Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Rasoul supports veterans bill about health care, education
The Democrat seeking a seat in the U.S. Congress said he supported a bill by Jim Webb of Virginia.
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From today's paper
Democrat Sam Rasoul, challenging Republican Bob Goodlatte for the 6th Congressional District seat, said Tuesday that if elected, he will work to provide more education and health care benefits to war veterans.
During a news conference at the American Legion in Salem, Rasoul said he supported the new GI Bill. That bill, which was sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., and attached to a war spending bill, would enhance benefits for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to go to college.
The bill passed the U.S. Senate last week with a veto-proof majority, but not in the House. Both the White House and Pentagon have objected to the bill, citing its expense and worries that it would encourage veterans to leave the military after three years of service.
Goodlatte, of Roanoke County, was among the Republicans who voted against the bill. He said his vote was motivated largely by a "tax increase of $54 billion" that was included in the House version. That provision was removed and not included in the version approved by the Senate, he said.
"We'll take it up in the House next week," Goodlatte said. "If we get the opportunity to vote on what the Senate has done, without other things like a massive tax increase coming in the way, I expect to be able to support a vastly expanded GI Bill."
Rasoul, of Blue Ridge, also voiced support for a number of other veteran-related proposals, including working to better fund treatment for mental illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder; providing more funding for vocational training for veterans; changing the National Defense Authorization Act to give military members more time at home; and providing universal health care.
"Let us tell the Congress, the lobbyists and the special interests: We will not leave our soldiers to foot the bill, we will not leave our soldiers in psychological disarray, and we will not leave our heroes in limbo as they try to survive," Rasoul said.
Goodlatte responded by noting that Congress has already passed spending increases to provide more money for mental health treatment and shelter for homeless vets. He said he's stood as a strong advocate for Perkins funds, which provide money for vocational/technical education, and that he's stood in opposition to President Bush when he's tried to cut back funding for those programs.
Goodlatte said he too wants to give members of the military more time at home but is wary of enforcing it by legislation because that may be "micromanaging the military."
Goodlatte opposes government-provided universal health care.
Rasoul's conference was also attended by former Roanoke Councilman Bill Bestpitch, Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell and World War II veteran and former newspaper publisher Paul Fitzgerald.
On the Net: www.sam2008.com www.bobgoodlatte.com
