STATEMENT OF REP. LANE EVANS:

What Could They Be Thinking?

GOP Leaders Brag That "Everything is on the Table"

 for Across-The-Board Spending Cuts

What could the Republican leadership be thinking?  Once more demonstrating that their priorities are not the priorities of the American people, GOP leaders are still insisting on across-the-board spending cuts - cuts that would include defense and veterans' health care.  To some Republicans these cuts are abstract percentages and talking points for "fiscal responsibility."  They fail to understand that arbitrary cuts can dramatically affect the lives and health of real people, and are especially cruel when they involve health care dollars that should go to care for veterans.  Republican leaders are insisting on these cuts purportedly to offset hurricane-related spending while in reality they merely wish to protect tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

Only a short while ago Republicans were forced to confront a fact that Democrats, and much of the nation, have known all along - the Bush Administration is shortchanging veterans.  Earlier this year, the Department of Veterans Affairs had to finally acknowledge that it faced a dangerous shortfall in fiscal year 2005, and an even greater deficit in health care dollars for this current fiscal year.  Congress, after much prodding by Democrats and the veterans' community, reluctantly provided an additional $1.5 billion to cover the 2005 shortfall and provide the resources needed for veterans seeking health care, including those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  The Senate acted to cover the shortfall for the current fiscal year, but those figures have not yet been approved by Congress.  Now the House Republican leadership wants to turn right around and take a significant percentage of this stopgap increase away - over $600 million - enough to care for nearly 100,000 veterans.

Real leadership means ordering the priorities of the American people and responsibly providing the resources to meet those priorities.  Make no mistake about it - across-the-board cuts hurt those who can least afford to be hurt.  These types of cuts are irresponsible and demonstrate yet again the inability of this Administration and the Republican leadership to understand the needs of veterans.  They fail to recognize that caring for veterans is a continuing cost of war.

Some government programs are more important than others, and I cannot understand why the Republican leadership does not believe that the care of veterans is among our highest priorities. As a nation we simply must keep our commitments to those who answer the call to serve.  Cutting veterans' health care dollars when our men and women in uniform are fighting in foreign conflicts sends a message that their service and sacrifices are not enough. It is the very definition of fiscal and moral irresponsibility. 

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