THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2009

Statement from Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on the President's Strong Commitment to America's Veterans:

The President has consistently stated that he is committed to working with veterans on the details of the 2010 VA Budget Proposal. The President demonstrated his deep commitment to veterans by proposing the largest increase in the VA budget in 30 years and calling VSO and MSO leaders into the White House for an unprecedented meeting to discuss various aspects of the budget proposal. In considering the third party billing issue, the administration was seeking to maximize the resources available for veterans; however, the President listened to concerns raised by the VSOs that this might, under certain circumstances, affect veterans and their families' ability to access health care. Therefore, the President has instructed that its consideration be dropped. The President wants to continue a constructive partnership with the VSOs and MSOs and is grateful to those VSOs and MSOs who have worked in good faith with him on the budget proposal.

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WASHINGTON (March 18, 2009) - The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization applauded President Obama for dropping his plan to bill private insurance companies for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries.

"We are glad that President Obama listened to the strong objections raised by The American Legion and veterans everywhere about this unfair plan," said American Legion National Commander David K Rehbein. "We thank the administration for its proposed increase in the VA budget and we are always available to assist by providing guidance to ensure a veterans health care system that is worthy of the heroes that use it."

Following a meeting this afternoon with The American Legion and other veterans service organizations, the White House announced that it will no longer be considering billing insurance companies or veterans for their service-connected disabilities.

"Although we disagreed with the proposal, additional revenue streams are needed by VA," Rehbein said. "I strongly encourage Congress and the administration to allow VA to begin billing Medicare for the treatment of Medicare-eligible nonservice-connected veterans. They paid into Medicare for their entire working careers and should be able to use it in the medical system that was built specifically for them."

With a current membership of 2.6 million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and the mentoring of youth. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

A Lesson In Politics
By Jamie Dupree
@ March 18, 2009 12:00 AM

WHIO News Talk 

When I saw the flash headline on the Drudge Report Monday night about veterans groups being mad with the White House, it told me something was bubbling in the Washington, D.C. political swamp.
But since I was so caught up in the AIG story, I didn't have the chance to pursue it until later, so let's detail some of it for you today.
The American Legion was aggravated with plans being considered - but not officially made - that would save money by forcing some veterans to use private insurance to pay for service connected injuries.
The plan would evidently have saved $550 million. But it was met with stern opposition from Democrats, one of whom labeled it "dead on arrival."
As of Monday evening though, the feeling was that President Obama wasn't giving in on the issue.
"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion, who wins the award this week for grabbing news attention on something other than AIG, as his news release was plastered on the Drudge Report.
At the White House, there was no official confirmation that the administration wants to tinker with the insurance details for vets at all.
"Let me not make the case for a decision that this Administration hasn't made yet," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs at a briefing.
In other words, it may never see the light of day.
It was a good lesson most likely for the Obama Administration, but also a reminder of how many special interests there are when you talk about the budget.
Everyone has a program they like. Everyone has something that you can't touch.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating what the White House did or did not want to change in terms of veterans health care.
It just shows you that every decision can offend somebody, which makes the details of the Obama budget - due out in April - all the more difficult to devise.