Sometimes even George Orwell must roll over in his grave.
In one of the more remarkable spins of modern politics, Maine Republicans yesterday accused U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud of abandoning veterans by his vote against a cut of $11 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs! That’s right, Michaud voted against a bill that would have cut the veterans budget by 12 percent from what was passed by the House 421- 4 just four months ago (see chart below) and somehow the Maine Republican Party sees that as a “vote against veterans.” The disingenuous hypocrisy is just oozing off their press release.
Perhaps the most egregious cut among the cuts they passed this week was their complete zeroing out of funding for prosthetic research to assist our veterans who have lost limbs on behalf of serving our country and grants to states to support their VA homes. VA homes provide basic care for our most vulnerable veterans, including adult day care, basic shelter, and nursing. These homes are the final hope for many of our homeless veterans who have been abandoned by their country.
If Republicans really care about veterans, I applaud them. But this hypocrisy and spin is insulting to those of us who care about the people who have served our great nation and state.
Department of Veterans Affairs |
H.R. 2216 (passed 421-4, June 4, 2013) |
H.J. Res 72 (passed 264-164, Oct. 3, 2013) |
|
Veterans Benefits Administration (mandatory) |
84,461 |
79,500 |
|
Medical and Prosthetic Research |
586 |
0 |
|
National Cemetery Administration |
250 |
0 |
|
General Operating Expenses |
2,455 |
2,455 |
|
General Administration |
403 |
0 |
|
Information Technology |
3,683 |
0 |
|
Office of Inspector General |
116 |
0 |
|
Construction, Major Projects |
342 |
0 |
|
Construction, Minor Projects |
715 |
0 |
|
Grants to State VA Homes |
83 |
0 |
|
Grants to State Cemeteries |
44 |
0 |
|
Total |
$93B |
$82B |