Although Gov. Ed Rendell received support from Pennsylvania veterans after a recent radio address opposing President George W. Bush's plan to cut veteran funds, local organizations feel unaffected by the president's proposal.

In his address, Rendell said Bush's plan to cut $350 million in veterans' home funding and to increase prescription drug co-payments was "unconscionable."

Rendell spokesman Abe Amoros said the feedback received since last week's address has been supportive of the governor.

"It's been a positive reaction," Amoros said, "especially from veterans' groups who feel like we cannot afford cuts of any kind."

Stanley Adams, Centre County veterans' affairs director, said the budget cut will surely have an impact on medical services.

"It's been probably 10 years since they've cut and retrenched medical benefits," he said. "This year, the 2004 budget was the first time we've seen an impact."

Adams said that although it is still too early for a substantial veteran reaction, he thinks that the amount of people who will be affected if this new budget passes will be "across the board."

Still, many associated with veterans' programs do not feel Bush's proposal affects the current status of local veterans.

Brian Clark, Penn State's director of veterans' programs, said although he has not studied the proposed budget, most Penn State student veterans would not be affected by any cuts.

"The funding things that they're cutting have to do with healthcare," he said. "But there are different students receiving benefits: veterans, in-service national guardsmen, children of those in service and the disabled."

Cheryl Thompson, James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center public affairs officer, said the proposal has not affected the Altoona hospital.

"I think what's happening is that the money that we're being given is not keeping up with the rates of inflation, cost of prescriptions, etc.," she said. "In reality, the [Veterans Affairs] budget has been higher this year."

But Lt. Col. Dan Miltenberger of the Penn State Army ROTC Battalion said he thinks the issue has been overexposed.

"As all of us will be veterans at some point in time, we're all looking at it, certainly," he said. "But I think [Rendell's] playing partisan with it."

Miltenberger added that although individuals in the battalion do show concern over the issue, it is not as much of a priority to them as the public may believe.

"The kids in Iraq right now aren't thinking about veterans' benefits; they're thinking about staying alive and doing their job," he said. "There's a lot of focus on veterans right now, but this is a civilian concern -- not a veteran concern."

Clark added that the proposed budget cuts would not influence Penn State's veterans' programs because the university has had veterans as students since the 1920s and has continually focused on aiding them in the education process.

"Pretty much, you'll always have veterans," he said. "And the university has always had a place for them."

Amoros said he was pleased to know that certain factions are doing well despite the reduction proposal.

"That's great that they aren't affected," he said. "The governor was speaking candidly. He's urging Congress and members of the Senate to take action."

Thompson said that although not much has changed, the VA Medical Center has still begun to take certain measures as a precaution. "There is a hiring freeze," she said. "We're restricting overtime uses ... and we're referring patients to other medical centers."