Barack Obama

Obama pledges his support to veterans

Monday, July 18, 2005

SPRINGFIELD JOURNAL REGISTER
By DANIEL PIKE

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama said Saturday that federal Department of Veterans Affairs funding should never be an "afterthought" and promised to keep fighting for Illinois veterans who receive some of the lowest disability benefits in the nation.

"It is simply not enough to wave a flag and welcome our veterans home with words of praise," the Democratic senator told an audience at the state convention of the American Legion at the Prairie Capital Convention Center.

"We've got to get serious about solving these problems and honoring your service."

Also Saturday, Gene Thompson of Marseilles was elected to a one-year term as Illinois commander, replacing Arnold "Art" Ambrose.

Obama, who also spoke at the convention last year, said progress has been made since he hosted January town hall meetings with veterans in Chicago and Springfield.

There has been a 27 percent increase in the number of VA caseworkers in the state, Obama said. Also, a Springfield VA office is scheduled to open in October.

But Obama said the situation remains serious. He blasted the VA's decision to stop ranking individual states' and territories' payouts - Illinois' payments were the second lowest in fiscal year 2004 - in an attempt to hide the problem.

He also expressed disappointment in the Bush administration's failure to prevent a $1 billion shortfall in VA health-care funding, a situation being addressed by Congress.

"My attitude is that we should get it right the first time," Obama told reporters after his remarks.

"We shouldn't have to deal with emergency supplementals when it comes to funding our veterans."

The American Legion also selected four officers during Saturday afternoon's closing session. Rodger Bennett was elected national executive committeeman, and Elvin Carey was named alternate national executive committeeman.

Bennett and Carey will serve two-year terms.

Luis Gonzalez was elected to a one-year term as senior vice commander, replacing Thompson.

Thompson has held several Legion offices during his 50-year membership in his local Post 235.

He told delegates he was looking forward to working with Gonzalez, and he suggested that membership, which he called "the backbone of the Legion," would be the focus of his tenure.

"It is essential that we set higher goals from year to year, so we can grow," Thompson said.

"Together we will make sure that our legion programs will continue to thrive."