This Is So Wrong

I am taking deep breaths in a somewhat futile effort to lower my blood pressure. Once again Congress shows its true colors. The massive amounts of pork that they approve just so they can get re-elected (how did that work for you, Joe?) and they feel that this issue has a low priority? How exactly do they expect brain injured veterans to recover? Are they supposed to think of their own solution? Rehabilitate themselves with all the knowledge that they don't have? You sent them in to harms way, you take care of them when they come back. It doesn't matter if the injury is internal or external. You take care of your troops.

Or one of these days, they won't take care of you.

USATODAY.com - Center for war-related brain injuries faces budget cut: "House and Senate versions of the 2007 Defense appropriation bill contain $7 million for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center — half of what the center received last fiscal year.

Proponents of increased funding say they are shocked to see cuts in the treatment of bomb blast injuries in the midst of a war.

'I find it basically unpardonable that Congress is not going to provide funds to take care of our soldiers and sailors who put their lives on the line for their country,' says Martin Foil, a member of the center's board of directors. 'It blows my imagination.'

Well, it blows my mind. How do they think these guys are going to recover? I guess Terri Schiavo has slipped their minds. They were willing to do anything to save a brain-dead woman but aren't willing to support the troops in their time of need. Nice.

The Brain Injury Center, devoted to treating and understanding war-related brain injuries, has received more money each year of the war — from $6.5 million in fiscal 2001 to $14 million last year. Spokespersons for the appropriations committees in both chambers say cuts were due to a tight budget this year.

'Honestly, they would have loved to have funded it, but there were just so many priorities,' says Jenny Manley, spokeswoman for the Senate Appropriations Committee. 'They didn't have any flexibility in such a tight fiscal year.'

Priorities? Flexibility? Get your head out of your nether regions and use some common sense. Brain injuries need to be treated sooner, rather than later. Treatment for the injured is just as important as weaponry. Are there any souls left in Congress? Or have they all been traded to the devil?

George Zitnay, co-founder of the center, testified before a Senate subcommittee in May that body armor saves troops caught in blasts but leaves many with brain damage. 'Traumatic brain injury is the signature injury of the war on terrorism,' he testified.

Zitnay asked for $19 million, and 34 Democratic and six Republican members of Congress signed a letter endorsing the budget request."

Shameful. As long as the cameras are on, the troops have their support. No cameras? Out of sight, out of mind, as the old saying goes.

The party of fiscal responsibility is neither responsible or fiscal. What they are is one big party that determines all the good times are to be had by them and no one else.

Tags: brain injury, budget cut, troops, veterans, defense appropriation bill, bomb blast injuries, Iraq, Debsweb