[Dobbs:] Stocks down for a third straight day. The Dow down almost 19 points. The Nasdaq fell almost 11. The S&P; down a point and a half. A new report on the economy finds new jobs, however, are on the way, but they're not quite the same as those jobs lost in recent years. Christine Romans is here with the story Christine.
[Christine Romans, Cnn Financial News Correspondent:] A report for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It says you can take jobless out of jobless recovery, Lou. There are jobs on the way, coming in the next couple of years in administrative and health care jobs, hotels, bars and restaurants. But those jobs will pay almost 18 percent less than the millions of jobs lost in the past three years. Less than $36,000 on average, $43,000 is the average for the jobs that were lost. The economy will add the most jobs in administrative work, at an average wage of $26,000. Health care will pay a little bit more, but look at those lower weighing restaurant and hotel jobs. And don't expect, the survey says, to see those higher-paying manufacturing careers to come back. Mayors in this country obviously concerned that those manufacturing and information technology positions, positions that you can raise a family on, are being replaced by the McJob, such a phenomenon it's landed in the Merriam Webster dictionary. This is the quote: "A low-paying job that requires little skill and provides little opportunity for advancement." McDonald's says that description is an insult to its many workers, but this study from the U.S. Conference of Mayors says that that is exactly the kind of jobs that will be around for the next couple of years. The high-paying jobs probably aren't coming back.
[Dobbs:] You know, I think in this case, Merriam, the Webster people, they're wrong on this one. McJob is sort of a dumb word for it. What it is is a low-paying job, and in many cases we shouldn't attach that name to it. It's it's more infuriating to think about those jobs being lost that are sufficient at least in pay to raise a family in this country. The squeeze goes on on working Americans.
[Romans:] It does.
[Dobbs:] Christine Romans, thank you.
[Romans:] Sure.
[Dobbs:] The government is facing a growing issue over health care for this nation's veterans. Some veterans are protesting a government plan that would shut down a number of VA hospitals, in an effort, of course, to cut costs and improve care. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr reports.
[Barbara Starr, Cnn Pentagon Correspondent:] Veterans protesting the proposed shut down of their Waco, Texas, hospital. The government claims it is no longer needed. Veterans say it will force them to drive more than 100 miles for care. Health care is always an emotional issue for veterans, especially now, as a decision is expected by year end on a plan to overhaul VA medical care nationwide. Veterans are a shifting population. Many moving from the Northeast and the Midwest to the Sunbelt. The result?
[Anthony Principi, Secretary Of Veterans Affairs:] We're spending close to $400 million every year to heed and maintain facilities that are empty.
[Starr:] The plan is to close seven existing hospitals in areas that no longer have a large veteran population, open new hospitals in areas where veterans are moving, new blind rehabilitation centers and spinal cord injury centers. And to fill the gaps, 48 free-standing clinics across the country will be opened. Veterans groups say unused facilities should be closed, but they are worried.
[Steve Robinson, National Gulf War Resource Center:] As they dose clown these facilities, it's going to create situations where veterans have to travel much greater distances to receive care than they currently do.
[Starr:] Vietnam veterans are especially concerned.
[Rick Weidman, Vietnam Veterans Of America:] They're angry, because it discriminates against rural areas, they're angry because it discriminates against an older, sicker population. They're angry because they see it as a cut, which in fact it is.
[Starr:] Veterans groups say the administration may be ignoring the real problem. As veterans age, and perhaps grow more ill and as more veterans emerge from the war in Iraq, more money will be needed for basic medical care. Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington.
[Dobbs:] Joining me now talk about those issues and other health care issues facing this country's veterans is Anthony Principi. He is secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Mr. Secretary, good to have you with us.
[Principi:] Good evening, Lou. Thank you.
[Dobbs:] I assume that you heard Barbara Starr's report. How do you respond to those concerns?
[Principi:] It's critically important that we modernize our health care system. We were built at a different age. First expansion came after World War I in the 1920s, and then another major expansion after World War II in 1946. And we need to conform our health care system to the 21st century medicine. And as Barbara indicated, the demographics of the veteran population they are moving to different parts of the country so we need to build new hospitals, open up more outpatient clinics so veterans don't have to drive four or five hours. They can access health care close to their home.
[Dobbs:] As you and I have discussed, and I have acknowledged, I think you have one of the toughest jobs in all of the all of Washington, running an immense health care, the largest health care operation in the country dealing with one of our great national treasures, our veterans. You can't, at this point, satisfy all of the demands on service for services from those veterans. But as you and I talked in August, you said that there would be no more waiting lines by the end of this year if you had your way. How are you progressing toward that as we reach we near year's end?
[Principi:] We're getting very close. I'm very, very proud of the progress we've made. You know, it wasn't too long ago that we had about 300,000 veterans on waiting list, waiting more than six months for care. Today we have that number less than 50,000. Hopefully with the appropriation bill that we'll receive this year, we'll dramatically increase our budget. We'll be able to rapidly approach the point in time where veterans will not have to wait more than 30 days for primary care. We still have a ways to go, Lou, but we're making progress. And I'm very proud of that.
[Dobbs:] Issues we hear from this audience, Mr. Secretary, a very sophisticated, a very smart audience, talking about rollbacks on combat pay, the number of veterans who thought they had health care provided under the veterans their veterans' credentials, irrespective of the era. There are people who have written in and said, I thought because I was a combat veteran I would be eligible for health care from the veterans administration and walked in in March and found out I was not covered at all. Is there any way to begin addressing those issues, or is this where we're going to stay?
[Principi:] No, I think we are addressing those issues and very aggressively. You know, we've increased the number of veterans we have treated over the past three years by 1.2 million. And outpatient visits have increased from 38 million to 50 million. So we're making great progress. And, you know, veterans are eligible. The higher income we suspended enrollment for veterans with no military disabilities who had higher incomes. But by and large, the demand for VA health care is growing rapidly and we're attempting to address it.
[Dobbs:] Anthony Principi, secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, we thank you very much for being with us on this very important day for all of us, honoring our nation's veterans. Thank you, sir.
[Principi:] Thank you for having me, Lou. Thank you.
[Dobbs:] Coming up next one of this country's most decorated military heroes joins us to share his views on the value and importance of veterans, and some of the government's promises broken to those men and women. General David Grange will be with us. Please stay with us.