Obama Admin Wants to Make Wounded Vets Use Private Insurance

Politics | Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 10:10:54 am PDT

The Obama administration has to make cuts somewhere to push out this immense spending bill, so guess where they’re looking to save some money? Senators slam plan for wounded vets to use private insurance.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance.

But the proposal would be “dead on arrival” if it’s sent to Congress, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said.

Murray used that blunt terminology when she told Shinseki that the idea would not be acceptable and would be rejected if formally proposed. Her remarks came during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs about the 2010 budget.