CONCORD - U.S. Rep. Anne Kuster, D-N.H., said a reduction in cost-of-living allowances in veteran's benefits wasn't the "best provision" of last week's House budget deal, but she said the deal avoids a government shutdown or budget sequestration.

The issue came up Monday when Kuster hosted a roundtable to discuss the backlog in claims of disabled veterans.

Daniel Yoder, adjutant of the New Hampshire American Legion, said it doesn't seem right that most federal workers will get cost-of-living raises, but not veterans.

Kuster said the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, provision was one of two she didn't like, the other being the elimination of long-term unemployment benefits. But she said congressmen don't get to vote on legislation the exact way they would like it to look.