Great post on the realties of being one of the low wage earners. Even more troubling is that these people sacrificed so much for so little, albeit by their own choice. Maybe no one should do twenty years of service, if they do they are potentially setting themselves up for disappointment.

And to think that as only a few months ago, I regreted for not remaining in my beloved Corps for the duration. However, I probably would have been an O-6 at least.

Veterans have found the enemy and as it was said clearly in POGO Possum's column of 1956 "it is us!"
When Ohio Congressman and member of the Veterans Committee Ted Strickland commented to the Ironton (Ohio) Tribune May 25th that "President George Bush's proposal for the Veterans Administration* budget may hurt thousands of Ohio veterans who receive health care services," locals say it may be too early to truly determine the effects. The paper then quotes a local veterans officer "I haven't seen the budget bill yet, but what I have heard it will make things better for the VA."
Well it sure will make things better for the VA, as they will not have to spend money on helping sick vets!
Dave Barker

*Department of Veterans Affairs

WELL SAID...WE CAN NOT COUNT ON THE VA, OR THE DEMS, OR THE REPUBS, OR THE ADMN, OR THE PRESS , OR THE PRESIDENT...WE MUST TAKE THIS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO VOTE...AND DO IT LOUD AND OFTEN.

I appreciate those who support this lonely fight to protect veterans and retirees from the politicians, as well as themselves.
I just wish the people on the Forum had as much interest in the future of our military/naval service members and veterans as they do Baseball Standings and other important issues like George Orwell.
It seems as if we are slipping into the obscurity of who besides an owl gives a hoot!
Dave Barker

I'm sure the most of here are interested in Veteran's issues, but there is more to life then just that. I agree VA programs, etc. are very important, but Baseball Standings and other Topics are posted here to give us a change of pace from the serious issues from time to time.

usmcvet you are correct.
Dave Barker

But I still feel our eroding benfits on this website are more important than baseball. (I love baseball, but veteran losses are more important).
Dave Barker

Even though our Secretary of Veterans Affairs assured us that all money needed by the VA for 2003-04 was appropriated. Although the budget was the highest according to the Secretary it seems as if the freeze on Priority Group 8 is still on.
If you recall Priority Group 8 is the veterans who are not service connected and have income over the threshold limit. Now a veteran has retired with 30 years active duty and obtained pay grade E-9. Guess what? His Military retirement pay puts him over the threshold limit!
I suppose some people feel these 30 year people should not need VA health care. But I do.
Dave Barker

THESE RETIRED AND DISENFRANCHISED VETERANS NEED TO VOTE THEIR POCKETBOOKS AND LET THE LEGISLATORS KNOW BY CONTINUOUS REMINDERS OF SUCH INTENTIONS...E-MAIL, VOICE-MAIL, ATTEND MEETINGS DURING CAMPAIGN VISITS, WRITE LETTERS, AND BE VISIBLE AND VOCAL AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.

BECOME A SQUEEKING WHEEL...GREY PANTHERS GET A SEAT AT THE TABLE...DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET MAD AND GET EVEN...THEY HAVE NUMBERS ON THEIR SIDE.

You are so correct. It is time we let our voices be heard. I have direct contact with two outstanding congressmen.
I worked personally with Pat Tiberi when he was former John Kasich's veterans rep in Columbus. Pat is an outstanding veterans advocate. We worked many claims together in the late 80's and early 90's. I now work directly with his vet rep Mark Bell, who has recently returned from active duty in the Army. Mark is very skilled and dedicated.
Along the Ohio River we have Congressman Ted Strickland, who is now a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Ted is the kind of guy who meets you and remembers you, without being prompted, even a year later. Ted Strickland has an outstanding veterans rep in Clare Rubadue. Clare is a fine man who is retired First Sergeant U.S. Army. When veterans need help, all they have to do is call or write. Clare is very skilled dedicated.
The reason for this dissertation is simple. If you go meet your Congressional Representative, you will get to know his or her staff. When you express your opinion by letter or phone call, they will know who you are and you will have more impact.
Remember a big city, small town, urban or rural, Congressional Districts are the same ratio. Truly "the squeaky wheel gets the grease!"
Dave Barker

Better yet, how about a noisy, tracked armored vehicle? The heck with "oil" use wheel bearing grease.

You are so right!
Dave Barker

When you're right, you're right. I'm a veteran's child, not a baseball player's. I have to take that one on the chin. Lightening up is great, but first things first.

I'm new to this. Aside from constantly annoying my elected officials, please tell me what I can do.

As you keep reading and posting, you will know what to do. The ballot box is the answer. I can feel a ground swell forming for veterans and veterans advocates, to move on politicians in the coming elections.
Today we had a VSO's meeting with the VA Director at the Chillicothe VAMC. The director is a veteran (Colonel) and he is an honest and fair man. We all know the Priority 8 veteran's who were not registered prior to the "big freeze" earlier, will not have a chance to be enrolled for VA health care before the end of 2004.
Although some of the ultra conservatives feel this is a political issue, this is not a party issue. It is an issue of benefits promised for those who served their nation, forfeiting their opportunity to obtain the corporate benefits, that many others obtained in business and industry, by not serving.
Somewhat directly related is the Concurrent Receipt issue, which has heads spinning as retirees are promised both disability and the military/naval pensions they earned. Many are now submitting their applications, not actually knowing what will result. Again this is not a party issue. It is a moral issue.
So in a nutshell just keep reading and posting. I notice you are doing okay!
Dave Barker

Thanks for the advice. I'll do as you suggest and anything more that comes to mind. Very sad when something that isn't a political issue must rely so heavily on politicians.

Again, thanks for all that you do for our veterans.
Lisa Reading

A reminder with the new increased co-payments and medication charges about to hit the scene.
The VA is not to charge a veteran for any service or co-payment on medicine due to the veteran being exposed to Agent Orange, Ionization Radiation, or from any condition as a result of the Persian Gulf War.
Often the physician or other provider, may not be aware of your situation and charges may be made. It is up to the veteran to point this out to the provider, each time a visit is made. There is no provision for refunds in these cases.
These cases are unique and not the run of the mill situations. If you are charged, go to your VSO as soon as possible.
Dave Barker

David Barker
AMVETS Service Office
VAMC Building 27
17273 State Route 104
Chillicothe OH 45601
740 773 1141 ext 7487
office e-mail: dave.barker@med.VA.gov

Dear Rush: Ditto's to you!
Each afternoon, I listen to as much of your program as possible, unfortunately it is only the second two hours, due to my work. I am employed by AMVETS, the American Veterans and stationed at the VA Medical Center in Chillicothe Ohio. I counsel veterans and represent them before the Department of Veterans Affairs in their lawful claims for disabilities and health care
There are two issues that I pray you will address on your program. Which I believe nearly every veteran in America listens to as frequently as possible! Those issues are concurrent receipt wherein a Military or Naval service retiree is charged for receipt of disability compensation from their retirement. This is the only group of people in the USA that has a reduction in retirement offset for disability compensation. The second issue is the drastic increase in co-payment to the VA for health care.
For there to be even a $1 offset of VA compensation and retirement pay is theft. It took 36 years to get the Concurrent Receipt bill past the House and Senate. Then the Bill goes into the Department Of Defense wherein an extremely overpaid career politician says no! Before the election the President alluded to favoring Concurrent Receipt. Now he forgets not only veterans health care promises; but justice and fairness with retirees.
I am not a retiree. I only served one hitch on active duty and some inactive reserve time; but I know what the career people sacrificed.
According to the Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) in the May 20,2003 edition, the Bush Administration has asked for new co-payments to be imposed upon veterans. This is to offset the budget problems the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs said earlier this month recently did not exist.
The Bush administration is about to give veterans the opportunity to pay more for their medical care. This would be for the conditions the VA has determined to be not service connected and the veteran is under 50% service connected. The new co-payment going to $15 per 30 day supply of medicine, $20 for a medical visit and an enrollment fee of $250.
On May 22nd I interviewed a veteran, who retired from the Army. His income is Social Security and his Army retirement. His total income is $1500 per month. The VA charges him all co-pays as he has to much income!
This man served at the end of WWII, Korea and Vietnam with unbroken service. He earned the Combat Medical Badge in Korea and re-earned it in Vietnam.
The only thing he ever asked the VA for was medical care. Now the VA is going to take his co-payments out of his retirement check! With 10 prescriptions at $7 per 30 day supply that is $70 per month. With the new $15 per 30 day supply that is $150 per month.
So many times the veteran is fooled by politicians who never wore the uniform.
The government who is controlled by Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches make sure their incomes are far above the majority they represent. Their healthcare is far superior to those who they represent and never flinch on sending those they represent into harms way.
The politicians denying retirees their own money are stealing from true hero's.
Not a retiree; but a supporter of retirees.
David Barker
AMVETS Service Office
VAMC Building 27
17273 State Route 104
Chillicothe OH 45601
740 773 1141 ext 7487
office e-mail: dave.barker@med.VA.gov

PLEASE CLICK ON MILITARY.COM AND READ THE JULY 15, 2003 ARTICLE "ANTHONY PRINCIPI: THE WORD ON VETERANS BENEFITS"...

SEC. PRINCIPI GRADUATED USNA IN 1967 AND DID HIS AD TIME ON THE SEAS AND IN THE MEKONG DELTA...NOT A QUESTION OF HIS FIDELITY OR SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY...

COMMENT ON WHERE THE FIGURES HE IS PROVIDING DON'T REFLECT THE REALITY OF VA BENEFITS VS PROMISES KEPT...THE QUESTION IS "ENHANCED" AT THE EXPENSE OF WHAT OR WHO...KEEP UP THE IMPORTANT WORK, DAVE

www.military.com ARTICLE IS FOUND DOWN THE MIDDLE OF HOMEPAGE

Thanks fo the tip. I clicked on and read the article. It is basically the article I quoted and posted on previously. He is stating facts without revealing all of the issues.
First fact, the Priority Group 8 veterans are no longer eligible to enroll for VA healthcare. Second fact, the new co-pays are not addressed in the legislation directly. They are however a part of the proposed income the VA will be expecting to supplement the budget as created by Congress. So in reality he speaks the truth; but in a somewhat different perspective than a veteran seeking treatment who will not be eligible.
It is also important to remind the folks out there in veteran land, that a retiree with over twenty years and pay grade E-7 will have to much income to apply for VA healthcare, unless they are service connected.
Service connection is an adjudication process, that will take from 11 months to 24 months of processing. So the veteran retiree will either drive to a military base; or use private doctors. If he or she has no insurance and is compelled to drive hundreds of miles to a base there is a problem.
Check in this thread my post from the conservative Columbus Dispatch on Wed, 21 May 03 11:36 and posted Thu, 22 May 03 07:00 then go to posted Fri, 20 June 03 18:18.
I had posted a quote from the Secretary's release to the VA back in May which read much like the current article. The post was among those deleted by this forum moderator.
However, I respect Secretary Principi and in no way challenge his truthfulness. The point is I fail to agree with his view on this issue.
Dave Barker