Veterans groups denounce Bachmann plan

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A veterans' group denounced a plan by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann to freeze healthcare spending and cut disability payments for veterans, calling it heartless.

Bachmann, a Minnesota Republican, posted the proposal on her Web site, calling for a total of $400 billion in spending cuts, Army Times reported. She said the cuts would prevent increasing the debt ceiling, now at $14.3 trillion.

Freezing healthcare spending and cutting disability payments for veterans who are also collecting Social Security Disability would save $4.5 billion, Bachmann said.

Veterans organizations denounced the plan, with Disabled American Veterans calling it "nothing short of heartless."

Paul Sullivan, head of Veterans for Common Sense, publicized the plan after discovering it on the Internet. He said an average of more 10,000 veterans a month are turning to VA hospitals and clinics for help.

"In the middle of this dramatically increasing need at VA to care for our veterans, comes Rep. Michele Bachmann," he said.