Press Releases
Luetkemeyer Says Veterans Abandoned Under President's Budget Proposal
Washington, DC,
March 18, 2009
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) today joined veterans groups in condemning the President's budget proposal to abandon our brave military veterans by shifting reimbursement for combat and service-related health care to private insurers.
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) today joined veterans groups in condemning the President’s budget proposal to abandon our brave military veterans by shifting reimbursement for combat and service-related health care to private insurers. Currently, veterans are responsible for any health care costs that are not related to their military service. Exceptions can be made for veterans without private insurance or who are 100 percent disabled. Under the administration’s plan, veterans could face an increase in their private insurance costs or have difficulty even getting health insurance. “As a nation, we have an obligation to live up to the promises we made to the brave men and women who defended our country, so for the government to ignore that obligation is a disgrace,” Luetkemeyer said. “I will fight to the very end to prevent this proposal from becoming reality because shortchanging our veterans while we continue to run up massive deficits just doesn’t make sense.” The issue has also raised serious concerns among leaders of veterans’ organizations, including Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion, who said he was “deeply disappointed and concerned” after meeting with the President to discuss the plan. “It became apparent during our discussion that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan,” Rehbein said. “He says he is looking to generate $540 million by this method but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it.”
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