Utah Senate Fails Utah’s Veteran’s
Below is a letter I would most appreciate your publishing at your earliest convenience.Thank YouBob Jones, CommanderAmerican Legion, Department of Utah(801) 336-6951 or 771-0181
March 4, 2005Dear Citizens of Utah: As I write this I am in absolute awe and disgust of the inner workings of our state government, specifically leadership of the Utah Senate, and how it has adeptly gutted Utah’s 160,000 odd veterans. These fine elected officials, our Senators have just cheated “all” Utah citizens out of owning a brand new, state of the art, fifteen million dollar veteran’s nursing home for an investment of only $4.5 million. The Veteran’s Administration (VA) has determined that based on the last U.S. census, Utah has a current need of 320 dedicated nursing home beds for veterans, who would then receive care under VA guidelines to meet their special needs. But the leadership of the Utah Senate has fought such a petty battle to the point that Utah’s veterans are again sacrificed; for what? Sorry folks, but I just don’t understand. To explain: All of Utah’s veteran’s service organizations collectively asked the Utah Legislature to obligate $4.5 million during the just completed legislative session, for which the VA would provide a matching $8.2 million to build a brand new, fully outfitted and state of the art 120 bed veteran’s nursing home on land already donated through the efforts of Utah Senator Orrin Hatch in the Ogden/Weber County area. Utah already has the land…! The citizens of Utah would have become owners of this new facility. This facility would have brought into Utah coffers an additional $2.6 million per year for the life of the facility in VA per diem payments of approximately $60.00 per day per resident. Folks, the facility would have paid back Utah’s investment in just over two years of opening its doors. This says nothing of the cost of placing those same veterans onto the Utah welfare graces of Medicaid once they divested themselves and their families of most of what they have spent a lifetime building in order to qualify for residence in a private nursing home that would not provide near the level of care the veteran should get. Our greatest fear has been realized in that some other state will now very likely get the matching VA dollars. The matching VA dollars and the VA per diem monies would only have come into Utah coffers had this facility been funded during this legislative session. Veterans can not receive the VA per diem if they reside in a privately owned and operated facility. But no, our elected representatives, the Senate leadership in particular couldn’t see the benefit of providing for our aging veterans community in a manner befitting their sacrifices for the freedoms we each enjoy on a daily basis. Members of the House of Representatives unanimously voted FOR this bill.Earlier, I spoke of veterans special needs. War is a terrible business that scars one not only on the outside, but into the very soul. The healthcare needs of most veterans exceed that of others who were not subjected to wondering if they would live to see another day, or even the end of this one. Life long psychological traumas of combat; loss of limbs, eyes and spirit. These are the sacrifices of war and peace. These are the sacrifices of serving ones country. We haven’t begun to see the results of those who are returning from the war on terrorism. There was another player in this mix that at every turn threw up road blocks against this much needed project. The Utah Healthcare Association and their hired guns kept trying to talk the legislature into leasing one of their 45 ~ 50 year old facilities at an unspecified cost. This organization wants a sole source lease contract for themselves; again at an unspecified cost and in defiance of Utah statute. The facility they offered is completely inadequate, does not meet current building codes or VA health standards and would cost far more than what the veteran’s community was asking the legislature to provide just to bring it up to current standards. I have difficulty understanding the need of placing our veteran’s into such an old facility. The only thought that comes to mind is pure profit margin; profit before patriotism. What a shame! The really sad part is that by continually thwarting the efforts of veterans, the Utah Healthcare Association has just cheated themselves out approximately $5 million per year as one of their entities would surely have managed the new veteran’s nursing home under VA, federal and state guidelines. They have likewise cheated themselves out of approximately 200 new jobs in northern Utah, many of them highly skilled positions. I’m sorry folks, I just don’t get it. Why is it that the budget must be balanced on the backs of veterans; who have already given so very much…? All most veteran’s wish in their later years is to be left with a bit of dignity. They have already paid the price… But not all was gloom and doom. I wish to sincerely thank those who championed this project. Bill sponsor, Representative Gregg Buxton (R-Roy) accompanied by Representative Greg Hughes (R-Draper) did yeoman’s service in getting this bill through the house with a 60 ~ 0 vote. Senate sponsor Dave Thomas (R-South Weber) also championed the bill in the Senate and fought a very valiant battle. These gentlemen have the undying gratitude of Utah’s veteran’s community, our heartfelt appreciation. I also wish every veteran in Utah to know that several veterans were on the hill daily fighting for this and other legislation important to all veterans. Among them were George Wahlen, Utah’s only living recipient of the Medal of Honor, Terry Schow, Director of the Utah Division of Veteran’s Affairs, Frank Maughan, Commander of Utah’s Disabled American Veterans, Johnnie Janes of Utah’s Veterans of Foreign Wars and Mr. Dennis McFall who has managed the current 80 bed veteran’s nursing home located on the campus of the VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City to name but a few. This was a collective effort of all veterans’ in Utah toward a common cause that was put down because some just couldn’t see the logic of the investment and the long term benefit of caring for our rapidly aging veteran’s community. What a shame!In the end, it came down to petty bickering among supposed adults whom we have each placed our trust upon to act in our best interest. I am sorry to report that they have failed in that trust, at least in my eyes. Sadly, each citizen of Utah will now bear the weight of their internal haggling. I do really wish that our elected representatives had taken the time to forget the party line and had voted for an investment in Utah’s future. I remain for God & CountrySincerely
Bob Jones, CommanderAmerican LegionDepartment of Utah
R. “Bob” H. Jones3359 North 2550 EastLayton, Utah 84040-8497(801) 336-6951 or 771-0181rohojo1@aol.com