(Changed headline - this one captures the theme better)
In response to the Rs' use (abuse) of the 9/11 anniversary, I think we need to remind the public which party actually gives a damn about veterans and the current military and which one doesn't. The Rs are screwing over a lot of veterans who make it back alive. They under-fund the V.A. year after year. They don't care about the military, during or after their service.
House Democrats want to ensure that veterans can immediately access the health care they were promised. They have proposed to increase funding for the VA by $1 billion and to require the VA to pay veterans $500 a month when their disability claims have been left pending for more than 6 months.
On the other side, as Rep. Lane Evans and Veterans Affairs Dems put it in July: "BUSH ADMINISTRATION CONCEDES -- AGAIN -- MORE FUNDS NEEDED FOR VETERANS' HEALTH CARE"
In response to the Rs' use of the 9/11 anniversary, I think we need to remind the public which party actually gives a damn about veterans and the current military and which one doesn't. The Rs are screwing over a lot of veterans who make it back alive. They under-fund the V.A. year after year. They don't care about the military, during or after their service.
From a short summary of House Dem goals
(http://democrats.house.gov/issues/issue.cfm?level2id=71):
Ensuring that veterans can immediately access the health care they were promised.
Right now, more than 60,000 veterans are waiting six months or more for an appointment at VA hospitals. Democrats have proposed to increase funding for the VA by $1 billion and to require the VA to pay veterans $500 a month when their disability claims have been left pending for more than 6 months.
Also see the more thorough website run by Dems on the House Veterans Affairs Committee:
http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/welcome.htm
One highlight:
"BUSH ADMINISTRATION CONCEDES -- AGAIN -- MORE FUNDS NEEDED FOR VETERANS' HEALTH CARE"
http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/press/109th/7-12-05budget.htm
Heck, the Rs even fired Chris Smith as chair of the VA Committee because he wouldn't roll over for them on this issue. Democrats care about veterans and those currently serving (remember the armor for the Humvees?). Republicans care about tax cuts for Paris Hilton.