PA’s Rendell to balance budget on veterans’ backs
The shape of things to come with a federal government run by Democrats? Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania’s governor, has proposed cutting veteran benefits in the state to balance the budget (Public Opinion link);
“It is a shame that in this environment that we are taking veterans’ benefits from them and using them as a political football in a budget battle,” Rep. Rob Kauffman, R-Chambersburg, said.
[Rep. Bryan] Barbin [D-Johnstown], who gave an impassioned plea for the bill and its requirement for a study by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in consultation with those who would be affected before various types of veterans’ facilities could be closed.
Barbin said such cuts should not be viewed from a partisan perspective, saying that the state should keep its promises to its veterans.
“This isn’t a Republican issue or a Democratic issue; it’s an American issue,” he said
According to an email I got this morning, this is what is on the chopping block;
Eliminated:
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania budget proposal announced by Governor Edward G. Rendell on February 4, 2009 includes no funding to continue operations of Scotland School after June 30, 2009. Scotland School for Veterans’ Children is a tate-owned and operated residential school for children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters of veterans.American Battle monuments, armory maintenance and repair.
___________________________________________________________________________Cut:
General Military and Veteran’s Affairs operation(s)
Funeral details for deceased veterans
Matching funds for education transition
Funds for nursing home care in PA Veteran’s Homes
Veteran’s assistance grant funding, or grant funding that provides
financial assistance to low income veteransFunding for the Paralyzed Veteran’s Pension grant program
Rendell’s alternative is to raise taxes, so it may just be a threat. But in 2005 facing Bush veterans budget cuts, Rendell said;
“During this time of war, it is absolutely the wrong time for our federal government to step back from any of its commitment to our veterans,” Rendell said. “To do so would be penny-wise but pound-foolish.”
Did the war end, Ed?
Category: Liberals suck, Politics, Usual Suspects
You know,
None of these cuts would be needed if the PA Legislature would simply stop providing benefits to illegal aliens and all other non-citizens.
No one should be eligible for ANY public assistance or welfare support if they are not a citizen.
respects,
Totally agree Tim. Just think, schools would be better funded, so would hospitals too.
Maybe Rendell believes that if he doesn’t see it on CNN, the war IS over?
I don’t claim to have ANY expertise with regards to Pennsylvania’s budget or its veterans programs, but why should we assume that budget cuts are de facto bad? Is it obvious that PA will be unable to fulfill its obligations to veterans after the budget reductions?
If they’re just using ‘veterans programs cuts’ to create a false choice for PA legislators and taxpayers, I agree that it stinks. But just because the program is ‘good’ doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be scrutinized from a budgetary standpoint during a recession.
V/R,
pmm
Just think how thrilled the 56th Stryker Bde will be when it comes home to FTIG and finds out the gov. has hosed them while in Iraq.
AW1Tim is spot on. Typical government cuts vs taxes crap.
“Oh, you don’t want us to raise taxes. Well, naturally we’ll have to cut VA benefits, police, and prisons! You don’t want that! If you don’t let us raise taxes you’ll be overrun by criminals and it means you hate vets!”
And then they ‘scare’ people into supporting a tax raise.
Because Lord knows there’s nothing else in the budget they could cut. Why, if they cut some of their pet projects they wouldn’t get kickbacks anymore! And then where would we be?
They never like us and they never will. We are the antithesis to every thing they supposedly hold dear. With a lack of character and honour.
Shakespeare’s line from Henry the Second comes to mind.
Typical liberal demacrat cut the vets benefits so this low down no good sindwindin owlhoot can still have his luxeries I HOPE HE GETS BOOTED OUT BY VOTERS AND ENDS UP SELLING PENCILS ON THE STREET
Plover:
Sorry to disappoint you, but Rendell (stinking Eagles fan that he is!!) is term-limited, and will (fortunately) be out of Harrisburg after 2010. Besides, he’s a product of the Philly Demon-crapic political machine (very similar to the Chicago machine). That, and the corresponding Pittsburgh/Allegheny County machine, have been mainly responsible for the Keystone State going Demon-crapic for the last 3 or 4 presidential elections.
Veterans benefits should be untouchable. I don’t care if the state goes broke. These vets and their families have offered up the ultimate sacrifice! Is nothing sacred to these politicians?
I’d also like to add that Fast Eddie is a dick.
Finally, a site where most people get it. dblynkpt is correct — veterans’ benefits SHOULD be untouchable. Veterans have already paid for them. Spade is also correct about the type of appendage Rendell is. The budget currently on the table includes reductions of MORE THAN $26 MILLION in veterans’ benefits — everything from veterans’ homes, to emergency assistance, to life insurance, to Dept. of Military and Veterans’ Affairs operations, to Scotland School for Veterans’ Children. Vets should come FIRST, given the sacrifices already given. Any of you in Pennsylvania should immediately contact your senator and representative. And pass the word to your comrades.
As a native-born refugee of California I can attest to the extreme costs of illegal immigrants upon every aspect of a State economy. Send them home NOW and allow only those who have guaranteed jobs in positions that cannot be filled by unemployed Americans. State and Federal politicians are cowards while veterans, citizens and taxpayers languish! Oh! By the way, just because you file a 1040 doesn’t mean you pay taxes, for low income you just get a refund of money you never paid!
Sadly, I have been living under Fat Eddie Rendell’s chubby thumb since he was mayor of Philadelphia. When I was in the police academy, he balanced the city budget on the backs of police officers and firefighters. I took a $7,000 pay cut that year (1994).
The only good part about this toad is that he’s done after this term. Cannot come soon enough. Man is a piece of shite.
[…] Of course, no story about Rendell would be complete without a damning sound byte from the past – in this case, 2005 – when he ripped President Bush for veterans cuts: “During this time of war, it is absolutely the wrong time for our federal government to step back from any of its commitment to our veterans,” Rendell said. “To do so would be penny-wise but pound-foolish.” (H/T – This Ain’t Hell) […]