The American Federation of Government Employees is running a national radio spot in a bid to get Congress to “fully fund” the Department of Veterans Affairs with funds that have been proposed for medical vouchers that vets could use at private hospitals.
The White House has requested $93.7 billion for fiscal 2009 for the VA, with health care and disability compensation making up the largest chunks.
The request includes $41.2 billion for medical care, which is an increase of $2.3 billion over the 2008. Still, some lawmakers have criticized the request as too little to meet veterans’ needs.
It further calls on elected officials not to privatize veterans’ health care, and calls on Congress to provide full, mandatory funding for the VA.
