It’s hard to disagree with the sentiment behind Assemblyman David DiPietro’s push to create a state dental benefits program for veterans.

Veterans have access to health care through the Veterans Administration, so it stands to reason there should be a program for dental or vision benefits. The real question isn’t the program, but who creates the infrastructure and who pays for it.

It’s a little surprising that dental benefits weren’t included in the VA program when it was originally created, but that decision creates the situation DiPietro is now trying to solve. The East Aurora Republican recently introduced legislation that would create a $5 million state program to create a veterans dental program through the state Civil Service Department. The effort to create a state program comes after years of lobbying for a federal program through the Veterans Administration. According to the Institute for Oral Health, 80% of veterans eligible for care through the VA aren’t eligible for dental coverage or care because dental benefits are extended only to veterans who have been a former prisoner of war, are 100% disabled or have a service-related dental injury. Many veterans with oral health issues have other related health issues that include diabetes and heart disease that lead to higher out-of-pocket medical costs for patients.

So we understand where DiPietro is coming from. We’re sure there are hundreds of veterans in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties who would benefit from DiPietro’s proposal. The problem is the where, not the what.

In our view, dental benefits for veterans should be handled at the federal level through the VA, or at least a federal benefit with state partnerships like the Medicaid program. One would think Veterans Day hasn’t faded so far from memory that federal lawmakers couldn’t get behind a program like the one DiPietro is proposing.