From Jen Dimascio’s Politico article today:
President Barack Obama reversed course Wednesday on a highly charged proposal to have private insurance companies, instead of the Veterans Affairs Department, pay for veterans’ service-related injuries.
The proposed policy shift was aimed at recouping $540 million, but it risked souring goodwill of veterans, an enormous political constituency. And veterans groups, learning of the possibility last month, had quickly mobilized to oppose it.
Eleven veterans’ service organizations met the president on Monday, then followed up with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday.
Later, at another meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), they were assured the president had changed his mind, said Jim King, executive director of Amvets.
~~~At the White House, press secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement confirming the reversal, saying the president had listened closely to the veterans’ concerns and ordered the proposal “dropped.”
Now, Gibbs said, the president was eager to “continue a constructive partnership” with the veterans’ groups as they work through other budget issues.
You go veterans! There’s no way Obama could ignore that lobby group, and save face.
Vietnam era Navy wife, indy/conservative, and an official California escapee now residing as a red speck in the sea of Oregon blue.