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Bush Shortchanging Vets.....

DRB

unemployed bum
Oct 24, 2002
15,242
0
Watchin' you. Writing it all down.
says terrorist sympathizer, Joseph P. Hoar

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/12/dems.radio.ap/index.html

The federal government should strengthen the health care system for veterans, retired Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar said Saturday in the Democratic Party's weekly radio address.

Speaking on the Veterans Day weekend, the former U.S. military commander in the Middle East said "President Bush has consistently refused to provide enough" money for veterans' health care.
Hoar also said, "Thousands of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will require mental health care, yet the Bush administration has not taken action to deal with this emerging problem."

In contrast, Democrats are working to improve the current health care system and strengthen mental health care services, he said.

"As a veteran and a former commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, I have seen first hand the kind of sacrifices they are making for us. It's a debt we will never be able to repay," he said. "But we have a special duty to make sure our veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve when they return home."
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,941
13,135
Portland, OR
What's bad is how the military as a whole are short changing the guys who get injured over seas. One of the sations at the de-mobilization at Fort Lewis is the medical post screen. If you tell them you were injured while in country, you are set aside. Once set aside, you are asked this quesiton:

Whould you like to stay on active duty and be treated, or go home?

The problem with this quesiton is most guys aren't smart enough to know that by getting off active duty and going home, the military is no longer liable for your injuries and you have to see your civilian doctor for treatment. A large number of the guys in my unit don't have civilian insurance and are then screwed. But after 18 month away from home, the last thing they want to do is hang out at Fort Lewis. It's messed up and happend to quite a few guys just in my unit.

It would be interesting to see how many of the 16,000+ injured guys are stuck paying for treatment or fighting with the VA?
 

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
Senators slam plan for wounded vets to use private insurance
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance.

But the proposal would be “dead on arrival” if it’s sent to Congress, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said.

Murray used that blunt terminology when she told Shinseki that the idea would not be acceptable and would be rejected if formally proposed. Her remarks came during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs about the 2010 budget.
bush 2.0?
 

ohio

The Fresno Kid
Nov 26, 2001
6,649
23
SF, CA

sanjuro

Tube Smuggler
Sep 13, 2004
17,373
0
SF
Considering Universal Health Care was on Obama's agenda, this seems a little odd...
 

X3pilot

Texans fan - LOL
Aug 13, 2007
5,860
1
SoMD
Yeah, this came up in a round of emails amongst vets. Basically, waaay deep in an OMB document is the cost of payout over the next few years for retiree and veteran subsidization of TRICARE, the military health insurer. OMB proposed stepping down retiree subsidies over 10 years to make us pay more of our premium and co pays. Being trumped as the Administration taking away a benefit promised for a military career, etc etc etc. Was just a proposal and won't likely see light of day. And it was a Bush administration proposal. If anyone wants the entire 800+ page pdf, pm me.