RI Senate Republicans Call for Increased Funding for Veterans Services
GoLocalProv Political Team
RI Senate Republicans Call for Increased Funding for Veterans Services
This comes after complaints surfaced regarding service cuts at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol.
“What is happening at the veterans' home is unacceptable. Veterans at the home who previously received care in the form of physical and occupational therapy at no additional cost will now be required to pay a copay for those services or travel to the Providence V.A. for therapy,” said Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe cuts in funding to veterans were announced as the Senate began deliberations on the 2020 state budget.
“The governor stated that we need to make different spending decisions, but that they’re also unsure where to make those changes. My contention is that we need to first take care of our ‘needs’ – such as our veterans, children in DCYF care, patients at Zambarano, our failing public schools, etc. Only then should we focus on our ‘wants’ – programs like free college and free pre-K. There are all these proposals for new programs, but without appropriate funding. While existing programs are being cut to the bone,” said Senator Jessica de la Cruz.
According to the RI Republican Pary, during the floor debate, Algiere called for an investigation into how and why the issue was pushed onto the General Assembly before budget voting started.
Algiere added, “We need the Senate Oversight Committee to hold hearings on this matter. We badly need it now that we’re seeing the effect of these cuts.”
PHOTO: Fort Rucker/Flickr Commons