Sen. Kerry fights for blinded vets

[karynnj]

Source: Veteranstoday.com

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) today introduced legislation that will allow blinded veterans in Massachusetts to keep their entire pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.)

Massachusetts offers a $2000 annual payment to permanently blind veterans, but the VA currently subtracts that annuity from their federal pension checks, denying blinded veterans their full and rightful benefits. Senator Kerry’s Veteran’s Pensions Protection Act will end that practice, providing veterans the full benefits they’ve earned.

“These veterans have given more for their country than most of us could ever imagine. It defies common sense and common decency to think that red tape would be allowed to deny them the benefits and care they’ve earned,” said Sen. Kerry.

“The Blinded Veterans Association’s entire membership appreciates Senator Kerry’s strong interest and leadership on many veterans’ issues, and especially his introduction of this legislation to have state annuities provided to disabled blind veterans being removed as income from veterans pensions,” said Tom Zampieri, Director of Government Relations for the Blinded Veterans Association. “Currently four states provide small annuities to blinded veterans and for years they have been counted as income, instead of gift from those states that are grateful for the sacrifice that those blinded veterans have made for their country.”

Read more: http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/03/16/news-releases-sen-kerry-fights-for-blinded-vets/

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Sad that the VA would ever have subtracted the state amounts.

[wisteria]

1. This is just one more of the many ways that Senator Kerry supports our veterans.

He just doesn't mouth support as some others do, he shows his concern by supporting veterans with legislation like this.

[midnight]

2. I know this is going to sound crazy, but why doesn't he just vote to end

paying for this war, and bring it to and end. That way he could save many of our young people from blindness, and brain damage too.

[karynnj]

3. The US troops in Iraq are leaving per the Obama timetable

Although that timetable was longer than the timeline Obama ran on which was 16 months compared to the 12 months that Kerry was for, it has the same impact. As combat troops will be out by sometime this year, cutting the funding needed for this year for Iraq would be ridiculous.

On Afghanistan and Pakistan, Kerry has spoken of the real national security issue here. He has said that if Afghanistan were not next to Pakistan, we would not be there. His voice was one that was heard, but did not win in terms of how to fight this war. But, one of his biggest concerns was that the Afghan government did not have the "good enough" governance to step in and provide services and to protect areas that the coalition secures.

It is clear that you disagree with him on there being any national security issue.

[politicasista]

6. Speaking about all this isn't good enough for some

He needs to either find a helicopter or carry them home on his back.

[Orsino]

4. My first thought upon reading the OP was...

..."Meanwhile, the president and Congress continue blinding veterans." x(

[BlueIris]

5. Good idea.

What a messed up situation blind veterans are in.