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Vets rally against benefit cuts Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=26534&SecID=2 http://rdu.news14.com/content/headlines/?ArID=26534&SecID=2 Vets rally against benefit cuts 3/31/2003 1:37 PM By: Katie Marzullo & Web Staff Soldiers fighting the war with Iraq are tomorrow's veterans and several congressmen from North Carolina and vets are working to ensure certain benefits are waiting for them when they come home. The House recently passed a budget cutting billions in veteran programs. Even with a distinguished military career, Ken Tigges relies on a career in business for his benefits. “Medical care for me has been okay because I did work for a large corporation here in town for 18 years after I retired so I have insurance there,” Tigges said. Not all vets are so lucky. Patricia Harris is a disabled veteran of the first Persian Gulf War. “I have been diagnosed with combat related PTSD,” Harris said. “PTSD stands for post traumatic stress disorder." Both Tigges and Harris join Democratic Congressmen Bob Etheridge, David Price and Brad Miller in an effort to preserve veteran benefits. The House recently passed a budget cutting $28 billion out of those benefits. “Congressman Price, Congressman Etheridge and I voted against the cuts by voting for the alternative budget,” Miller said. Veterans like Harris argue the cuts will contribute to a greater problem. “Say it isn’t so,” Harris said. “That we as a state and a nation continue to see some of our finest, well-trained service members become part of the homeless population on our streets because of budgets cuts to the very programs needed to get them off the streets." Tigges worries the cuts will send the wrong message to the troops overseas. “If they see that their benefits have been eroded over the years and now are being eroded more with the budget cuts, what's to entice these young men to go into the service and to support our country and protect our country and that's what it's all about,” Tigges said. The proposed budget still has to go before the Senate for a vote. It passed in the House by just three votes.

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