What was said: "Our active military respond better to Republicans" because of "the tremendous support that President Bush has provided for our military and our veterans." -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi
What was done: The same day, the White House announced plans for massive cuts in veterans' health care for 2006.
What was said: Last January, Bush praised veterans during a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
What was done: The
same day, 164,000 veterans were told the White House was "immediately cutting off their access to the VA
health care system."
What
was said: In January 2003, just before the war, Bush said, "I want
to make sure that our soldiers have the best possible pay."
What was done: A few months later, the White House announced it would roll back increases in "imminent danger" pay (from $225 to $150) and family separation allowance (from $250 to $100).
What
was said: In October 2003, the president told troops, "I want to
thank you for your willingness to heed the important call, and I want to thank
your families."
What was done: Two weeks later, the White House announced it opposed a proposal to give National Guard and Reserve members access to the Pentagon's health insurance system, even though a recent General Accounting Office report estimated that one out of every five Guard members has no health insurance.
What
was said: A month before the war started, the White House proposed cutting
$1.5 billion
from funding for military housing. The House Armed Services Committee had
concluded that thousands of military families were living "in decrepit
and dilapidated military housing."
What was done:
Progressive lawmakers counter-proposed an amendment to restore $1 billion
in housing funds and pay for it by reducing new tax cuts Bush was proposing for
the 200,000 Americans who make more than $1 million a year. Instead of getting
$88,000 in tax cuts, the poor millionaires would get only $83,000. The House,
with White House backing, voted the proposal down.
What was said: This year, the administration increased spending on veterans by $519 million.
What was done: In 2006, it plans to cut veterans spending by $910 million.