While thousands of Iowans are displaying yard signs and bumper stickers saying “We Support our Troops,” Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says we’re really -not- supporting military families, veterans and reservists. Harkin’s calling on the Bush administration to provide improved benefits — from pay to health care to retirement — for those who serve and who have served our country in uniform.President Bush has submitted a supplemental funding request of 87-billion dollars to pay for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, on top of billions more already approved for defense spending. Harkin says even with all of that money going toward the military machine, too little is reaching the troops.Harkin says the nation is falling short in its obligations to the people who protect our freedoms.
