Did you know: The last spending bill that was passed by both the House and Senate, the week of January 19th 2004, is going to cost the American taxpayer $373 Billion. Out of that $373 Billion most of it goes to fund things that are needed, but heres the bad part. $10 Billion, thats right, $10 Billion of that money is going to fund Pork Projects: some of which are--------

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) $50 Million to build a tropical rain forest.

Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-Nev.) $225,000 to repair a swimming pool in a working class neighborhood, because he has a guilty conscience for putting frogs in it when he was 10 years old.

Rep. Randy Neugenauer (R-Tex.) $200,000 to improve the privately financed Petroleum Museum.

Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) $150,000 for LaSalle, Including an interpretive center and a replica mule barn.

This is just some of the Pork, the list goes on and on. And these so called leaders who added all this Pork did it during a time of War.

Did you know: That the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), may not be able to provide proper health care to those Veterans returning from the war on Terror, because it is already overburdened and underfunded.

Did you know: That Retired Disabled Veterans who are rated 40% or less disabled have to pay a Disability Tax. They have to pay dollar for dollar out of their well deserved pension, whatever they get for disability.

Did you know: That Retired Disabled Veterans who are rated 50% or more disabled, after waiting decades will finally get there full disability and retirement checks. To be phased in over a 10 year period.

Did you know: That it was White House Senior advisers who did not want to end the unfair tax on disabled retirees.

It's a shame that Veterans have been reduced to beggers, when they serve proudly, and take the chance of dying, in order to serve the greatest country on earth. And they are reduced to beggers by the same people who put them in harms way.

Would $10 billion be enough to help make things right for the Veterans who have, and are still willing to put their lives on the line? I think it would help, but you see i'm prejudice because i'm one of those Retired Disabled Veterans who was, and is still willing to die for my country. The United States of America.

John R. Flynn USAF, (Ret)

P.S. Write, call, e-mail your Senator and Representative