Support Our Troops? Not if You're Republican
by Randall Rolph, Nashua, Iowa
The U.S.
House of Representatives voted yesterday, March 15, 220 to 195, to
block any debate or vote on amendments to provide additional funding
for veterans' health care and mental health care in the War
Supplemental bill.
Rep.
DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. Hooley (D-OR) were prepared to offer amendments
to provide better veterans' health care. The DeLauro amendment would
have added $238 million to the VA for post-deployment mental health
care. The GAO has reported that 6 out of 7 VA medical officials believe
they may not have the capacity for increased demand for Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder treatment. The Hooley amendment would have provided
$1.2 billion for FY 2005 for veterans' health care. This would have
helped facilities with operating deficits and hiring freezes, and it
would have reduced wait times for veterans to access high quality VA
provided health care.
The
House voted 220 to 195 to refuse to allow any debate or vote on these
amendments. The 220 lawmakers who voted not to have debate or a vote on
the DeLauro or Hooley amendments were all Republicans. The 195
lawmakers who wanted to debate and vote on the DeLauro and Hooley
amendments were all Democratic members and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM).
Let all
give a big round of applause to Iowa's Republican Representatives for
their unyielding support of our young men and women in uniform fighting
in Iraq. Come to think of it, I bet every single one of them has a
“Support Our Troops” sticker on his car.
Blog For Iowa 
Dear Folks,
When I read this blog entry I was more than pissed off. I have 3 cousins in the United States Marine Corps and 2 others in the United States Navy. I whole-heartedly support our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen/women, and Marines. This means more to me than sticking a yellow magnetic ribbon on the back of any vehicle. To me to support our men and women in uniform means making sure they are well armed and armored when they are in harms way. It also means making sure they are well trained in all facets of waging war and keeping the peace in the aftermath of war. Most of all it means that they are well cared for when they come back from combat/peace keeping duty. When they are well cared for in terms of physical and psychological health it makes their transition into civilian life more easier. These men and women are our brothers and sisters. They are real life flesh and blood. They are real heroes in my eyes. These aren't disposible heroes. It seems as if the Republicans need a 12 Step program to learn what humanity is and what it is to be human. To see how our men and women in uniform are treated makes me wonder if the plantation system of the old South ever died out.
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