Dunno about the exact percentage, but according to the horse's mouth the actual outlays (spending) by the VA Dept. are as follows:
2001: $45 billion
2005: $67 billion
For 2006, Bush wants over $71 billion. And so Barack says OH MY GOD IT'S A CUT! Yeah, Barack, Bush has cut the VA really badly. *snerk* What gets me is that "after accounting for inflation," $71 billion is still an increase over $67 billion. I suppose Obama is just cherry-picking one line-item and claiming ITS increase was less than 2 to 3 percent (i.e., the amount of inflation)?
Not a promising start for Obama, but it's what I expected: half-truths and unprincipled demogoguery.
I think another angle this jerk Obama is playing is that veterans are a bunch of deranged, hopeless idiots who can't carry on their lives without the government / VA. And who sends these innocent boys to war? War-mongering Republicans, of course!
Most vets I know got on with their lives. They are not living under a bridge and for God's sake, don't want Barack Obama speaking for them.
Thanks for pointing out how Bush is taking care of vets.
I saw some Veteran Against the War activist dude on FOX last night howling about how we're not taking care of the troops and how it's taking "four whole months" to get amputees their prosthesis. This guy was living in a different world than the one I know. We're taking good care of our guys and gals who've been wounded.
Subject: OPENING OF THE MILITARY SEVERELY INJURED JOINT SUPPORT OPERATIONS
CENTER
The brand new Military Severely Injured Joint Support Operations Center is
now opened. I attended the grand-opening yesterday on behalf of MCPON.
This
Center is a 24/7 operation to support our Armed Forces Service Members and
their families who have suffered severe injuries in combat operations.
This new
Center was designed to provide "personalized assistance, tailored to meet
an individual's unique needs during recovery and rehabilitation, to
include:
- Medical care and rehabilitation
- Education, training and job placement
- Personal mobility and functioning
- Home, transportation and workplace accommodations
- Personal, couple and family issues counseling
- Financial resources
It is intended as an augmentation of other Military Service and government
programs..."
The Center is located at 2107 Wilson Blvd., Colonial Place Three, Suite
100, Rosslyn, VA 22201. It's available at no cost to severely injured
Service members and their families and can be reached at 1-888-774-1361.
Please pass this info. r/
CNOCM(SW) Jimmy Paulk
Chief of Naval Operations
Command Master Chief
Pentagon Rm. 5A514A
Washington, DC 20350-2000
(703) 614-2927
DSN: 224-2927
"Leadership is not a one day thing.
It is a constant commitment to
excellence, a habit, a daily practice."
Check out the graphic "Veteran Population Declining" at the link you provided.
The number of vets who are dying is increasing (as the WWII and Korean vets die) and the money for vets' health care is increasing. What is Osama Obama worried about?