Houston Democrats

So what happens when an elephant forgets, who is important? A rampant stampede of the basic needs of the people.

Murvin A. of the Communications and Message Group had this to say about the GOP's decision on how to honor our veterans:

There is a special circle of hell reserved for those who mouth the words of patriotism and then won't support those who must pay the price of their slogans. There is no more vile kind of political posturing and hypocrisy. Yesterday the Republicans in the House of Representatives, with some few exceptions, voted to kill two measures to provide greater assistance to veterans and specifically to those returning less than whole from Iraq and Afghanistan. One would have qualified National Guard and Reserve personnel for TRICARE, the main military health plan, to the extent that active duty troops are covered. The other would have increased spending for the care of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We have money for tax cuts, for Homeland security measures that don't work, for airliner missile defense that doesn't really defend, but we don't have money for the men and women on the front lines of the "war on terror". For shame! If any further evidence of the moral bankruptcy of the House leadership is needed, this cynical and greedy action completes the case and the verdict on the charge of hypocrisy in the first degree is guilty, guilty, guilty!

I think Murvin got it right. Unfortunately, our government won't hesitate to put our men and women in harms way, but even worse, it ignores their most basic needs. Many of these honorable soldiers have been placed in harms way, many against their wishes. Huge numbers have taken hits from bullets, shrapnel, etc., and now our government is denying them the care they need to make a recovery, and to return to their everyday lives.

I seem to remember the "Good Old" Party attacking John Kerry, a Vietnam Veteran, for not voting to provide body armor for our troops overseas. His vote was definitely a protest vote for the administration's lack of information about from where funding for the war was coming. Yet, now Republicans have the gaul to not provide the thousands and thousands of troops returning home from receiving adequate health care for their service to our nation. Talk about some thanks.

Here's how Texas honors its soldiers and war heroes:

THE YELLOW RIBBONS WE SEE ON THE BACK OF CARS ASK THAT WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.

And we do. But it seems the US House of Representatives thinks differently. In today’s Houston Chronicle, May 29, 05 you will be surprised to find that the following bills were defeated in the House last week.

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1) GUARD, RESERVE HEALTH INSURANCE WAS DEFEATED 211 – 218, a motion to qualify National Guard and Reserve personnel for TRICARE, the main military health plan, to the extent that active duty troops are covered. The motion was offered to HR 1815 (the 2006 Defense Budget bill which authorized $49 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan). Present law includes Guard and Reserve personnel in TRICARE for 90 days before and 180 days after mobilization. Full coverage would cost at least $5.8 billion over 5 years. At $50 billion annually, TRICARE accounts for 1/10 of the defense. Backers noted that the Guard and Reserves are supplying 40% of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Critics said that to include them fully in TRICARE would prompt private employers to cancel medical coverage. A Yes Vote backed the measure.

All Texas Republicans with the exception of Representative Paul voted NO. All Democrats voted YES.

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VETERANS MEDICAL CARE WAS REFUSED 214-213: to increase spending by $54 million for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including $8 million for treating combat trauma; $9 million for prosthetic research; and $6 million for telemedicine to remotely serve National Guard and Reserve veterans. The vote occurred during debate on a bill (HR 2528; later passed that appropriated $85.2 billion for military construction, veterans care, and other programs in fiscal 2006.) The additional funds were to have been taken from the budget for closing military bases. A YES vote was to add $53 billion for the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

All Texas Republicans with the exception of Representatives Hall and Paul voted NO. All Democrats with the exception of Ortiz voted YES. Johnson was Absent.

Excerpted from The Houston Chronicle "How Texans Voted"

Yes, this is how Texas Republicans thank our soldiers.

Maybe the Lege still has enough funds available to build a Hypocrisy Memorial to the Republican Party.

Here's how the Republican controlled Congress honors our soldiers (from the San Diego Times):

By Andrew Taylor ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:58 p.m. May 26, 2005

WASHINGTON – House Republican leaders on Thursday barely beat back a bid by Democrats to cut $169 million for a contested round of military base closures.

The move came as the House overwhelmingly passed an $85.2 billion measure that would provide money for the Veterans Affairs Department and construction projects on military bases. The money is for the budget year that begins Oct. 1.

It took a 214-213 vote to defeat an amendment that would have shifted some of the base-closing money to pay for benefits for the families of troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and for veterans' health care accounts.

GOP leaders had to prevail upon several members to change their votes and reject the amendment sponsored by Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., who by tradition rarely votes, provided the winning margin. Some 19 Republicans broke with their leadership to support the Democrats.

The underlying bill would increase spending on veterans' health care by 2 percent, to $28.2 billion, over current levels.

Democrats and advocacy groups complained that new money for health care was not enough to keep pace with inflation and the increasing numbers of veterans entering the system.

"This is way below what's needed just to maintain current services," said David Autry, spokesman for Disabled American Veterans. "It's grossly inadequate."

But Republicans said the increase for actual VA medical services is almost 9 percent more than current levels. They said cuts in VA operating budgets would free up additional funds for medical care.

Republicans turned back, by a 223-194 margin, an attempt by Wisconsin Rep. David Obey, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, to add $2.6 billion for veterans health care. He would have paid for it by increasing taxes on the wealthy.

Obey complained that while Congress gives a virtual blank check for military costs in Iraq and Afghanistan, it comes up short when caring for soldiers upon their return.

Despite Democratic objections, only Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., opposed the bill, which passed 425-1.

The measure also would provide $1.6 billion for the Pentagon's new round of military base closures and realignments. That is $300 million less than requested.

The House by voice vote approved an amendment by Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, to block the Pentagon from closing military bases until it releases the information used for its recommendations.

Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., said the amendment would have no practical effect because it restates current law.

The bill also would fund $5.8 billion in improvements in military bases, which are popular with lawmakers. Generally speaking, the bill follows the recommendations of the Pentagon for base improvements.

But it also would set aside money lawmakers wanted for more than 80 homestate projects that President Bush did not include in his budget.

Among them is a $4.3 million "chapel center" at Goodfellow Air Force Base in the district of freshman Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., won $1 million for designing a replacement fitness center at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

In all, the bill provides $496 million more than Bush requested for military construction.

On the Net:

Information on the bill, H.R. 2565, can be found at thomas.loc.gov/

Thanks Murvin, for bringing this to our attention. We need to make sure that our troops -- past, present, and future -- are truly honored and respected for their service to our nation. It's very apparent that many Republicans have forsaken them.

Contact your representative and tell them you expect them to truly expect those in the service of our nation.