BACKGROUND

     No administration has ever adequately funded VA healthcare!

     During the past five-plus years we have seen drastic cuts in VA facilities and services.  Three full-service VA hospitals have been closed.  Countless clinics have been shut down.  More are scheduled to close per the CARES Commission report.

     Many programs have been cut back or eliminated altogether...including job training, vocational rehabilitation and substance abuse rehabilitation.  Domiciliaries have been closed...including the one near me in Vancouver, Washington leaving fewer places for vets in need to live.

     The co-pay for prescriptions has gone up.  The cost many vets have to pay to see a Primary Care Physician or a Specialist has risen drastically.  What's interesting here is that most people don't know that many vets have to PAY for their healthcare.

     Whole groups of veterans (apx. 200,000 vets) have been cut from the VA rolls...they are not even allowed to register for benefits...they just get a flat refusal at the enrollment office.  And, plans are in effect to deny service to about 500,000 more vets.

     For those veterans who have to take a "means test" to determine if they make too much money to receive VA healthcare the news is even worse.  The cutoff for receiving VA benefits is now apx. $26,000 income a year.  I know few people who can live on that amount of money much less pay for adequate healthcare.

     The FY 2007 VA budget is in shambles.  In real dollars, after computing inflation in the healthcare sector, VA healthcare funding is actually going backwards!

     And, the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC) is meeting to determine if "the death or disability of a veteran should be compensated."  This is the actual wording from the VDBC charter.  The Commission is expected to rewrite the book on VA benefits.

     These are the dismal facts.  What can you do about it?  Lots!!!  Get involved.  Let your elected representatives know you're involved.  Nothing is scarier to a politician that a well-organized group of voters who they are not serving.

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MESS?

     How about the POLITICIANS!  I Think we can all agree on this.  I don't care if you're a Republican, Democrat, Green or a Socialist.  If you're a veteran and you aren't getting your benefits or proper healthcare then you only have the politicians to blame.

     Much of the damage to the VA has been done during the current administration, but, they have had help from the other party.  When budgets are passed you will see Congresspersons and Senators from both sides voting in the affirmative.  And, buried deep in the pages of the budget are the cuts in VA funding that are hurting all veterans.  These actions are commonly called a "compromise" vote.  You'll hear:  "I really fought for a bigger VA budget but I had to compromise." or "It was the only way to get the budget passed."

     At this point it is easy to tell the true believers from those just rendering lip service to the plight of veterans.  If they voted for a budget that cut VA funding...THEY VOTED AGAINST YOU!

     All this goes on while legislation for Full and Mandatory Funding for VA Healthcare is bogged down in partisan fighting.  Learn about this legislation then fire up the email machine and encourage your representatives to support it.

     And, if a candidate doesn't support veterans' funding, just say NO FUNDING, NO VOTE.  Get more information here...

WHAT CAN I DO?

     Here's a radical idea:  Register to vote...then vote!  You can't gripe if you didn't vote.

DON'T ACCEPT THIS

     Never accept the word of a politician who won't commit to veterans.  If you hear phrases like this, run away and cast your vote elsewhere:  "I think" -- "I believe" -- "We need to study".  These terms are copouts for action.  They sound good in a speech and they sound good on the news but they mean nothing to you.  Find out how they voted.  Go to the Useful Links for Vets page for links to get this information.

     Do NOT believe everything you hear on a radio talk show.  Remember, the people who do talk shows aren't working for you, they have a political agenda (left, right or elsewhere) and to believe them could invite disaster.  Do research...and investigate what you hear.  Remember, you're the vet, and how many radio talk show hosts have ever served?  There are very few!  And, the ones who served are proud of their time in the military and will let you know that.  Do your homework.  Make your own decisions.

DO THIS!

     Always ask your politicians YES/NO questions.  Do not ask open-ended questions that allow them to give long-winded nonsensical answers.  It will drive them crazy...but you should get the information you need.

     If you can't get direct access to your representative use regular mail or email.  And always ask YES/NO questions:  Do you support our veterans?  Will you vote to reinstate funding for veterans benefits?  Will you vote to increase VA funding to a level that will allow the VA to offer healthcare to all veterans?  Never give them a chance to weasel out!

     When writing to a politician ALWAYS respectfully request a personal response not a form letter.  Most of the time you will get a form letter that states how much "I care for our veterans" etc, etc.  So always state that a form response is not acceptable.  You can tell a form response because it will not directly address your concerns but will generically talk about veteran's issues.

     If you get a form response, write back and tell them.  Then tell them again a form response is not acceptable and ask your questions.  If this happens twice, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and gripe long and loud about your elected representative who won't answer simple questions but just sends out form letters.  If your letter is printed I guarantee you'll hear from the politician...you might even get a phone call and a chance to discuss veterans issues.

     Always, always, always keep hard copies of your correspondence with your representatives.  Put them in a file.  This way you will be able to confront the politician with their response should they "change their mind" and vote differently than they said they would.  If your representative flip-flops on you, get this information to the editor of your local newspaper so all can know about someone who talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk!  This is important!  Be sure to include copies of their correspondence.  There is nothing worse for a politician than to be skewered by their own sword.

     And, call radio talk shows on the left and right and lay out the veteran agenda.  Let the listeners know the miserable state of VA funding.  Be prepared by having all of your information straight in case you run into a hostile talk show host.

BACK TO BASICS

     Get off your butt and raise heck!  Your voice will make one MORE voice to which the politicians will have to listen.  If you're serious about your benefits and about making sure all veterans get their benefits...YOU CANNOT REMAIN QUIET!