Senators: VA should do more to help vets vote

[unhappycamper]

Senators: VA should do more to help vets vote
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Apr 17, 2008 17:07:04 EDT

Rebuffed by the Department of Veterans Affairs in an effort to have the federal government help hospitalized veterans register to vote, two Democratic senators are planning their next move, which could include legislation to force VA to create a voter assistance program.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts are pressing VA to allow volunteer groups into hospitals and nursing homes to help veterans register to vote, but VA is resisting.

In an April 8 letter to the two senators, VA Secretary James Peake said department policy restricts partisan political activities in VA facilities and the department also does not have the resources to be responsible for a large-scale voter registration effort.

The exchange of letters was first reported by Steven Rosenfeld of AlterNet.org.

But Peake acknowledged the importance of voting, and said VA “is establishing additional guidance that will clearly assign responsibility for voter assistance and promote a uniform approach to this important function while maintaining a nonpartisan environment.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_veterans_voterregistration_041708w/



uhc comment: I am so looking forward to the day when we can rid rid of this POS James Peake.