The Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress that its health care costs grew faster than expected and left a $1 billion holein its budget this year, lawmakers said Thursday. House Veteran's Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, R-Ind.,said the department can meet this year's health care costs by drawing on spare funds and money from other operations, including building construction. Yet, next year's health care budget falls well over $1 billion short, said Sen. Larry Craig, (R-Idaho). "I was on the phone this morning with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson letting him know that I am not pleased that this has happened", said Craig, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. "This shortfall results from either deliberate misdirectionor gross incompetence by this administration and the Department of Veteran Affairs",said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
In a written statement, Nicholson responded: "The health care needs of America's veterans are among VA's highest priorities (Yes --- Their priority, not YOURS, Mr. Nicholson).Working with our partners in Congress, I'm confident that VA's budget will continue to provide world-class health care to the nation's veterans". The shortage came to light during a routine budget review. Lawmakers said they are still gathering details, but it appears health care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and poor budget forecasting contributed to the problem. (And UNDERBUDGETTING in the first-place, as I have been BITCHING about, ah...forever?)
Several Democrats urged the Bush administration to push immediately for an emergency spending bill to fill this year's $1 billion deficit and prevent the VA from raiding other operations to pay for health care. Craig said he didn't yet see the need for emergency action but planned to call VA officials to a hearing next week to pin down more precise spending figures. HA!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, but as all of you Republicans have been saying all-along, the budget is up SO MUCH, already!)"We're going to pound them like hell 'til we get them, then we'll make some judgments," he said... yeah, Just before he woke up...)
Murray had urged lawmakers to give the VA an extra $2 billion this springwhile they assembled an $82 billion emergency spending bill on war and homeland security, but the VA said it didn't needany more money. Overall, the administration has proposed increasing the Veterans Affairs Department budget by 2.7 percent to $70.8 billion next year.
Yesterday's announcement that the Department of Veterans Affairs had understated their 2005 health care budget needs by $1 billion came as no surprise to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. "Senior VFW leaders were outspoken in their efforts last year to tell the administration and Congress that the 2005 VA budget was short,and now we have the VA admitting that they can't properly perform their mission without robbing one account to pay another," said John Furgess, the Commander-In-Chief of the 2.4 million-member VFWand its Auxiliaries. "One billion dollars is a huge mistake, one that shows a lack of candor and accountabilityon the VA's part, and one that does a tremendous disserviceto (military) Veterans, who, above all other citizens,are responsible for every freedom we enjoy today," he said. "This is a mistake that never should have happened. Now it'll take an emergency supplemental to correct the mistake this year and possibly next."
God Bless The VFW, and the Legion, and the VVA, the DAV and every other Veteran's-Organization for SCREAMING about the VA Budget, over and over and over again,year after year.
Makes you want to JOIN one of these organizations, that they are so truthful,and prophetic...?
Decoration Day is the most beautiful of our national holidays.... The grim cannon have turned into palm branches, and the shell and shrapnel into peach blossoms. ~Thomas Bailey Aldrich
"The military health care system is great. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be fighting to stay in it."
Hmmmmm, hasn't Fold been preaching to us for years that the military health care system is underfunded AND in shambles? Because of George Bush of course.
"The military health care system is great. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be fighting to stay in it."
Hmmmmm, hasn't Fold been preaching to us for years that the military health care system is underfunded AND in shambles? Because of George Bush of course. I guess not.
_____________________________________________
That's because you are an uncommonly-stupid and ignorant-doink. If you woulod even TRY to actually READ that comment, you would know I NEVER said it, nor did I agree/disagree with it. You may also find that the man uses MILITAY Hospitals 1st, and the VA System ONLY as a back-up... OK, fat man?
Now please, go argue with someone who is as rock-stupid as you are.
"The military health care system is great. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be fighting to stay in it."
Hmmmmm, hasn't Fold been preaching to us for years that the military health care system is underfunded AND in shambles? Because of George Bush of course. I guess not.
_____________________________________________
That's because you are an uncommonly-stupid and ignorant-doink. If you woulod even TRY to actually READ that comment, you would know I NEVER said it, nor did I agree/disagree with it. You may also find that the man uses MILITAY Hospitals 1st, and the VA System ONLY as a back-up... OK, fat man?
Now please, go argue with someone who is as rock-stupid as you are.
Oh yeah, hey Fat-Man...? It is ME, Bill. I am traveling, doing a JOB... (what's yours, you block head?) By the way,I NEVER said that the current state of the VA Health Care System is GDubbya's fault alone... Only that he seems hell bent on making it even worse. K, stupid?
Until I get back to MN., this is the only moniker the cooler will allow me to use, right now, Sadly.
I say that because it forces me to see your ignorant-posts again. But I won't bother you with details you don't understand, especially since I must be off to attend meetings in an hour, so I am now looging-off, you simple-mindeddope.
what is up with fold? why can't he use his usual name?
WASHINGTON (AP)
The Department of Veterans Affairs told Congress that its health care costs grew faster than expected and left a $1 billion holein its budget this year, lawmakers said Thursday. House Veteran's Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, R-Ind.,said the department can meet this year's health care costs by drawing on spare funds and money from other operations, including building construction. Yet, next year's health care budget falls well over $1 billion short, said Sen. Larry Craig, (R-Idaho). "I was on the phone this morning with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson letting him know that I am not pleased that this has happened", said Craig, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. "This shortfall results from either
deliberate misdirectionor gross incompetence by this administration and the Department of Veteran Affairs",said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.
In a written statement, Nicholson responded: "The health care needs of America's veterans are among VA's highest priorities (Yes --- Their priority, not YOURS, Mr. Nicholson).Working with our partners in Congress, I'm confident that VA's budget will continue to provide world-class health care to the nation's veterans". The shortage came to light during a routine budget review. Lawmakers said they are still gathering details, but it appears health care for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and poor budget forecasting contributed to the problem. (And UNDERBUDGETTING in the first-place, as I have been BITCHING about, ah...forever?)
Several Democrats urged the Bush administration to push immediately for an emergency spending bill to fill this year's $1 billion deficit and prevent the VA from raiding other operations to pay for health care. Craig said he didn't yet see the need for emergency action but planned to call VA officials to a hearing next week to pin down more precise spending figures. HA!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, but as all of you Republicans have been saying all-along, the budget is up SO MUCH, already!)"We're going to pound them like hell 'til we get them, then we'll make some judgments," he said... yeah, Just before he woke up...)
Murray had urged lawmakers to give the VA an extra $2 billion this springwhile they assembled an $82 billion emergency spending bill on war and homeland security, but the VA said it didn't needany more money. Overall, the administration has proposed increasing the Veterans Affairs Department budget by 2.7 percent to $70.8 billion next year.
OH WOW...now it's 2.7%?
(VFW Calls for Emergency Supplemental to Correct VA's $1 Billion Mistake)
www.vfw.org
Washington-6-24-2005
Yesterday's announcement that the Department of Veterans Affairs had understated their 2005 health care budget needs by $1 billion came as no surprise to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. "Senior VFW leaders were outspoken in their efforts last year to tell the administration and Congress that the 2005 VA budget was short,and now we have the VA admitting that they can't properly perform their mission without robbing one account to pay another," said John Furgess, the Commander-In-Chief of the 2.4 million-member VFWand its Auxiliaries. "One billion dollars is a huge mistake, one that shows a lack of candor and accountabilityon the VA's part, and one that does a tremendous disserviceto (military) Veterans, who, above all other citizens,are responsible for every freedom we enjoy today," he said. "This is a mistake that never should have happened. Now it'll take an emergency supplemental to correct the mistake this year and possibly next."
_______________________________________________________________
Indeed it will...
God Bless The VFW, and the Legion, and the VVA, the DAV and every other Veteran's-Organization for SCREAMING about the VA Budget, over and over and over again,year after year.
Makes you want to JOIN one of these organizations, that they are so truthful,and prophetic...?
I'm crushed. But thanks for following me.....HEEL BOY!
Amen to that.
Decoration Day is the most beautiful of our national holidays.... The grim cannon have turned into palm branches, and the shell and shrapnel into peach blossoms. ~Thomas Bailey Aldrich
"The dead soldier's silence sings our national anthem."
"The military health care system is great. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be fighting to stay in it."
Hmmmmm, hasn't Fold been preaching to us for years that the military health care system is underfunded AND in shambles? Because of George Bush of course.
I guess not.
"The military health care system is great. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be fighting to stay in it."
Hmmmmm, hasn't Fold been preaching to us for years that the military health care system is underfunded AND in shambles? Because of George Bush of course. I guess not.
_____________________________________________
That's because you are an uncommonly-stupid and ignorant-doink. If you woulod even TRY to actually READ that comment, you would know I NEVER said it, nor did I agree/disagree with it. You may also find that the man uses MILITAY Hospitals 1st, and the VA System ONLY as a back-up... OK, fat man?
Now please, go argue with someone who is as rock-stupid as you are.
May I suggest a COUPLE of people like that???
"The military health care system is great. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be fighting to stay in it."
Hmmmmm, hasn't Fold been preaching to us for years that the military health care system is underfunded AND in shambles? Because of George Bush of course. I guess not.
_____________________________________________
That's because you are an uncommonly-stupid and ignorant-doink. If you woulod even TRY to actually READ that comment, you would know I NEVER said it, nor did I agree/disagree with it. You may also find that the man uses MILITAY Hospitals 1st, and the VA System ONLY as a back-up... OK, fat man?
Now please, go argue with someone who is as rock-stupid as you are.
May I suggest a COUPLE of people like that???
Oh yeah, hey Fat-Man...? It is ME, Bill. I am traveling, doing a JOB... (what's yours, you block head?)
By the way, I NEVER said that the current state of the VA Health Care System is GDubbya's fault alone... Only that he seems hell bent on making it even worse. K, stupid?
Until I get back to MN., this is the only moniker the cooler will allow me to use, right now,
Sadly.
I say that because it forces me to see your ignorant-posts again. But I won't bother you with details you don't understand, especially since I must be off to attend meetings in an hour, so I am now looging-off,
you simple-minded dope.
Buh Bye...
Oh and, complain to Floyd.
That's weird.
"The military health care system", Fold. Comprehend much?
Gee Wiz, Foldy. I would have never guessed it was you if you wouldn't have told me.
Here's a guy 5'-10" 225 pounds continually calling me fat?
Hey everyone, Fold has a job!! Mark that one down!
Where's my new bro, Fold?