VETERANS’ HEALTH CARE

President Bush’s 2005 request includes $29.5 billion for veterans’ medical care — an increase of 4.1 percent over 2004, and more than 40 percent above 2001 spending.

Whether that’s enough is important in South Carolina, home to 460,000 veterans.

Bush’s Department of Veterans Affairs says the proposal is enough money to “provide timely, high-quality health care to nearly 5.2 million patients,” 21 percent more than in 2001.

Many Republicans say the president’s proposed increase is reasonable. But many Democrats and veterans advocates say another $2.6 billion is needed to meet veterans’ health-care needs.

Edward S. Banas Sr., commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, agrees. He says Bush’s treatment of veterans in his budget plan is “deplorable.”