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Bush plan would cut health care for veterans in '08 and thereafter Vets' health costs may triple

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A sensible budget that reflects a concern about increases in medical costs for veterans would have been a reasonable proposal by the current administration.

Yet President Bush proposed a medical services budget for veterans that grows in 2007, then drops for three straight years.

It is not the best public relations move he could have made while fighting wars on two fronts.

Health care for veterans is a critical issue in Pima County, where estimates put the number of former military personnel at more than 100,000.

Veterans normally gather in cities that are home to military bases because they can get their military benefits such as discount shopping and medical care.

The Associated Press reported in a Tuesday story that tens of thousands of veterans across the country could be denied care and suffer delayed care under the administration's proposal.

In another story, Knight Ridder Newspapers reported that health insurance premiums could double and triple for 3 million retirees.

Neither of the proposals from the administration reflects an understanding that veterans are being squeezed by increasing medical costs.

But 3 million members of the American Legion are making themselves heard. They are vocal about what they have contributed to the country and what they expect in return.

Most of all, they point out that the American Legion has been supportive of this administration.

And some veterans say the cost increases and cutbacks reflect a betrayal by a government that promised to provide health care for those who served in the military.

One of the problems with the administration's proposals are that cutbacks in services would be made at a time when costs are going up and more people are trying to get into the veteran's health care system.

The budget for veterans' medical services stands at $24.5 billion and jumps to $27.7 billion in 2007.

But the medical services budget would be cut in 2008 to below $27 billion where it would remain for the next four years.

In addition to having to stretch to cover increasing numbers of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, the cost of caring for veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam continues to increase.

Cuts in funding would cut deserving veterans out of the health care they expect for service to the country.

One news story reports that the cuts to health services as pro- posed are too severe and equally unrealistic.

According to The Associated Press, similar proposed cuts in budgets by this administration have been reversed in previous years.

And there are questions about whether the cuts are an attempt to meet the president's promise to cut the budget deficit in half.

Whether unrealistic or as a tool to cut the budget deficit, the proposals represent a government reversal to a time-honored American promise.

Veterans who fought for their country deserve to have proper and affordable medical care. It was and should remain part of the deal with the American government.