Tomorrow is Veteran’s Day. How is our Congress recognizing these
veterans. By taking away their voice and trying to strip their benefits.
For the first part of taking away their voice, the following is from
Editor and Publisher:As Veterans Day approaches and the war in Iraq rages on, veterans-service
organizations are criticizing House leaders for ending a 55-year legislative
tradition, and fearing that Congress will not fill next year’s budget gap
for veterans healthcare.Senators erupted in frustration earlier this year after Veterans Affairs
(VA) Secretary Jim Nicholson conceded that the department was more than $1
billion short for 2005. They will get a chance to vent again today when
Nicholson appears before the Veterans Affairs Committee at a hearing on VA
hospitals damaged by Hurricane Katrina.But lobbyists for veterans groups are most incensed at Rep. Steve Buyer
(R-Ind.), the new House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman, who announced
Tuesday that the groups would no longer have the opportunity to make
legislative recommendations at joint House-Senate hearings.
Article continues
here
This has to be one of the most unpatriotic things this Republican congress
has done yet. True its not shocking considering Steve Buyer was hand picked for
his post by Tom Delay (see this
Nation
article). Veterans have already issued a press release voicing their
disappointment with the crooks in Washington (viewable
here).
The budget cuts are the other slap in the face to our veterans. Currently the
resolution is calling for cuts of $600 million from veteran services and
benefits. This will mean longer waits at the V.A. and longer turn around time on
new equipment.
According to
Raw Story, the budget bill is having problems passing the House. It is
appearing that the rank and file of Republican’s is finally disintegrating.
House Republican leadership is scrambling after being unable to pass a
major budget bill following defections from numerous members of their own
party, RAW STORY has learned. Rank-and-file Republicans are upset at the
extent of spending cuts in the bill.Earlier this year, the House Republican leadership had passed a budget
which enjoined lawmakers to cut spending by $35 billion while retaining $70
billion in tax cuts. The proposed budget would have cut spending by $50
billion, while retaining tax cuts.Democrats are cheering the budget’s failure, saying that it gives away
money to the wealthiest Americans. They also say the fact that Republicans
can’t get members of their own party to vote for it is testament to “how bad
the bill is.”
Article continues
here
Just the fact that key Republican’s are trying to push these insults to the
brave men and women who have served for this country is one of the worst insults
in our nation’s history. Tomorrow these congressmen will be out making speeches
and preparing for next years campaign season. Actually it seems like Buyer’s is
trying to say “Happy Veteran’s Day, now fuck off veterans”.