These members voted YEA for adding garbage to the government spending resolution thus shutting down the government. Out of 13 members of the the House Veterans Committee, only four are veterans. 
Why are so many non-veterans sitting on this veterans committee? Could their main credentials be that they are “true believers” in the idea that reduced government spending is the cure-all for our problems?
Congressman Lamborn (CO. 5th) brags that he “has been named the Most Conservative Member of Congress by the National Journal in 2009, 2010, and 2011.” Despite any lip service* given veterans, these House members would like to drastically reduce entitlement programs. In their minds, VA benefits are just another welfare program, sucking the wealthier taxpayers dry. (Never mind that veterans’ are taxpayers too and defended their rights while they were safe at home in their recliners and remotes.) Active military are useful. Veterans are has-beens and a big problem. That’s why conservatives don’t want veterans to get VA health care welfare and a welfare tax subsidy like other Americans. This mindset doesn’t believe that veterans have “earned” either handout and certainly not both!
Here’s the list:
Florida: Chairmen Jeff Miller (veteran? NO)
Florida: Vice-Chairman Gus M. Bilirakis (veteran? NO)
California: Paul Cook (Veteran? Yes) and Jeff Denham (Veteran? Yes)
Colorado: Doug Lamborn (Veteran? NO) and Mike Coffman (Veteran? Yes)
Indiana: Jackie Walorski (Veteran? NO)
Kansas: Tom Huelskamp (Veteran? NO)
Michigan: Dan Benishek (Veteran? NO)
Ohio: Brad Wenstrup (Veteran? Yes)
Tennessee: David P. Roe (Veteran? NO; served 2 years in U. S. Army Medical Corps.)
Texas: Bill Flores (Veteran? NO)
These weasel-worded wimps do not have veterans’ interests at heart. That veterans’ disability, pension, widows and GI bill benefits may stop or be delayed, is welcome news to this bunch. Why? Because they view them as repugnant welfare payments even if they do not utter this publicly.
They know veterans’ claims backlogs will grow and that’s a good thing in their book. With leadership like this, can we expect the VA to reform? We can’t. Legal wins will be needed. Veterans who vote in their districts can email (politely) these stinky fish on their contact forms. 
This is not okay: Fund our government or go home.
*House Vocabulary Word of the Day: “lip service “n. Verbal expression of agreement or allegiance, unsupported by real conviction or action; hypocritical respect.
Ed. note:
I firmly believe in free speech or I might have pulled the plug on this for it’s blatant political overtones. We are all Americans. Concomitant with that title is the obligation to be responsible. Kiedove aptly points out that some of our congressmen (and women) seem to lack that verve that might provoke a meaningful dialogue towards ending this contretemps. We are an eclectic mix of all flavors of society and with that comes divergent opinions. I try to keep that out of our site along with religion because I do not wish to polarize the readership. We fly one flag here-the banner of Veterans rights. We march under different political banners however. I know that some of you, from having met or spoken to you personally, have strong political beliefs of your own. I understand that. I thank you all for being able to agree to disagree. I sat on this for 16 hours and contemplated rewriting or tampering with her opus. I cannot. It is an expression of one element of society -a large one I might add-but still a part of a whole. Politics bore me. I can complain to my heart’s content but, much like the weather, it seems to happen in spite of my druthers. Religion is probably a close second. I believe in a Superior Being but do not feel the need for someone on my front porch every Saturday morning offering to hook me up with God. Because this encompasses Veterans in a round about way, I think it’s only fair to allow it to be published. I have the utmost respect for Kiedove and her commitment to Vets. He presence here and her frequent posts prove she is a stakeholder. Some of you may not totally agree with her viewpoint and I appreciate that, too. I will be happy when our government comes to it’s senses and ends this charade but the underlying problems that caused it will not dissolve without serious compromise. That’s really all this devolves down to- compromise- a meeting of the minds-what’s best for America. Blaming it entirely on the House of Representatives, which incidentally is comprised of a very large number of elected officials-ones you elected if you bothered to vote- is unfair. They represent you and ostensibly are responsible for America’s welfare. Intransigence by the Senate and the Executive branch and a refusal to discuss or formulate an action plan to break the logjam is appears to be the problem now. We’re not talking about a petulant child. It has graduated now to a double-dog dare.
In the military, we were often tasked with accomplishing goals or missions with few of the components necessary. Nevertheless, we persevered and succeeded. We didn’t do it with a Kumbaya meeting. We didn’t get a vote on it. We stood shoulder to shoulder and did it. What is transpiring in DC is too many chiefs and no indians. Personality disorders and a feeling of royalty seems to have blossomed and descended into an arena that was traditionally a “We’re all in this together” enterprise. Until we begin anew to think as one country and act in concert for our collective well-being, this form of backbiting and dissention will continue unabated. This isn’t the democracy our forefathers envisioned. It appears to be a free-for-all grab for power (health care) and holding America hostage is one way to focus the argument. Rather than take sides, I prefer to observe. I can no more influence the argument than King Canute could hold back the tide. Someone needs to read Congress and the President the DC Miranda warning “You have the right to remain stupid. Anything you don’t do or say may be held against you.”
As for the number of Veterans on the HVAC (4/13), that comprises 30.76%. Statistically, America’s Veteran population stands at 7.4%; so, if anything, Veterans are over-represented statistically on the HVAC. With that said, I still feel the appropriate number would be 13/13 but I’m just impossibly biased. Remember, it’s America and that’s what makes us great-the ability to disagree without rending it asunder.
asknod
Bethanie Spangenberg
kcraveiro
robinhoodesqvetsatty
Wesley McCauley
Veterans Claims Help 
Excellent post. Very informative, thank you.
Thanks. We all have different viewpoints. As the saying goes, the viewpoints I express here are my own and not those of the publisher!
For those who think that ACA will be a disaster, and want it repealed, get busy for the next round of elections and help elect enough House and Senate (and probably President) who agree with you. Put your money where your mouth is–donate money to their campaigns. Donate time, Then ACA can be repealed!
Reality check: ACA is a valid law. It is being implemented. In the meantime, it can be tweaked (not twerked) and improved. One of those improvements, I submit, is that moderate-low veterans NOT have to choose between enrollment in VA health care OR pick a subsidized plan in the marketplace. Wouldn’t you like to know whose voted for that lousy rule?
Veterans have earned that benefit and should be allowed to also enroll in a private plan (subsidized) if they think it’s in their best interest. Any why are the income and asset limits to enroll in VA healthcare so low. They are so low that they are a disincentive to save for retirement. These are among the many things we can discuss here.
The state of our health and finances changes from year to year. One year you’re in great shape. .The following year, you’re fighting a life-threatening disease and fighting to pay your bills.
We “The People” need an excellent measure of social, political, and economic security. Shutting down the government erodes those things. The longer our National Guard is furloughed, the greater the instability.
Look at how jumpy Washingtonians were today! The best security we have, and still people don’t feel safe. What a cryin’ shame.
HANG THEM ALL AND HIGH,THEY DO NOT WORK FOR US THEY WORK FOR WALL STREET.
Note: House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs membership: I only counted the number of veterans among the group that voted to shut the government down. That is 4 out of 13. I’ll have to go back and see how many veterans are among the other group.
The perfect balance is such a slippery slope that none venture there except in their dreams. The only way to effect change is to use the tools that the Constitution gives us. Otherwise we sit by and stew about the situation and nothing gets done. Change can happen but it also involves finding the right mentalities to place in those positions of power. Newbies in the hot zone are given few chances to do what they feel is right because the bigger, “more experienced” pull them into the fold and enlighten as to how the game is played. Seems to me that it is past the time for all of the children to get out of the sandbox if they cannot get along.
Aside from this article that picture is gross, just gross…
Sorry. It was the only one I had of shooting one’s self in the foot.
The toe is Nod’s visual statement on Washington!
I believe that bi-partisan cooperation is needed to keep our country strong and unified.
Right now, National Guardsman in many states have had their training stopped. They are on furlough. That weakens us.
I could care less about a person’s party affiliation. I never mention party in the above post. That’s up to individual readers to investigate if it matters to them.
If my elected representatives vote in ways that I believe hurts our country, or vulnerable people, I let them know. When I like what they do, I send some praise their way. Regardless of what you believe, I’m glad readers here also make their views known. I am sympathetic with viewpoints posted here that contrast with my own. And I seek to understand them.
Unfortunately, Congress controls the VA so there is no way we can avoid talking about the actions of these politicians. The fact that over 80% of veterans are denied disability benefits, is largely the fault of the politicians who have been elected to office. The fact that so few veterans in need get ILP benefits, is the fault of Congress. They ALLOW all the multi-million dollar parties in vacation spots. They posture for the cameras about the claims backlogs, but behind the scenes, what is said?
I would like to identify representatives (regardless of party affiliation) who would be true allies in getting HCV named a service-connected presumptive illness while there is still time to help those afflicted.
Who are the authentic friends of veterans and their families in Congress? Veteran status alone is no guarantee of friendship. Being the son or daughter of military parent (s) is no guarantee either. I want to know how they vote and think about relevant issues.