That is the long standing mentality, for decades now but especially this past one and counting still, found in the countries federal congressional representative bodies as well as state capitals and legislatures, especially when controlled by a certain political party, when not in control obstruction on budget requests occurs. Thus it's the will of the great majority who do not serve and especially at the time of wars that are fully supported by that greater majority, as in full view the past decade and two more long invasions and occupations. We who serve, and are serving now, don't serve for groups within, like lottery ticket buyers, casino patrons, smokers or drinkers or any other group thought up that get hit with taxes to pay for what everybody else uses daily or is unseen but done for all or is there when needed. We Served or Serve The Whole Country, Period! There shouldn't be any "entered into talks with _____ on ways to increase funding", everyone should share in the Sacrifice and Demand to! It also shouldn't be left to the other many groups of actual caring citizens or of veterans who have to fight for funding even if they have a proven successful program that covers just a single issue of the many issues especially related to our veterans or our wars!
This is just one of the very vocal recent, of many especially mentioning lotteries, articles of that mentality, with the oh so patriotic speak used again and starting out with, as even the federal house of representatives sought to cut Veterans Administration, as have states out of theirs, funding out of the previous budget while two wars continue, one just officially over in December 2011 but still paying hundreds if not a couple of thousand merc forces of the private army and intelligence corporations created with these two wars, the other still ongoing but slowly winding down with the slow withdrawal of combat troops and that high priced private corporate army embedded within.
MO House Speaker Refuses to Raise Taxes to Fix Veterans' Homes Funding Crisis
February 13, 2012 - Saying that taking care of Missouri veterans is his top priority, Speaker of the House Steve Tilley said he has entered into talks with Gov. Jay Nixon on ways to increase funding for veterans.
"There's nothing more important than taking care of our veterans and our veterans' homes," Tilley told reporters on Monday.
But the Speaker said he would not support an increase in casino entrance fees, and idea that's been bandied about and is the subject of a bill under consideration in the House's Veterans Committee.
"That's a tax...we're not going to increase taxes to fund (veterans programs)," Tilley said.
Other ideas include a special lottery, and the capping of casino admission proceeds at current levels, with any increase in admissions going to veterans programs. read more>>>
On the Federal Budget White House proposal just being released and the many now repeated battles quickly coming over the huge deficit left to the present couple of years, remember All the war costs were off budget, and on the countries credit card, in the previous and finally added to the budget with this administration!
VA Budget Request Tops $140 Billion for Veterans Programs
WASHINGTON – February 13, 2012 - With more than 1 million active-duty personnel scheduled to join the ranks of America’s 22 million Veterans during the next five years, the President has proposed a $140.3 billion budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.
“As our newest Veterans return home, we must give them the care, the benefits, the job opportunities and the respect they have earned, while honoring our commitments to Veterans of previous eras,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
Shinseki said the budget proposal, which must be approved by Congress, would fund services for newly discharged Veterans, continue the drive to end homelessness among Veterans, improve access to benefits and services, reduce the disability claims backlog, improve the Department’s collaboration with the Defense Department and strengthen its information-technology program that is vital for delivering services to Veterans.
“As we turn the page on a decade of war, we are poised at an historic moment for our Nation’s armed forces,” Shinseki said. “The President has charged VA to keep faith with those who served when they rejoin civilian life.”
The budget request includes $64 billion in discretionary funds, mostly for medical care, and $76 billion for mandatory funds, mostly for disability compensation and pensions.
If approved by Congress, the new spending levels would support a health care system with 8.8 million enrollees and growing benefits programs serving nearly 12 million Servicemembers, Veterans, family members and survivors, including the eighth largest life insurance program in the nation; education benefits for more than 1 million Americans; home loan guarantees for more than 1.5 million Veterans and survivors; plus the largest national cemetery system in the country.
Here are highlights from the President’s 2013 budget request for VA. read more>>>
And response from just some of the long standing veterans groups related to the WH budget request:
Veterans Groups Pleased with President's Budget But Note Deficiencies
Feb. 13, 2012 - Groups Urge $68 Billion for Veterans Health Care and Benefits in 2013 Independent Budget Report.
Four of the nation's leading veterans service organizations are urging the Administration and Congress to invest $68 billion to sufficiently meet veterans health-care and benefits needs. As stated in President Obama's budget proposal released yesterday, the Administration has proposed $64 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2013. The budget proposal now goes to Congress for consideration.
The recommendation to invest $68 billion in veterans health-care and benefits is contained in The Independent Budget (IB) (report available on February 14)--an annual comprehensive budget and policy document, by veterans for veterans. In its 26th year, the IB is coauthored by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
The organizations were pleased to see that the Administration has proposed increased funding for the operations of the Veterans Benefits Administration. They were also pleased to see funding addressing the areas of veterans' unemployment, homeless veterans, mental health and women veterans. However, the groups have concerns about the continued revision of medical care collections, and the significant reduction in the area of major construction necessary to maintain the infrastructure for a quality VA healthcare system.
The Independent Budget recommends $57.2 billion for health care, $611 million for medical and prosthetic research, $2.1 billion for benefits processing and $3.8 billion for major and minor construction. read more>>>
And something to keep in mind as the rhetoric for rises especially from our long time allie, which if they do anything will blowback on this country:
Iran War Would Cost Trillions: Will the GOP Pay More Taxes for That?
While if we get involved, and we may not be able to avoid another war of choice with soldiers serving multiple tours again, will quickly add to the rapidly growing VA needs just as the VA is trying to bring the long under funded agency into the 21st. century.
No Revenues = No Sacrifice = No Support = DeJa-Vu all over again!. Now a decade and counting, tax cuts came with the wars of choice, added to the previous decades of under funding the VA, while the peoples reps Still try and lay blame on the Agency, after rubber stamping wars and costs of and those represented cheer on these wars!
While the wealthy and other investors, think rubber stamping congresses and insider trading as well, garner their booty, still, from both and many have the chutz·pa to call themselves more patriotic{?} then others wrapped in those false flags, using false slogans and various cheap symbols of!
Only one Government group, and those within only related to, is not just speaking words of Support but actually doing what they can, they don't pass the budgets, and have been before they ever entered the White House: On FLOTUS & SLOTUS "There is this sense that this is genuine," says Raezer. "We haven't had this kind of visibility from the White House—ever." Joyce Raezer - December 30, 2011
Happy Valentines Day Veterans, especially this generations brothers and sisters and the soldiers/sailors still serving!