[Vision2020] Bush tax cuts

[donald edwards]

Example of how Bush has proven he supports the troops so far while cutting taxes for his buddies:
 
While hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops are in combat halfway around the world, the White House budget plan would shortchange those men and women when they leave military service. 
Bush budget cuts
Amazingly, the Bush administration's budget calls for a $15-billion, 10-year reduction in veterans benefits, such as compensation, pensions and educational assistance. The cuts in veterans benefits, along with hundreds of billions in cuts to other domestic programs, would be made to accommodate the $726 billion tax break (mostly for dividend income) that President Bush wants. 
The House Budget Committee made further cuts that worsened the effects on veterans benefits, slashing VA health care by $10 billion and cash payments - including disability compensation to 2.6 million disabled veterans and widows - by $15 billion over the next decade and beginning this October. 
The Senate budget resolution calls for increasing VA health care spending and increasing veterans compensation. The Senate proposes to spend $1.8 billion more on veterans in 2004 than the president's budget proposed. 
Despite the House resolution, Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, chairman of the House Budget Committee, has made an informal agreement with the House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., to support the Senate's spending recommendation on veterans benefits. 
So Senate action is key. The House may try to bargain down from the level the Senate sets. Senators must stand by their commitment to veterans. 
Now the tedious work of committees actually appropriating the dollars for programs begins. 
"We're not out of the woods yet," said David Autry, spokesman for the Disabled American Veterans in Washington, D.C. "We could still face problems in the appropriations process." 
Here's what we need to do: Tell our Montana and Wyoming congressional delegations to refuse to vote for a budget that cuts veterans benefits or health care. Call Sen. Conrad Burns first. Burns, a U.S. Marine veteran, is in a key position to defend the Senate's proposal for increased funding of veterans health care and compensation because he sits on the VA-HUD appropriations subcommittee that will mark up the veterans budget. 
VA stretched thin
In the past year, the VA has already directed its offices to stop advertising services because demands for care have outstripped funding. Then the VA stopped accepting new enrollments for veterans who didn't meet criteria for low income or for service-connected disability. VA health care is stretched so thin that thousands of veterans wait six months or more for appointments at VA clinics across the country. 
Particularly in wartime, across-the-board cuts in veterans services are unconscionable. Soldiers in Iraq today will need health care, pensions and disability compensation. This nation must fulfill its obligations to the men and women who have served in America's armed forces. 
When you hear your U.S. senator or representative voicing support for American troops. Ask what he (or she) will do to support American veterans, a group that will soon include the forces of Operation Iraqi Freedom. > > Message: 1> Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:52:24 -0800> From: Tom Hansen <idahotom at hotmail.com>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] How Could Anyone Support That Woman?> To: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>, Sunil Ramalingam> <sunilramalingam at hotmail.com>, <vision2020 at moscow.com>> Message-ID: <BAY134-W19720A338BC5D244889D2BD2350 at phx.gbl>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"> > Roger Falen stated:> > "There has not been any other 9/11 types of attacks on us. There has been several attempts, but they have thwarted."> > In a very, VERY minor way it is comforting to know that nobody has launched an attack on US soil since September 11, 2001 (6 years, 4 months, and 18 days ago).> > Yet another way to look at 9/11/2001 is that it was the first attack on US soil since December 7, 1941 (59 years, 9 months, 4 days prior to 9/11). > > Roger goes on to suggest that tax cuts will stimulate the economy. > > Note to Roger: This is the first war in our history where the president is pushing for tax cuts. "Tax cuts during war" is oxy-moronic. You say that we should provide for our troops (I am with you there 100%), then you go on to say:> > "Tax cuts would stimulate the economy and the increase in total income will more than make up for revenue that is lost by a tax cut."> > Question, Roger: How are tax cuts going to "give them all the support we can in the field and continue to take care of the veterans when they come home"?> > Tom Hansen> Moscow, Idaho
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