i think that the most appalling part is that when they return, the same people who sent them needlessly in to harms way have cut their benefits and access to medical care. in the first 3 years of the bush administration, the va's overall budget has grown by 27%. with approval of the 2005 budget the va's overall funding will have grown 37.6% over the 4 years of gw's administration.
what's really at issue here is once again the dreaded "means test." the va is reticent force vets of means to be charged for any of their services. they want "mandatory funding" in which whatever funds deemd necessary would be immediately appropriated, hence another entitlement. the proposal is for vet who can pay (those making more than $40,000 for a single person depending on location and situation, more for families) to pay a percentage of their benefits ($15 a month for medication and a $250 yearly fee which would affect no one with a 50% disability or higher). regardless of what, who or where or why, anyone making less than $25,162 (again for a single person, families are higher) qualifies for full coverage by the va free of charge.
so it's really a lie to say that benefits have been cut. they didn't get as much as they wanted, but nothing was cut.
r.i.p. marco, my guardian angel.
...global warming can manifest itself as heat, cool, precipitation, storms, drought, wind, or any other phenomenon, much like a shapeshifter. -- jim geraghty
pray to st. jude
i'm a sonic reducer
he was the gimmicky sort
fenchurch=mejusthavingfun=magwildwood=mmousefan=bkcollector=bradmajors=somethingtotalkabout: the fenchurch mpd collective