GOP plays catch-up for veterans’ support
Dems’ outreach is underlined by Kerry’s war record
hillnews.com
By Alexander Boltonutreach
Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are waging a fierce behind-the-scenes battle for the support of the nation’s more than 25 million military veterans, anticipating that they could be key to the outcome of next November’s elections.
Democrats have energetically courted veterans through special outreach sessions and meetings, and are planning to step up their efforts now that Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), a decorated Vietnam veteran, appears likely to be their party’s presidential nominee.
Republicans, meanwhile, are playing catch-up, plagued by a few stumbles such as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s (R-Tenn.) recent failure to respond to several letters and phone calls by a coalition of veterans groups.
Bush has given Democrats a chance to strengthen ties with veterans by proposing a smaller funding increase for healthcare than veterans’ groups have demanded.
Kerry has pledged to be a “veteran’s veteran” if elected to the White House and has put together an aggressive team to recruit veterans’ votes. At the same time, some Democrats, including Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, have raised questions about Bush’s military record.
As an indication of veterans’ importance this election year, of the fiscal year 2004 omnibus’s $6 billion in additional spending compared to fiscal year 2003, nearly half went to veterans’ healthcare.
With national security as a potent issue this year, Democrats have sought to blunt Republicans’ traditional advantage on the issue by asserting that the federal government is shortchanging veterans.
Democrats already have begun enmeshing their messages on Iraq, the war on terrorism and homeland security — all perceived to be weaknesses for the party — with the issue of veterans’ care. In a “pre-buttal” to President Bush’s State of the Union address, for example, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made a “solemn pledge to those who serve in uniform” to take care of veterans and accused the president of planning to require that veterans pay more for their healthcare.
In the House, Pelosi has put together a delegation of Democrats interested in veterans issues, including lawmakers such as Reps. Chet Edwards (Texas) and Bob Filner (Calif.), as well as independent Bernie Sanders (Vt.), according to one veterans lobbyist.
Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and other members of the Democratic leadership have also met with veterans groups in roundtable discussions and outreach sessions.
In addition, Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.) has courted veterans as head of the Democratic Steering Committee, a panel that works with outside interest groups. Other Democratic senators, such as Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Bob Graham (Fla.), have participated in roundtable forums to meet veterans and discuss high-priority issues, including veterans’ access to healthcare.
Republicans, perhaps because they enjoy a traditional advantage over Democrats on military issues, have been less aggressive on reaching out to veterans.
Rick Jones, national legislative director of Amvets (American Veterans), said that Frist’s staff did not respond to two letters and follow-up phone calls from the Independent Budget group, a coalition that includes some of the most influential veterans groups such as Amvets, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
But Frist and other congressional Republicans now are working to catch up with the Democrats’ outreach effort. The Senate Republican Conference and the House Budget Committee recently met with veterans’ lobbyists.
“I anticipate that Senator [Rick] Santorum [R-Pa.] and other members of the Republican leadership will start meeting with us,” Bob Wallace, the executive director of Veterans of Foreign Wars, said after meeting with GOP Hill leaders. “I expect they’ll start reaching out to us more.”
Wallace added, “The Senate and House Democrats have been reaching out the past few months.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates the present population of veterans at more than 25 million, nearly 80 percent of whom served during periods of armed hostilities. Almost a third of the nation’s population, or about 70 million people, including veterans, dependents and survivors of deceased veterans, are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services.
One veterans lobbyist said that the Republicans have countered the Democratic outreach to veterans groups by appropriating generous funding increases for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“As far as outreach goes, Republicans have not done as good a job as Democrats, but their legislative track record has been pretty good,” said Jones, Amvets’ national legislative director.
For example, from 2000 to 2003, congressionally appropriated funds for veterans have climbed from $18.9 billion to $23.8 billion.
But Bush’s budget proposal submitted earlier this week to Congress sparked strong criticism from veterans. The president proposed a $500 million, or 1.8 percent, funding increase for Veterans Affairs and higher premiums for healthcare.
“We think it will jeopardize veterans’ healthcare,” said a lobbyist. “It doesn’t understand the vital function of veterans’ health.”
Veterans groups such as Amvets and Veterans of Foreign Wars also have complained loudly that at the beginning of 2003, 220,000 veterans had waited for at least six months to schedule an initial doctor’s appointment through the Veterans Affairs health service.
They also take issue with the rule that disability compensation received by veterans injured in noncombat activity must be deducted from retirement benefits.
Kerry has made the number of veterans waiting for healthcare a prominent issue in his presidential campaign. |
