Obama Asks Vets to Defend Affordable Care Act

Everything's the sequestration's fault

President Barack Obama urged military veterans to defend his signature health-care law and press Republican lawmakers to end budget cuts that threaten future spending on benefits.

In remarks to the Disabled American Veterans National Convention in Orlando, Florida, Democrat Obama said critics of the health insurance expansion that he championed are spreading "misinformation." Veterans benefits won't be affected by the Affordable Care Act, he said.

"Don't let them fool you: no one's taking away your benefits," Obama said. "If you already have health insurance or health care from the VA, you do not have to do a thing."

He added the caveat that veterans' care could be threatened later by across-the-board budget cuts. While military benefits are exempt from federal cuts that began in March, funding hurdles could mount next year if Congress doesn't eliminate the automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration.