Why Pennsylvania, America and Veterans Need Patrick Murphy In Congress
While not typically a site to go to for endorsement information, in light of the seriousness of this election I felt compelled to make sure we, and in particular, the veterans in Pennsylvania, understand just what is at stake in our local congressional race for the 8th Congressional District (Bucks County, a bit of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia).
When Republicans were in charge of Congress they rejected funds for veterans’ health care,actually cutting veterans benefits in their budget resolution. The same majority of Republicans who had been 100% behind the administration’s sending our young men and women into war, refused to give appropriate health services to our disabled veterans.
In his first term as representative for 8th District in Pennsylvania , Patrick Murphy (D, PA), an Iraqi war veteran and West Point law professor, voted for the largest funding increase in the history of the Veterans Administration.
When Republicans were in charge of Congress, the GOP budget resolution contained reconciliation orders requiring the House Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Committee to cut benefits or to tax veterans by increasing their fees. 
Murphy voted to make sure the VA increase their benefits and always notifies veterans about benefits to which they are entitled.
When Republicans were in charge of Congress, they called for a new enrollment fee for veterans, cutting payments to those with service-connected conditions, cutting pension benefits and reducing vocational rehabilitation services and education benefits.
Murphy voted to give the VA the resources it needs to treat the two signature injuries of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) — as well as adding personnel to reduce the VA’s enormous backlog of claims.
When Republicans were in charge of Congress, Rep Bob Filner (D, CA), minority co-chairman of the Congressional VA Committee said, “We were promised and, more importantly, organizations representing veterans were promised by the House Republican leadership that a $1.8 billion increase over the President’s inadequate budget request would be included in the Veterans Appropriations bill to provide for the health care for veterans. It was not!”
It wasn’t until the VA embarrassingly reported that they were woefully underfunded that this grave disservice and assault on our veterans well-being was brought to light.
Veterans cannot take the chance of being lied to again. They deserve no less than someone who has led the fight for those who have fought for our freedom.
Pennsylvania, America, and especially our honored veterans, deserve nothing less.
On November 4th, vote to return Patrick Murphy to Congress.
Steve Young
Member of Jewish War Veterans Post 697, Levittown, PA
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6 Responses to “Why Pennsylvania, America and Veterans Need Patrick Murphy In Congress”
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Beyond the pale! Disgusting! Outrageous!
My posting comments name is really appropriate for this one. I could even say I’m 1 f*&#ing pissed off lady.
We waste billions on crap and breaks for special interests, and pay outrageous fees to private contractors, but WE WON’T TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN VETERANS.
We send them to war to be maimed and killed, so WHY are VETS ASKED to PAY ANYTHING FOR ANY MEDICAL CARE?
It should be free for life!
1POL,
Ditto.
SY
hes in my district, i volunteered for him and i am voting for him.
Duder,
You’re doin’ the Lord’s work…or at least the 8th District’s.
SY
Steven,
My family and I have been witness to your family’s commitment to this country, from
the privelege of knowing your dear father to
a picture in our minds of you stopping by the
house in uniform, on your way to your own
service in the Sixties.
I know your words about Mr. Murphy are
heartfelt, and I am certain that he is a good
man, one who deserves re-election.
I am writing to caution you on the BASIS of
your endorsement and to ask you to seek further
information as to the different approaches to
funding the needs of our Veterans.
To the best of my knowledge, the cuts that were
envisioned by the Republican congress were an attempt to see that those Veterans who did not
need the help of the VA, and they are legion,
were not eligible for certain benefits, thus freeing up money, in the particular case of
which you speak, for the more pressing needs of
the current soldiers, sailors and airmen.
This problem exists in all types of social
welfare and social contracts in this country and will need to be dealt with eventually.
The notion that an upper middle class
individual’s need to bite the bullet( say for
example, to send her daughter to Cornell
on unsubsidized student loans)might adversely effect the real needs of low income folks to send their children to college through grants, etc.,
is one that truly frightens this needy person.
I am a disabled individual who benefits from
Social Security and Medicare and am greatly
concerned that the attitude of providing
everything to everybody may harm those
individuals like myself. Steve, you and I
know there is a limit to the government’s ability to collect monies and spend them.
Yes, go Pat Murphy! I ask you to please consider
the serious questions raised when all things are promised to all people, through the government, be
the beneficiaries Veterans or something else.
The impact that these types of promises and
policies might have, over time, on the folks
who really need the help. The wounded, the
survivors, and the just plain lost soldiers.
You are a survivor, you benefitted.There
are many who do not need the benefit. Where are we, as moral and ethical individuals, when
their voices and needs drown out the voices of
those who really are in need?
love to you and yours, Larry
Lar,
Words heeded. The case in point had much to do with a real cut to the VA for those in need.
And,if I might have missed a couple years, happy April 1!
Bestus,
SY