Gov. Blasts Plan to Cut Vets' Benefits

March 20, 2005

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News Sat, Mar 19, 2005

Gov. Blasts Plan to Cut Vets' Benefits

Sat Mar 19,11:12 AM ET

HARRISBURG, Pa. - While states are spending more to extend benefits to

their National Guardsmen called to duty, the Bush administration is

reducing benefits, Pennsylvania's Democratic governor said Saturday.

" While we the governors do all we can for our vets and our returning

soldiers, our federal government has the primary responsibility for

meeting the needs of our veterans, " Gov. Ed Rendell said in his

party's weekly radio address. " And that's why I find the president's

budget cuts for critical veterans services to be unconscionable. "

In his budget, President Bush (news - web sites) has proposed charging

certain veterans a $250 annual registration fee and raising from $7 to

$15 the copayment those veterans pay for a 30-day supply of

prescription drugs. The budget also would cut $293.5 million by

limiting the veterans whose care in state-operated veterans homes is

reimbursed by the federal government.

" During this time of war, it is absolutely the wrong time for our

federal government to step back from any of its commitment to our

veterans, " Rendell said. " To do so would be penny-wise but pound-foolish. "

He said governors have developed ways to help returning troops and

their families, and mentioned several Democratic state executives by name.

In New Mexico, he said, Gov. Bill Richardson last month signed into

law a state-paid $250,000 life insurance benefit for its National

Guard members. In Iowa, Gov. Tom Vilsack signed legislation that

allows state employees activated to military service to maintain their

health insurance benefits and be reimbursed if their active-duty

position pays less than their state job.

The proposed cuts in veterans health care are generally oriented

toward veterans with higher incomes and veterans whose injuries or

illnesses are not sustained from active duty, officials said.

Overall, the administration has proposed increasing its Veterans

Affairs Department budget by 2.7 percent to $70.8 billion.

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