Health funds for veterans misjudged

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The Bush administration yesterday admitted that it badly miscalculated health care spending for veterans this year and agreed to send Congress an emergency spending request to make up a shortfall of at least $1 billion.

It was a reversal from just a day before, when Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said money could be transferred among accounts to make up the difference, and House Republicans, on a procedural vote, rejected Democrats' attempt to add more money.

But with the Senate voting unanimously yesterday to add $1.5 billion to veterans health spending and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi promising to "make the issue so hot that today Republicans will reverse their position," House Republican leaders said their members were getting "uncomfortable" with the department's solution.

That left Mr. Nicholson with little choice but to agree to ask for more money.

He and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, Indiana Republican, announced the supplemental request at a joint press conference, and Mr. Buyer said he expects Mr. Nicholson to provide an exact amount today.

"Hopefully, they'll work through the night and be able to give us a number," Mr. Buyer said.

Democrats called it a major "I told you so" moment, since they had been pushing for more funding for months.

Those efforts included an attempt in April by Sen. Patty Murray, Washington Democrat, to add the money to the emergency war-spending bill. But Republicans, bolstered by a letter from the administration saying there was already enough money, defeated her amendment.

Yesterday, Senate Republicans said their switch should be seen as a slap to the White House.

"We were in error. Senator Murray was right," said Sen. Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania Republican, who said the fact that top Republican senators sponsored one of the amendments to boost funding "sends a very loud and clear message to the administration that we'd like straight dealing" on veterans issues.