Democrats Say Republicans Shortchange Veterans
Sat November 8, 2003 11:17 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With Veterans' Day approaching, Democrats on Saturday charged that Republican-passed tax cuts and spending priorities have undermined the nation's ability to provide health care and benefits to those who served in uniform.
"I have great concern that trillion dollar tax cuts to some of America's wealthiest families have cut into our promise to support a decent quality of life for our military families and quality health care for our veterans," Rep. Chet Edwards said in the Democrats' weekly radio address.
Edwards, from the Texas district that is home to the huge Fort Hood Army base, said President Bush and Republicans in Congress have pushed cuts in military housing and 10-year reductions in veterans health care.
"What message does it send to our veterans when the administration says American taxpayers can afford to build new hospitals in Iraq, but we cannot afford to keep open veterans hospitals here at home?" Edwards said.
He said 60,000 veterans were waiting six months or more for an appointment at a Veterans Administration hospital.
"That is unacceptable," he said. "Democrats have proposed increasing funding for VA hospitals, expanding access to health care for the National Guard and Reserves, and improving the health care injured veterans receive when they return from Iraq."
Edwards also said Republicans had an inadequate proposal to partially phase out a rule that bars disabled veterans from getting full retirement benefits if they get disability coverage.
"Democrats are working hard to end the unjust disabled veterans tax, also known as concurrent receipt, for all veterans -- not just a few," he said. "The current Republican plan has been called 'unacceptable' by the American Legion, and we agree."
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