Buyer asks for
more VA money
Since 02-26-06
From:
Waspscpo@aol.com [mailto:Waspscpo@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2006 3:14 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Buyer asks for more VA money
Things are looking up. Check
out paragraph 2 for some Vets.
http://www.navytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1558832.php
Buyer asks for more VA money
By
Rick Maze
Times staff writer
24 February 2006
The
Republican chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee is asking for an
extra $1.9 billion in the 2007 budget. He also is rejecting the Bush
administration’s call to increase prescription drug co-payments and establish
enrollment fees for veterans receiving care from the VA. Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind.,
is asking for the money on top of $80.2 billion the Bush administration already
requested for the 2007 budget.
It would cover unmet expenses in medical programs and cemetery administration.
Included in the extra money is $600 million to pay for improvements in GI Bill
educational benefits, according to a statement provided by his staff. Buyer’s
lack of support for the proposed increase in prescription drug co-payments and
creation of a new $250 enrollment fee for Priority 7 and 8 veterans, which are
those with moderate incomes and without service-connected disabilities, makes it
unlikely Congress would approve the Bush administration plans.
Not doing the increase requires an almost $800 million increase in the budget
request.Buyer, acting on behalf of the Republican majority of the veterans’
committee, is asking for the extra money in a request to the House Budget
Committee, which is now setting spending priorities for the 2007 budget. Without
an endorsement from the budget committee, it is extremely difficult under the
congressional budget process to add money to any agency budget.
Democrats on the veterans’ committee agree the VA is underfunded, but they are
asking for far more. In a separate request, they are asking the budget committee
for a $6.8 billion increase in the Bush budget request for the Department of
Veterans Affairs. This includes $3.6 billion for health care and $2.3 billion
for new benefits. Most of that latter increase would be for a large educational
benefits package, aides said.
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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)