On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:36:36 -0800 (PST), DaveS wrote:

The Veteran's Omnibus Caregiver and Health bill is being blocked by
one Senator; Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. More of our wounded soldiers are
surviving but a larger portion than ever require life long care. Right
now much of that care falls on families and aging parents. This bill
helps out financially and will give caregivers some break time.

You can help by letting Coburn know what you think and getting some of
his party members to press Coburn harder. Coburn says he's blocking
the bill for budget reasons. But NO OTHER REPUBLICAN OR DEM agrees.

Here is a Marine Corps Times article on the issue. Read it and maybe
you can help in some small way today or tomorrow.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news...nhold_110309w/

Dave

FWIW, if you're at all interested in his side of the story:

http://coburn.senate.gov/public/inde...d-60a182852e39

I'm not saying he right or wrong, only that there are at least two sides to any
disagreement...and often three sides - one side's, the other side's, and the
whole truth. And I've got to say, assuming Coburn's side is even somewhat close
to the truth, the idea that there is already a similar program that is
under-utilized is pretty significant. And assuming every eligible vet's
caregiver took advantage of the proposed new program, $390,000.00 a year per
caregiver seems a bit excessive, assuming the thing was fully funded at the $3.9
billion (3.9 billion / 5 years / 2000 eligible vets' caregivers). One question
that might be worth asking is that if this thing would cover _potentially_ 2000
vets' and their caregivers at about $3000.00 a month, why isn't something like
390 mil, plus a coupla mil in admin costs, being budgeted...?

That said, I wholeheartedly agree that if the US Government is gonna send people
into harm's way, such that they wind up in a position to require long-term care,
it better damned well figure out how to take care of them properly.

Just running a few things up the flagpole,
R