Bill Richardson on Healthcare for our Soldiers

[bigtree]

from Culture Kitchen: http://culturekitchen.com/mole333/blog/bill_richardson_on_healthcare_for_our_soldiers

9 March 2007 - 2:29pm.

Governor Bill Richardson has sent out a worthy email about the disgustingly negligent treatment of our soldiers when they are injured . . .

Here is Governor Richardson's message:

We should be ashamed. When our government sends our military men and women to war, we enter into a covenant to provide care for the injured and protection for those in harm's way. Our soldiers have been sent into a war we cannot win with insufficient equipment; and now, when they return wounded in the line of duty, our government has failed to provide the quality care our service people deserve. Our government has broken the covenant, and shamefully failed our troops.

I am tired of being ashamed of the failings of this Administration. Our veterans need help now. I will not wait for this Administration to do right thing. I will not wait for Congress to hold their hearings and assess blame. I am taking action.

And I am asking you to do the same.

Call on your state's Governor to join me in finding state funding for the care our returning soldiers deserve, but our federal government seems unwilling or unable to provide.

This week I asked the New Mexico Legislature to increase the state funding for services for the 180,000 veterans here in my state. We will:

* Fund $1.65 million in facility upgrades at state-run veterans' centers.
* Add $650,000 to the Telehealth program, increasing access to veterans unable to get care at a local center.
* Pass funding for additional veterans' services officers.
* Double the budget for training therapists in effective treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
* Add a new primary care clinic to the new nursing facility being built at Fort Bayard in Silver City.
* Convene a task force to better coordinate all of these services.

I'm not sure what is more outrageous-the conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center or the anemic response by President Bush. Regardless, our military men and women need proper care immediately. And if we can't count on the federal government to meet its responsibilities to our service people, we must turn to the states. If we can do it in New Mexico, we can do it across the county. It is time to stop waiting and start getting things done.

Contact your Governor now.

Sincerely,



Bill Richardson

http://culturekitchen.com/mole333/blog/bill_richardson_on_healthcare_for_our_soldiers


Gov Bill Richardson also signed bill making New Mexico first state to underwrite $250000 in life insurance for National Guard members.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F04E2DE103BF930A35751C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

[orpupilofnature57]

1. Straight Shooter ,good democrat.

[bigtree]

2. Call on your state's Governor . . .

http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Governors.shtml

[Clarkie1]

3. Thanks for posting the contact list. nt

[bigtree]

4. kick

:kick:

[bigtree]

5. kick