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Jul 21, 2008 6:57 am US/Mountain

Vets Demand New Hospital As Planned

Reporting
Howard Nathan
DENVER (CBS4) ― Veterans in Colorado are demanding the Veterans Administration listen to their frustration with plans for a new hospital in the Denver area. The VA has been talking with the University of Colorado Hospital about sharing a facility at the Fitzsimons Medical Campus in Aurora.

A group of veterans and a couple of Democratic Congressmen rallied on the issue Sunday in downtown Denver.

They're opposed to the VA plans to scale back the project and possibly partner with the CU Hospital.

Sen. Ken Salazar and Rep. Ed Perlmutter joined the group in calling for the building of an independent facility.

The veterans said they're voices need to be heard.

"In 2004, Secretary Principi leaned over the table and told Artie Guerrero 'we'll build you a 50 bed SCI unit," Artie Guerrero said at the rally Sunday. "And had it happened with the plans that are in place and the veterans agreed with, it would have cost approximately $350 million."

The VA said the project has reached $1 billion and is now to expensive.

Perlmutter said the VA dragged its feet and that added to the price tag. He added there is room to cut costs.

(© MMVIII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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