.
1. While I was serving in Vietnam it did not seem to me that cost was ever much of an issue.
2. Singling out disabled military retiree's as a group to whom we will deny the receipt of military service connected disability compensation while continueing to pay it to retired civil service workers and congressmen seems pretty rotten.
3. People should encourage their senators to override a Bush veto on this. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funny thing, Chu, your boss (Pres Bush) has no qualms about sending $100 million to fund dysfunctional education programs in the Congo, and another $500 million to fund condom giveaways in Africa, and another couple hundred million to fund minority housing.
So take your condescending attitude and stuff it. Your boss is failing miserably at rationalizing the pork he's stuffing down our throats. I guess Bush was right when he said "Help is on the way" - help is on the way for homos, third world nations, and illegal immigrants. Evidently veterans are not one of the groups he plans on helping.
Here is another thread on this subject. I'm sorry to say that a lot of post concern my using the "Read my Lips" line and picture of GWB erronously, but if GWB's administration is asking for a veto then he is the CINC and is responsible, IMHO.
He's opposing Concurrent Reciept and he's the one responsible for screwing up CHAMPUS/TRICARE (the life time healthcare scam for vets.
With friends like this in the Pentagon who needs enemies
_____________________________________________________
David S. C. Chu was sworn in as the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on June 1, 2001.
A Presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate, he is the Secretary's senior policy advisor on recruitment, career development, pay and benefits for 1.4 million active duty military personnel, 1.3 million Guard and Reserve personnel and 680,000 DoD civilians and is responsible for overseeing the state of military readiness.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness also oversees the $15 billion Defense Health Program, Defense Commissaries and Exchanges with $14.5 billion in annual sales, the Defense Education Activity which supports over 100,000 students, and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, the nation’s largest equal opportunity training program.
Dr. Chu earlier served in government as the Director and then Assistant Secretary of Defense (Program Analysis and Evaluation) from May 1981 to January 1993. In that capacity, he advised the Secretary of Defense on the future size and structure of the armed forces, their equipment, and their preparation for crisis or conflict.
From 1978 to 1981, Dr. Chu served as the Assistant Director for National Security and International Affairs, Congressional Budget Office, providing advice to the Congress on the full range of national security and international economic issues.
Dr. Chu began his service to the nation in 1968 when he was commissioned in the Army and became an instructor at the U.S. Army Logistics Management Center, Fort Lee VA. He later served a tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam, working in the Office of the Comptroller, Headquarters, 1st Logistical Command. He obtained the rank of captain and completed his service with the Army in 1970.
Prior to rejoining the Department of Defense, Dr. Chu served in several senior executive positions with RAND, including Director of the Arroyo Center, the Army's federally funded research and development center for studies and analysis and Director of RAND's Washington Office.
Dr. Chu received a Bachelor of Arts Degree, magna cum laude, in Economics and Mathematics from Yale University in 1964 and a Doctorate in Economics, also from Yale, in 1972. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a recipient of its National Public Senior Award. He holds the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public service with silver palm.
Damn straight. We need to lather agribusiness with taxpayer largesse,
and prop up the steelworker unions (while causing job losses in
related industries). The difference between conservatism
and Republicanism is stark.