Posted on 02/04/2015 1:05:14 PM PST by Rusty0604
President Obama’s 2016 budget blueprint proposes rolling back a program that gives veterans the right to receive faster care outside of the long waitlists at the troubled Veterans Affairs medical system.
Obama signed the Veterans Choice Program into law in August following months of partisan wrangling on Capitol Hill that finally led to a compromise measure to overhaul the agency.
The Veterans Choice Program was a key GOP provision in the deal.
Authored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the measure provides “choice” cards to veterans that can be used to obtain medical care at designated facilities outside of the VA system.
But Obama announced Monday he’ll send a legislative proposal to Congress that would allow the VA to raid the program's funding, now set at $10 billion.
Obama, in his fiscal 2016 spending blueprint, said the money is needed “to support essential investments in VA system priorities in a fiscally responsible, budget-neutral manner.”
Veterans groups were angered by the move to divert funding from the program, noting that Obama had touted the legislation to reform the VA in the months leading up to the November election and did not express opposition to the choice cards.
But in a conference call with reporters on Monday, officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs defended the move. They said the choice program was underused, and that many of the 8.6 million veterans who received cards said they would rather obtain care at VA facilities.
But veterans groups say the choice program rollout has been hindered by red tape, including a requirement that those who receive a choice card call the VA to determine whether they are actually eligible to use it.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Oh people, when are we going to quit putting up with this crap?
It keeps getting worse. Now he is going to do an illegal grab of the internet.
Interesting. My Social Security benefits have increased about 1% since Obozo was elected to office. I felt like I was being shafted until I saw this article. Wonder why welfare benefits have increase over 30% since that Marxist took office? You don’t suppose he’s trying to buy votes with something like free cell phones for deadbeats, do you?
Another broken promise to Veterans, who's surprised.
I recently received my vets choice card, but probably won't have to use it because my city has adequate vet medical facilities.
But he NEEDS that money, to fund terrorists
Just the Current Occupant’s idea of “leveling the playing field”.
More like carpet-bombing the landscape, providing some surprising advantages for the undeserving, and blowing away any cover whatsoever for those who have truly earned their place.
Underused? I received the choice card and information about two weeks ago. If someone lives 40 or more miles from a VA medical facility, they can request authorization to seek care at a non-VA facility.
I expect many vets who live in rural areas and small towns would find the program beneficial. Vets who live near VA facilities might not.
Sounds like a knee-jerk decision before the program has even been out long enough to evaluate. Some other agenda at work.
Leftists will always get the whole “right vs wrong” thing backwards. Y’all should expect it.
My Choice Card mailing is postmarked 12/29/2014. So they are already deciding the program is underused?
Look at the "no federal exchange subsidy" compromise, and now this, to see once and for all that you're dealing with bad-faith negotiators who have rigged the system to get whatever they want in the end, regardless of what they concede to you in debate to get the bill passed.
-PJ
Let me translate Obama Speak for you.
I have some cronies of mine who would like to get their fingers in the VA cookie jar. These cronies of mine have some low quality medical equipment that they want to overcharge the VA for and in return they will donate a few million dollars to the Democrat Party.
‘PRESIDENT OBAMA: I don’t think there’s anybody in America who’s had a chance to talk to these six young people who or the young DREAMers all across the country who wouldn’t find it in their heart to say these kids are Americans just like us and they belong here and we want to do right by them.’
From a story headlined ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE WONDERFUL AND DESERVE ALL OF OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES or something like that, today
I don’t think vets mind doing without. That’s what they do. I think it’s about giving our country they fought for and their med care to foreign unfriendliness or illegals
Also IRS is promising billions of dollars to those illegals immigrants that Obama is giving Social Security numbers allowing them to demand refund of the taxes they paid while living and working illegally in U.S.
Isn’t this a great country?
the reason why is Obama looks at social security as if it welfare for the elderly and disabled and he wants the welfare for the lazy to match social security payments
The operative word is: “Choice”. We can’t go around letting Americns have any kind of choice, now can we? Particularly those who’ve walked the fire.
Putz!
Obamaisanasshole!!!
“.............of the 8.6 million veterans who received cards said they would rather obtain care at VA facilities.”
Just received the cards. Haven’t been assaulted for an opinion by any of the so called pollsters, at least yet.
Most Vets my age I communicate with would rather not deal with the VA IF there’s some alternative, and you can bank on that.
Personally had great experience with the situation I had and the VA, but I understand I’m a rare instance according to those I communicate with.
Mine also arrived few weeks ago, Health care in most rural areas makes the VA good to most of us.
Wonder if John McShamnesty still thinks Obama is a ‘nice guy’?
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