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UPDATE: VA AND MILITARY BIG LOSERS IN
FINAL STIMULUS
PACKAGE -- And, the finger-pointing begins. Rep.
Steve
Buyer blames Dems but doesn't name names.
Story below:
Your comments accepted at bottom of
page.
Share story/email link.
-------------------------
by Larry Scott
As I'm posting this, the Senate is still in
session and looking for 60 votes to pass the stimulus bill.
It appears that will happen.
So, what's in the bill for veterans?
Yesterday I let you know that vets getting
disability would be getting a check for $250. That story here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/09
/nf09/nffeb09/nf021309-4.htm
But, what of the stimulus funds for the VA?
First, it was a billion, then two... then the
Senate pumped that up to $3.94 billion for a number of VA projects.
But, over the past few days that has been
whittled down to just a billion.
What happened to the other $2.94 billion?
Up in smoke. Who did it? We'll never be able to put a name on
it.
But, the Republicans are blaming the Democrats
even though it was the Republicans who said the bill had to be trimmed.
And, the Ds will blame the Rs and come up with some reason.
I heard an analyst on CNN say that the VA funds
were cut because "negotiators" said the VA got so much money last year
that they wouldn't be able to spend all $3.94 billion. I'm not sure
I follow that logic, but that was the story.
We have two pieces of info... first a press
release from Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN), Ranking Member on the House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, who appears indignant but not logical...
and a CNN news story on the winners and losers in the package.
Buyer press release here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/hc
va09/hcva021309-3.htm
Press release below:
-------------------------
VETERANS ARE LOW
PRIORITY IN STIMULUS PACKAGE
ACORN among
Organizations Receiving More
Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Steve Buyer of Indiana, Ranking
Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, issued the following
statement after the final text of the economic stimulus package was
unveiled last night.
“Of the numerous flaws in the large economic recovery spending bill, none
is more shameful than the obvious disregard it holds for veterans,” Buyer
said. “I find it appalling that this bill provides access to $2 billion
for ACORN, $30 million for the salt-marsh harvest mouse in the San
Francisco Bay area, and millions to purchase ‘green’ golf carts, instead
of bettering the lives of veterans. I hope everyone will pause to consider
that those who have put their lives on the line to defend our right to
vote are a lower priority than an organization like ACORN, which has been
accused of unlawful voter registration. I don’t know of a starker example
of the Democrats’ misplaced priorities.”
“While pleased my request for $1 billion was adopted to accelerate
construction projects in the Veterans’ Health Administration, I am
disappointed my proposals to add $1 billion for VA loan guarantees to
veteran-owned small businesses, $357 million to increase training and job
placement, and $10 million for homeless women veterans and veterans with
children was not included. These proposals would have helped veterans and
our economy. It appears the Democrat leadership was more interested in
special projects than pro-growth economic policies that create and sustain
jobs. These are distinct policy differences for which our economy will
suffer, and Americans will pay the price.”
“I also do not understand how more than $100 million for non-citizen,
non-resident, Filipino Veterans of World War II will help stimulate the
U.S. economy. I hope Americans will stop to ponder the distorted values of
those who crafted this bill.”
-------------------------
CNN story here...
http://www.cnn.com/2
009/POLITICS/02/13/stimulus.winners.losers/
Story below:
-------------------------
Winners and losers in the final stimulus bill
From Lisa Desjardins
CNN Radio
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Here is a breakdown of who gained, who lost and who
survived in the final economic stimulus bill that the House and Senate are
expected to vote on Friday:
Winners
* High-speed and inner-city rail: Went from $300 million in House bill to
$2.25 billion in Senate to $8 billion in final version. There also is a
$6.9 billion provision for public transit.
* Amtrak: Picked up $500 million from both House and Senate versions to
total $1.3 billion. The bill stipulates that no more than 60 percent can
go to the Northeast Corridor.
* National Institutes of Health: Ends up with $10 billion in the final
bill. The House proposed $3.5 billion and the Senate wanted $10 billion --
$8.2 billion goes to the NIH director for his discretion.
* Government oversight: Board to oversee stimulus bill spending will get
$84 million to do the job. House bill allocated $14 million while the
Senate bill called for $7 million. There is also more than $100 million
more for various inspectors general in different agencies.
* NASA: Banked just more than $2 billion, including $400,000 for
science/global-warming research. VideoWatch congressional comments on the
stimulus bill »
Losers
o Veterans: Nearly all items for Veterans Affairs were reduced and the $2
billion the Senate wanted for VA construction was wiped out altogether.
The VA did get one thing: $1 billion for medical facilities renovation and
retooling.
o Military construction: Cut and put into a general pot, a change from
targeted money for each branch of the services. Army construction alone
went from $600 million in the Senate and $900 million in the House to $180
million in the final bill. But negotiators compromised over a general
military construction fund -- the House wanted $3.75 billion while the
Senate allocated $118 million and settled on $1.45 billion for all
services.
o FBI: Senate had allocated $475 million but all was cut out of final
bill.
Survivors
+ Pandemic flu research: Although senators agreed it wouldn't produce
jobs, it's getting $50 million in the final bill, down from nearly $900
million. VideoWatch the latest on the stimulus bill »
Damage control
+ Foreclosures: $2 billion is set for a neighborhood stabilization program
that helps areas plagued with foreclosures by buying back properties and
preventing blight.
+ Homeless: $1.5 billion is directed to homelessness prevention.
+ Passports: $90 million is going to the State Department to deal with
domestic facilities that deal with passports and training.
+ Social Security: $500 million goes to replace its 30-year-old computer
system.
Tax breaks
+ Car buyers: Anyone who buys a new car in 2009 gets to deduct the sales
tax. To qualify, buyer must make less than $125,000 individually or
$250,000 jointly. Cost is $1.7 billion.
+ Homebuyers: First-time homebuyers who purchase this calendar year get an
$8,000 tax credit which does not have to be repaid like a similar measure
last year. This phases out for people making more than $75,000
individually or $150,000 jointly. "First-time homebuyer" is defined as
someone who has not owned a home for the past three years. Cost: $6.63
billion.
Paying for college
+ Pell grants: will increase to a maximum of $5,350 per student in
2009-2010 year thanks to two provisions in the stimulus.
+ Tax credits: Individuals making less than $80,000 or families making
less than $160,000 can get up to $2,500 in tax credits for college
tuition. 40 percent ($1,000) of the credit is refundable. Cost: $13.9
billion over 10 years.
Making work pay
# Tax credits: Anyone making $75,000 individually or $150,000 as a family
will get refundable tax credit up to $400 per person or $800 per family.
-------------------------
posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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