Reader Views: Republicans Should Support Veterans
As a veteran, and one who uses the services of the VA hospital in Montrose, I read with interest last week’s article about Congresswoman Nan Hayworth’s fight to “save Montrose and save Castle Point.” I wish Ms Hayworth success, but I fear her battle is going to be mainly with her own party.
There is a common misconception about Republicans, who are known for large defense spending and getting us into wars easily, but they have a woeful history for supporting veterans.
These are the facts: under the guidance of House Republican Leader John Boehner, Republicans voted against providing special $500 payments for every month that 185,000 service members and veterans were forced to serve under stop-loss orders since Sept. 11, 2001. Republicans voted against extending the New GI Bill college benefits to all children of service members who have died on active duty since 9-11-01. Republicans voted against providing businesses with a $2,400 tax break for the hiring of an unemployed veteran, a $250 one-time payment to nearly two million disabled veterans receiving benefits from the Veterans Affairs Department as part of the make-work-pay tax credit, and $1.2 billion for veterans’ medical facilities repairs throughout the country. Republicans voted against ensuring that activated military reservists do not suffer a pay cut by providing a tax credit for small businesses employers who continue to pay their National Guard and Reserve employees when they are called up to serve.
Under President George W. Bush it was even worse. Republicans voted against a $1,500 bonus for troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan while voting for a pay raise for them. [H.R. 3289, Vote #554, 10/17/03. Rejected 213-213]. The Bush administration cut off veterans’ health care for veterans who make as little as $26,000 a year in the lead up to the Iraq War, which resulted in more than 1.6 million veterans being denied VA health care over four years. As the Iraq War began, House Republicans voted to cut $14 billion from veterans’ health care and $14 billion from veterans’ benefits, including veterans’ pensions, compensation, and education. This could have denied health care to 168,000 veterans, or cut the number of VA nurses by 8,700.[H Con. Res. 95, 2003 Vote #82, 3/21/03]
Republicans voted for the FY 2007 budget that hurts America’s veterans, including cuts in health care totaling $6 billion and as much as tripling TRICARE health care costs for military retirees under 65. [HCR376, 5/18/2006, Vote# 158]
President Obama on the other hand, has taken historic action in support of our troops and veterans such as: Enacting the new G.I. Bill to provide returning troops with a full, four-year college education. He has enacting historic investments in veterans’ health care and services, and ensuring that funding one year in advance to prevent political or legislative delays. He has expanded economic opportunities for returning soldiers. He also enacted landmark legislation providing support to family members and others who care for wounded veterans, and enhancing health services for the 1.8 million women veterans.
Making speeches on town hall steps is all very well, and while it’s nice to hear, “Thanks for your service”, but it’s really time for our politicians to put up or shut up.
Kevin Roberts, USMC Veteran,
Pleasantville
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.