Miller accuses Obama administration of leaving veterans ‘twisting in the wind’

Miller accuses Obama administration of leaving veterans ‘twisting in the wind’
By Steve Vogel

Despite a proposed budget that would boost spending for veterans, the House Veterans Affairs Committee chairman accused the White House Wednesday of leaving veterans “twisting in the wind” by refusing to declare the Department of Veterans Affairs exempt from automatic cuts to reduce the deficit.

At a committee hearing on the budget, Rep. Jeff Miller, (R-Fla.), said the White House silence on the issue is meant to pressure Congress to accept a deficit reduction agreement that would avoid the cuts otherwise required under the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Miller said the Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office have given the committee legal opinions that under current law, VA should be ruled exempt. But the White House’s Office of Management and Budget has not yet given a legal opinion.

“I believe we’re seeing here a cynical attempt to keep veterans twisting in the wind,” Miller said.

Democrats on the committee pointed to the VA’s proposed $140.3 billion budget released Monday, a 10.5 percent overall increase that includes a 4.5 percent more in discretionary spending and a 16.2 percent jump in mandatory spending.
read more here