Bush Wears the Flight Suit but Slashes Benefits for the Veterans

This week's best quote on the veterans' benefits issue is from the Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell (a Democrat, of course!):

"While we, the governors, do all we can for our vets and our returning soldiers, our federal government has the primary responsibility for meeting the needs of our veterans," Gov. Ed Rendell said in his party's weekly radio address. "And that's why I find the president's budget cuts for critical veterans' services to be unconscionable."

In his budget, President Bush has proposed charging certain veterans a $250 annual registration fee and raising from $7 to $15 the copayment those veterans pay for a 30-day supply of prescription drugs. The budget also would cut $293.5 million by limiting the veterans whose care in state-operated veterans' homes is reimbursed by the federal government.

"During this time of war, it is absolutely the wrong time for our federal government to step back from any of its commitments to our veterans," Rendell said. "To do so would be penny-wise but pound-foolish."