Barnes pledges to aid veterans
Photo by Zachary Siebert / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo
Kay Barnes, 6th District congressional candidate, meets with veterans at VFW Post 6760 on Saturday afternoon.
Democratic congressional candidate Kay Barnes told a veterans group Saturday that she would use a position in the U.S. House to press for greater benefits for the nation’s returning service personnel.
Too many troops back from Iraq and Afghanistan are struggling to get the benefits they deserve, the former Kansas City mayor said to a gathering at VFW Post 6760 in St. Joseph.
“That will be a priority for me to ensure that does not continue,” she said.
About a dozen people turned out to hear the remarks, which focused on the candidate’s commitment to military men and women during deployment and once they return to the United States.
In addition to a full range of services for veterans, she said, new emphasis needs to be placed on such afflictions as post-traumatic stress disorder, which an Army study showed affected one in eight soldiers coming back from the current conflicts.
“That should be just as readily available as treatment for physical problems,” Ms. Barnes said.
Ken Breedlove, a Vietnam veteran attending the Saturday event, called the federal government deficient in its recognition and treatment of troops returning with traumatic brain injuries, especially prevalent because of bomb blasts.
“Our veterans should not have to fight like we fought for (benefits for) Agent Orange and PTSD,” he said. “The Persian Gulf veterans, 100,000 of those guys, came home with some kind of problem that it’s taken years to recognize.”
Ms. Barnes cited the congressional vote tracking of the Disabled American Veterans, which gave Republican incumbent Sam Graves a “zero” rating three years in a row, from 2003 through 2005. The Retired Enlisted Association gave him a 7 percent favorable rating in 2006, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him a “C” grade that same year.
The Graves campaign countered that the Republican lawmaker has voted to increase veterans funding by 111 percent and cosponsored the Wounded Warriors Bill and the 21st Century G.I. Bill.
Ken Newton can be reached at kenn@npgco.com.
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Here is Sam Graves voting record on veteran issues see for yourself, don't believe everything a politician or his staff tell you, trust but verify
06/19/2008 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions
HR 2642 Y Concurrence Vote Passed - House
(416 - 12) Voted Yes as you can see it included Midwest flood funding also when the GI Bill was a stand alone bill he voted against it
05/15/2008 G.I. Bill Expansion and Other Domestic Provisions
HR 2642 N Concurrence Vote Passed - House
(256 - 166) voted NO
03/13/2008 Concurrent Budget Resolution
H Con Res 312 N Resolution Passed - House
(212 - 207) voted NO
Like many republican office holders he says he supports the troops but when it comes time to pay for veterans programs most of them vote NO is that really supporting the troops? Not in my opinion
Posted by joetowner on September 28, 2008 at 1:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)damn she looks old in that pic.
Posted by StJoeMoe on September 28, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)Isn't she the one that bankrupt KC?
Posted by ClinCo206 on September 28, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)Just FYI...
Posted by StJoeMoe on September 28, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)Trolling- The act of hovering over forums and media sources, ignorantly spewing a single view on to posts in hopes of (A) provoking others into an argument (B) converting others to your belief (C) making yourself feel as though you have importance in the issue. Those that "Troll" are usually very persistent but their views are usually cast out by those that are either aware of this person or have a rational thought process.
I'm not a troll, if you were referring to me.
Maybe my comment struck a little too close to home?
Here is a video everyone needs to see about a bigger issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5tZc8oH--o
The last thing we need is more of this style of politics.
Posted by joetowner on September 28, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)i didnt think i was trolling either, just pointing out the fact she looks old in that picture. Very, very old.
:dunno:
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