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In light of hanoi john' saying Dubya is cutting vet services we need more info to counter it...it's been a while so unfortunately I don't recall details, but I remember one story of how Clinton pulled a ropadope with the VA early in his administration - when trying to cut costs for his budget, naturally with the military but not with his social givaway programs like midnight basketball, he called in the head of the VA at the time (could've been the famous Max Cleland) and explained that he was going to take a big cut out of VA in the coming year, but promised on his word of honor to restore all cuts and give back even more in future budgets - of course, being Clinton, he never did.

Somebody with a better memory or more patience with a search engine may be able to fill in some of the blanks - it would be sweet to be able to link Kerry's henchman Cleland with going along with a big VA cut by Clinton......

The Department of Veterans Affairs will receive a record budget of $64 billion for the current fiscal year, up $4.2 billion from the previous spending level.

"I'm grateful for President Bush's leadership in ensuring that VA can honor our nation's commitment to its veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "I'm also appreciative of the support Congress has shown when it comes to taking care of veterans."

The budget for fiscal year 2004, which began Oct. 1 comes as VA is putting the finishing touches on the administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2005, which will be formally unveiled Monday.

Among the major items in fiscal year 2004 budget are $28.4 billion for health care, up $2.9 billion from the previous year, and $32.8 billion in benefits programs. Other budgetary categories include:

* $143.4 million for the National Cemetery Administra-tion, an $11 million hike over last year, plus nearly $32 million in grants for state cemeteries;

* Full funding to expedite the handling of veterans' claims for disability compensation and pensions -- a total of $1 billion for all programs;

* Nearly $176 million for health care and other programs to assist homeless veterans, an increase of over $22 million from fiscal year 2003;

* $101 million to support state extended-care facilities, $3 million more than last year; and

* $522 million for construction, plus the authority to transfer another $400 million to health care construction.

"This budget will ensure the VA is able to meet the needs of the latest generation of combat vets who are now returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, while continuing to care for those from earlier conflicts," Principi said.

source: http://www.dcmilitary.com/army/pentagram/9_04/national_news/27317-1.html