Message from Vote Vets- Bob Fertik & Rich Hegdahl

Dear Activist, If Jeb Bush is elected President of the United States, he has a plan for veterans' health care: "I think empowering people with the equivalent of a voucher that gives you the same economic benefit of receiving care inside of a clinic or a hospital." In short, Jeb Bush - and most likely the rest of the Republican presidential candidates - would welcome veterans home with a pat on the back and a voucher for their health care. I served two tours in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and I get great care. And while we should always strive to decrease wait times, I am not alone. According to independent polls, over 90% of veterans approve of their inpatient and outpatient care through the VA. Jeb Bush's position on VA care is one Hillary Clinton and other candidates for president should exploit. Sign our petition and call on all presidential candidates to stand with veterans and the major Veterans Service Organizations VA against privatization efforts. There are over 8 million veterans enrolled to receive a wide range of services through the VA. In 2013, the VA "provided 89.7 million outpatient visits," and averaged around "236,000 health care appointments per day." Privatizing the system would severely underfund the department, leaving veterans out in the cold with many service-connected injuries. Often times, VA centers are equipped to deal with specialized care, amputations and traumatic brain injuries, in a way a local doctor or hospital may not be. For veterans in need of specialized care, both physical and mental, they may not have a caregiver to turn to in their area. Add your name to our petition calling on all presidential candidates to oppose VA privatization efforts. http://action.votevets.org/va-care With talk of VA privatization ramping up early in the campaign, it's a great opportunity for presidential candidates to stand with veterans and knock the idea down. We'll be watching, Rich Hegdahl Iraq War Veteran VoteVets