U.S. Rep. John Kline took legislative action to pre-empt a presidential proposal to force private insurance companies to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for care provided to service-connected and disabled veterans.

“This proposal is inconsistent with the VA’s mandate to care for injured and disabled veterans,” said Kline in a letter to President Obama signed March 18.

Kline, who is also a co-sponsor of legislation expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the VA should take full responsibility for financing the health care benefits earned by veterans with service-connected disabilities, welcomed the announcement that the administration dropped plans to shift the burden of providing health care to veterans to private health care insurers.

“I am relieved to learn President Obama has reversed course on this misguided proposal that would permit the Department of Veterans Affairs to ignore its core responsibility of providing health care services to our men and women who have a service related disability. Turning your back on veterans is wrong, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the administration to keep our promises to the men and women who have fought for — and continue to defend — our nation,” he said.

Kline, a Republican, represents the 2nd Congressional District, which includes Shakopee.