. The protestors met at the Waco School District football stadium parking lot "for a rally before driving the 22 miles to Crawford," where Bush was vacationing. "Veterans of Foreign Wars State Commander Ron Hornsby told the stadium crowd that the VA commissioner looking at closing hospitals could harm veterans all across the country, not just in Waco. 'We can never repay the veterans -- we hear those words a lot,' Hornsby said. 'At times like this, those words become very hollow, very meaningless.'" More than 1,500 vets joined a similar October rally to protest a VA closing in New York. [San Antonio Express-News, 8/17/03; Associated Press, 10/20/03, 10/28/03]
Bush Proposed Doubling Costs Of Prescription Drugs For Veterans
This year Bush proposed increasing prescription drugs costs for veterans. The Bush plan would have included a new $250 enrollment fee and a co pay increase from $7 to $15 for veterans earning over $24,000. On July 21, the House Appropriations Committee agreed to a Democratic amendment to reject the Bush fee increases and recoup the $264 million in costs by reducing administrative funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. [Reuters, 7/14/03; Washington Post, 7/22/03]
Bush Decided To Cut Benefits For Middle-Income Veterans
On January 16, 2003, the Bush Administration announced it would cut access to health care benefits for 160,000 middle-income veterans due to budget constraints. John Pettyjohn, an Oklahoma veteran who served in Vietnam, said of the cuts, "On one hand, we're sending our sons and daughters out to war and possibly to die, yet on the other hand we're punishing a certain class of veterans who've made money in their lives. The government made a promise to us. What they're doing now is wrong." [Associated Press, 1/16/03; The Daily Oklahoman, 1/18/03]
posted on July 20, 2004 10:48:35 PM new
My husband is a Priority 7. He gets his meds for $7.00 a perscription and if surgery is needed he pays a copay of $100.00. Never gets a bill to see the doctor. Never waits for an appointment. Seems fair to me. I sure wish I had those benefits, but then again I wouldn't want to be a veteran.
I imagine the closing of the hospitals has much to do with staffing. Can't have a hospital open that can't be staffed fully 24 hours a day. Also it depends on the census. When Veterans Hospitals were built there were quite a few and close to each other. It seems that money could be saved if the close hospitals would consolidate leaving one hospital fully functional not both hospitals half functional. There is a terrible shortage of hospital personal especially nurses and you can't run hospitals without them. Many factory workers and executives that lost jobs and took retraining are now nurses as their pay is really good, probably what they made when they worked their originally job. You also have to remember that hospital stays are shorter. Some tests don't require hospitalization any more. So that is also a factor when it comes to merging.
I doubt if there is anyone that doesn't respect the veteran. Well maybe one-no names mentioned. I know I am indebted to them, for there lives they put on the line so that I may live in peace.
It is difficult to know the truth in anything. The democrats say one thing and the Republicans say another about the same subject. So who is right. It is for the american public to decide what candidate or group are telling the truth. I doubt there is no neutral news agency.
posted on July 21, 2004 06:24:44 AM new
Priority 8 enrollment ban. The Bush Administration claims that its Fiscal Year 2005 VA budget "fully funds all those Priority Group 8 veterans already in the system, ensuring that no veteran currently in the system will be denied care." First of all, this claim is not only false, but its funding comes with the price of new copayments and fees for these Priority 8 veterans. Second, this political doublespeak is simply another way of saying that the ban on new Priority 8 veterans enrolling in the VA medical system, imposed last year by President Bush, will continue through Fiscal Year 2005
I am a priority 8 veteran, and everyone knew that they had to enroll by a certain date... letters were sent out.
Do you people have any idea what a priority 8 veteran is? or any other priority for that matter...
Before you start getting your panties in a wad... do a little research... as usual kraft you post something you know nothing about...
