Davis Criticizes Veterans Aid Cuts
By Angie Herrington
Chattanooga Times/Free Press
May 2, 2003

Dunlap, TN.-U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., on Tuesday criticized President Bush's proposed $14 billion in cuts to veterans benefits.

"It's wrong what we're doing in Washington." He told a group of 18 Sequatchie County residents. "I'm ashamed that I can't do any more than I can do to ensure veterans benefits are taken care of."

The meeting at Ewton Community Center was part of Rep. Davis's five day, 24-county tour of the 4th District. The district includes Grundy, Sequatchie, Franklin, Marion and Bledose counties.

County Republican Chairman Gerald Layne could not be reached Tuesday, and Vice Chairman Mary Frances Nixon declined to comment on Rep. Davis' remarks.

The former state senator from Pall Mall, Tenn., said this is the second time he has toured his entire district since his November election.

He said he wanted to remind his constituents that he supported a bill earlier this session that would have provided free prescription drugs to seniors at the poverty level.

"You ought to know how I voted for health care for seniors, for education of our children, on legislation that will impact the jobs of your children and the things that will make a better national defense," he said.

After Rep. Davis left the meeting, Sequatchie County Democratic Party officer Siotha Jones said she was interested in knowing how he could help get a veterans hospital close to Chattanooga.

A recent decision by Erlanger hospital not to renew a two-year pilot program to provide area veterans with inpatient care puts veterans at a disadvantage, she said.

Three Sequatchie County High School seniors said they attended Tuesday's meting as part of an extra-credit assignment for their U.S. government class.

Molly Berry, 18, said she thought it was "crazy" that veterans living in Southeast Tennessee have to drive to hospitals in Murfreesboro and Nashville.

"They need all the help they can get," she said. "We have our freedom because of them."

Rep. Davis also criticized President Bush's proposed 2004 budget tax cuts.

"It's wrong to pass the debts that we're about to pass to our young folks," he said.

Dan Ewton, owner of Ewton Funeral Home, said Rep. Davis could accomplish a lot for Sequatchie County.

"I always enjoy his talk." He said. "You can trust a man like that."