SPRINGFIELD, MO — With the nation’s Veterans Affairs system overstretched and understaffed, Springfield-area veterans held a press conference today to question a proposal from Senator John McCain that would dismantle the VA health care system. As a candidate for President, John McCain has proposed privatizing the VA system, giving veterans a voucher or debit card and leaving them to fend for themselves against the insurance companies. That would be the end of VA health care – the end of America’s promise to care for our veterans.

“It offends me that Senator McCain wants to push veterans toward private insurance companies, where executives get salaries in the tens of millions,” said Ed Janosik, a World War II veteran. “John McCain is a fellow veteran and a true war hero. There’s a lot to admire about John McCain. But, I’ve researched his health plan, and I can’t admire him for that.”

The VA has been delivering top-notch medical care to American service members for nearly 80 years – and a much-needed VA center is set to open in Greene County next year. Yet, at a time when record numbers of veterans are coming home from war with stress disorders and complex injuries, the VA is woefully underfunded – leading to long delays in care.

As Senator, John McCain voted against full funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007; he voted against making veterans health benefits a mandatory program; he voted against increased funding for veterans’ mental health services; and he voted against giving members of the Guard and Reserves greater access to health care.

“There needs to be more funding for the VA – not less, as Senator McCain is proposing,” said Jack Hembree, a veteran of Korea and Vietnam. “I’m concerned about my brother soldiers, particularly from Iraq.”

Today’s event is part of “The Road to American Health Care,” a national bus tour aimed at mobilizing voters around comprehensive health care reform. The bus tour is being organized by SEIU, the largest union of health care workers in North America, as part of a sweeping campaign to elect a new President and Congress committed to fixing health care -- and then make sure those newly elected leaders immediately pass legislation that makes quality health care affordable for everyone.