Yesterday’s front-page article in the Washington Post about the Bush administration’s budget plans made a lot of waves yesterday, but the Kerry campaign and other Dems are focusing on one point in particular: cuts to veterans’ benefits.
The Post item noted, for example, that the administration plans to cut nearly $1 billion from Department of Veterans Affairs in 2006, which would ultimately make its budget lower than it is now, even as the number of veterans who will rely on the VA increases.
Obviously, as a matter of policy, this is a disaster for men and women who have served in combat. But from a purely political perspective, Bush has stepped into a problem it’s hard to get out of. The timing couldn’t be better — for Kerry. This weekend is, after all, Memorial Day weekend during a time of war. Given the circumstances, Kerry’s campaign is hammering away at Bush.
While John Kerry is in Wisconsin today holding a town hall meeting on his comprehensive plan to ensure that America keeps its commitment to our veterans and military families, we learned yesterday that the Bush administration’s plans would cut over $900 million from the Veterans Administration Budget in 2006.
Kerry Spokesperson Phil Singer said, “This White House regularly breaks its promises to America’s veterans. On the campaign trail, George Bush talks about the need to improve programs like veteran’s health care, but now we know that his administration’s plans would cut over $900 million from the Veterans budget in 2006. Veterans across this country deserve better. John Kerry will never break America’s commitment to those who serve or turn his back on America’s veterans.”
Kerry echoed that sentiment today in Green Bay, saying, “I’m not going to talk to Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld about patriotism when the first definition of patriotism is keeping faith with the people who wore the uniform for our country. And we’re going to make certain we take care of them.”
It makes for an excellent talking point for the whole weekend (and, for that matter, the whole campaign). The Center for American Progress has more on this today, including a rundown of the Bush administration sending troops into combat without adequate protection, cutting troop pay, cutting troop health care, cutting troop housing, and bullying troops when they’ve dared to criticize their government. Be sure to bring the info with you to your local Memorial Day gathering.