A alinement of veterans' groups called Stand Up For Veterans is lobbying for Congress to fix the Department of Veterans Affairs budget one yr in get along to yield the agency a "more predictable support stream" and improve wellness care for veterans, the Christian Science Monitor reports. According to the Monitor, the coalition believes preparing its budget in advance would shield VA from "political wrangling" that canful result in funding delays that oblige the delegacy to freeze hiring, reduce some services and lengthen waiting-room delays "to the point that some veterans simply go home."
Although VA funding has increased over the past several years, approval of the appropriations has ofttimes been delayed for months into the fiscal year for which it was designated. According to the Monitor, VA funding was approved 142 days into FY 2003, 114 years into FY 2004 and 137 years into FY 2007.
The Monitor reports that veterans groups have for age worked to make VA funding mandatory spending, rather than discretionary spending, devising it "essentially automatic." However, because past tense efforts have failed, this year the groups ar pushing for VA financial backing to become an "gain ground appropriation," under which Congress approves the budget one year in advance of time. According to the Monitor, such a procedure would minimize funding delays' effect on health care services and "lock in financial backing" each year.
Although "it may seem like particular treatment, veterans say they deserve that," according to the Monitor. Peter Dickinson, a coordinator for Stand Up for Veterans, aforementioned, "We believe unapologetically that veterans do deserve to be taken care of first." However, advocates for taxpayers "crawl at the idea" because they believe it would limit Congress' ability to monitor federal spending.
On Saturday, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) will speak to a group of veterans in Las Vegas, where organizers hope McCain will pledge his livelihood for the plan. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) volition appear at the case by telecasting teleconference.
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Joseph Violante, national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, said, "All we're asking them to do is fund VA at the level that is needed, non at the level the government wants to drop." Steve Ellis, vice president at Taxpayers for Common Sense, said, "I don't think anyone is suggesting that we stiff our veterans, simply there is a story of flexibility that you need to have in the discretionary budget" to maintain supervision. Ellis added, "You end up spending more through advance appropriations" (Lubold, Christian Science Monitor, 8/8).
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