The insurance proposal is still hiding one fact - The most generous VA budget increase EVER.

[TheBigotBasher]

I agreed with plans to go after insurance companies first for VA health care costs. Soldiers paid for coverage and those subs were happily pocketed by the insurance industry. They will be able to get away with stealing money from the VA.

The Poutrage that ensued was not worth a continued battle. If the Presidenst budget plans go ahead the VA will have an increase $1.3 billion more than what was asked for.

One simple fact. No president ever offered a VA spending plan that surpassed in size the "Independent Budget" presented to Congress by major veterans groups. Not Clinton, Bush, Reagan. This is an Obama achievement that needs to be sung from the roof tops. For the first time in history we have a President who is prepared to support the troops, with $$$s.

President Obama wants to increase VA spending to $112.8 billion. An increase of $15 billion over the current budget. The VA notes that this is the largest dollar and percentage increase ever requested by a President for veterans.

550,000 new Priority Group 8 veterans will be enrolled by 2013.

There will be a gradual lifting of what remains of the ban on concurrent receipt of both military retirement and VA disability compensation for disabled retirees. In 2010 concurrent receipt will be allowed for the most seriously disabled veterans forced to retire short of 20 years.

Republicans claim they want to support the troops. President Obama is offering real support. It is for Congress to deliver.

[cooolandrew]

1. Yes, exactly this is how we put 2012 in the bag. Promote advertize every success. And the people>

will not even be able to be hoodwinked. As every success story will be indelible on peoples minds. What probably would work is a whole list of his success stories in one advert.

[Kdillard]

2. kick and rec

[lynne]

3. The insurance proposal was dropped by Obama several days ago -

- private insurance will not be charged for military service related injuries and illness.

[TheBigotBasher]

4. I know that

I think it was wrong as Insurance companies are charging for that cover and not providing it; however the money it would have made up is a tiny percentage of the overall budget - the story is not the budget - the story is the biggest increase in VA funding proposed by any President.

[lynne]

5. Sorry, misunderstood your OP as it began with the insurance proposal -

- and I feel that it is a good thing that it was dropped as companies are not charging for combat injuries, which is an exposure that would be impossible to calculate into premium dollars. Individual private policies specifically exclude injury/illness incurred during combat and those conditions are subsequently excluded from future policies as pre-existing conditions. The insurance proposal was not well researched or thought-out, IMO.

[TheBigotBasher]

6. Fair play

That kind of confirms my point - the insurance thing gets the focus, when it should be the massive 15% increase in grant.