Alaska senators back lesser of two plans for veteran health care

[LdyGuique]

Article Published: Monday, March 21, 2005

Alaska senators back lesser of two plans for veteran health care

By SAM BISHOP News-Miner Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON--Alaska's senators backed a Republican effort to boost funding for veterans' health care last week, but they also helped their colleagues defeat a much larger increase proposed by Democrats.
Sens. Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski, both R-Alaska, supported a floor amendment that added $410 million to a proposed cap on veterans health-care spending in the coming fiscal year.

The vote came last Wednesday afternoon as the Senate worked through amendments to the annual budget resolution, which lays out how much money Congress will raise and spend in different categories.

A few minutes after voting for the $410 million, which passed 96-4, Alaska's senators helped vote down a $2.8 billion increase proposed by Democrats.

The larger number failed 53-47 after attracting support from only two Republicans--Sens. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and Norm Coleman of Minnesota.

Veterans groups have said the health-care program needs an increase of about $3.5 billion to keep pace with growing costs and growing numbers of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Without the increase, they said, veterans could once again face waiting lists when they go to their local clinics and hospitals.

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[snowbear]

1. Well...

That's what happens a Murky is voted in over a Knowles... x(