Veterans health funds fall short
Veterans health funds fall short - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "The Bush administration admitted yesterday that its request for veterans' health care in fiscal 2006 is short by nearly $2 billion and asked Congress to fund the shortfall.
The request comes two weeks after the administration conceded that the 2005 amount passed by Congress and signed by the president -- already more than Mr. Bush had requested -- was short and that Congress must pass a $975 million emergency spending bill to make up the difference.
Although the House passed that $975 million request, over the objection of Democrats who sought still more, the Senate has twice passed amendments to spending bills calling for an additional $1.5 billion in 2005.
Veterans funding has turned into a winning political issue for Democrats, who have gained with veterans groups by supporting their complaints that the administration is underfunding promised health care.
Mr. Bush, meanwhile, has had to admit twice that he underfunded the needs. "
The request comes two weeks after the administration conceded that the 2005 amount passed by Congress and signed by the president -- already more than Mr. Bush had requested -- was short and that Congress must pass a $975 million emergency spending bill to make up the difference.
Although the House passed that $975 million request, over the objection of Democrats who sought still more, the Senate has twice passed amendments to spending bills calling for an additional $1.5 billion in 2005.
Veterans funding has turned into a winning political issue for Democrats, who have gained with veterans groups by supporting their complaints that the administration is underfunding promised health care.
Mr. Bush, meanwhile, has had to admit twice that he underfunded the needs. "
posted by Unknown at 11:49 AM
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