Bush disability plan comes late in game

[unhappycamper]

Bush disability plan comes late in game
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 4, 2007 11:34:38 EDT

Bush administration officials appear to be trying to stall the already slow-moving train of reform of military and veterans’ disability benefits by appealing to lawmakers to give the Veterans Affairs Department permission to revise disability ratings.

In briefings for lawmakers and their staffs, administration officials have floated a three-part overhaul of the disability benefits system that could include paying a temporary disability allowance to newly separated service members while they adjust to their changed life circumstances, and an easier transition between the military and veterans’ health care systems for severely injured service members.

Getting the most attention, however, is a request for Congress to allow VA time for a complete overhaul and update of the disability claims system.

Administration officials asked for greater flexibility so that VA could implement revised ratings — which could potentially raise or lower disability payments — without having to come back to Congress for approval.

That idea seems completely unacceptable to lawmakers and to representatives of veterans’ service organizations who were briefed on the plan, sending administration officials scurrying to revise their proposal to at least give Congress final approval on whatever changes are proposed by VA.

~snip~

“This late in the process, it is hard to see why the Bush administration would suddenly be coming up with a new plan, unless their purpose was to try to delay legislation,” said one lawmaker. “I don’t think we want to do that.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/military_disabilitybenefits_overhaul_071004w/