Augusta, GA -- At a press conference held today in Augusta, Michael Coles joined veterans groups to oppose Paul Coverdell’s and Congress’ attempts to cut health care benefits for veterans. “We are here today to oppose the ongoing efforts by Paul Coverdell and other members of Congress to pay for tax cuts and increased funding for other federal programs at the expense of veterans’ health care,” stated Coles. In his remarks, Coles noted Coverdell’s two votes in 1996 for a measure to freeze veterans’ benefits, including medical benefits, through the year 2001 in order to help pay for a $122 billion tax cut.1 Sam Nunn, Georgia’s Senior Senator at the time, voted twice against the freeze. As a result of this freeze, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs has asked VA centers to defray some 10% of their annual budget costs by providing services to outside sources. Augusta VA Spokeswoman Rosalie Bell confirmed May 26th that Augusta’s VA Center is considering offering medical care to the medium-to-high security convicts at Edgefield prison in South Carolina.2 Coles asked, “Is it right to place rapists, murderers and thieves in beds right next to Georgia’s greatest living heroes? I think it is shameful.” In addition, Coles brought to light the recent votes of Coverdell and Congress to cut health care benefits for veterans with tobacco-related illnesses in order to pay for highway and mass-transit improvements.3 Both the House and the Senate have included a $15.4 billion cut to such benefits in the budget resolution conference report to fund the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA).4 Not only did Congress cut health benefits funding for veterans with smoking-related illnesses, they also declared that veterans who smoked while on active duty were engaged in ‘willful misconduct.’ That is the same category the Department of Veterans Affairs has used to deny benefits to alcoholics and drug abusers. Coles commented, “I think it is shameful to break the promises that have already been made to veterans to treat their smoking-related illnesses. And it is shameful to classify their smoking as ‘willful misconduct’.” __________________________ |
