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| Senate Minority Leader Mitch "The Turtle" McConnell (R-KY) |
If
you've read this news blog for any stretch of time, you know that I'm neither a
knee-jerk liberal nor a reactionary conservative. While I lean left on most
social issues, I'm demonstrably more conservative than many of my lefty pals.
On the other hand, I'm certainly more liberal than my right-wing buddies. And I feel compelled to say that what is
happening in Congress right now with regard to an historic bill for America's
veterans is despicable. And yes, I'm looking at you, Senate
Republicans.
As many of you know, there is a comprehensive, bipartisan veterans bill now before the Senate. The bill, S. 1982, would if passed expand healthcare, education opportunities, employment and other benefits for our former warriors. It would specifically allow more veterans to receive treatment at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, improve care and services for veterans who were victims of military sexual assault, advance the use of alternative medical therapies and treatments, guarantee that veterans going to school on the GI Bill pay in-state tuition, and expand dental care.
But GOP senators, who are typically sane and less inclined to do something this crazy than their reliably do-nothing counterparts in the House, are demanding a vote on an amendment that would reduce the costs of the $21 billion legislation and add language to the bill imposing new sanctions on Iran if the current political efforts to curb that country's nuclear program don't succeed.
In other words, these lawmakers, led by Senate Minority Leader and world-class obstructionist Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), are holding this bill and America's veterans hostage over an entirely separate issue. And if these children don't get their way, the bill will likely die. This is beyond shameful. And I think it's gonna backfire. It's never a good idea for legislators to use veterans as pawns in a political chess game. Cynical, exploitative political tactics involving our war heroes just don't sit well with Americans of any and all political stripes.
Even
the usually staid American Legion, the nation's largest veterans organization
with some 2.4 million members, is getting uncharacteristically feisty about
this untenable move by the GOP. Commander Daniel M.
Dellinger of the Legion rightly said this week that Iran sanctions language
should simply not be part of this legislation.
“Iran is a serious issue that Congress needs to address, but it cannot be tied to this bill, which is extremely important as our nation prepares to welcome millions of U.S. military servicemen and women home from war,” Dellinger said. “We can deal with Iran – or any other issue unrelated specifically to veterans – with separate legislation.”
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff also weighed in, saying today, "This bill is a game changer that will change the trajectory for millions of veterans for decades to come. In 2013, veterans were not immune from gridlock in Washington. This year has to be different. We urge the Senate to pass this legislation.”
As many of you know, there is a comprehensive, bipartisan veterans bill now before the Senate. The bill, S. 1982, would if passed expand healthcare, education opportunities, employment and other benefits for our former warriors. It would specifically allow more veterans to receive treatment at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, improve care and services for veterans who were victims of military sexual assault, advance the use of alternative medical therapies and treatments, guarantee that veterans going to school on the GI Bill pay in-state tuition, and expand dental care.
But GOP senators, who are typically sane and less inclined to do something this crazy than their reliably do-nothing counterparts in the House, are demanding a vote on an amendment that would reduce the costs of the $21 billion legislation and add language to the bill imposing new sanctions on Iran if the current political efforts to curb that country's nuclear program don't succeed.
In other words, these lawmakers, led by Senate Minority Leader and world-class obstructionist Mitch McConnell (R-Ky), are holding this bill and America's veterans hostage over an entirely separate issue. And if these children don't get their way, the bill will likely die. This is beyond shameful. And I think it's gonna backfire. It's never a good idea for legislators to use veterans as pawns in a political chess game. Cynical, exploitative political tactics involving our war heroes just don't sit well with Americans of any and all political stripes.
“Iran is a serious issue that Congress needs to address, but it cannot be tied to this bill, which is extremely important as our nation prepares to welcome millions of U.S. military servicemen and women home from war,” Dellinger said. “We can deal with Iran – or any other issue unrelated specifically to veterans – with separate legislation.”
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff also weighed in, saying today, "This bill is a game changer that will change the trajectory for millions of veterans for decades to come. In 2013, veterans were not immune from gridlock in Washington. This year has to be different. We urge the Senate to pass this legislation.”
If Senate Majority Leader Harry (D-NV) denies Republicans a vote on these amendments, GOP senators reportedly will resort to procedural moves to block the measure from reaching final passage. The thing is, they don't really even like this bill. Several have already said it's too expensive and goes too far and opens up VA facilities to too many veterans, even those who are not there for service-related injuries. God forbid we take care of a war vet who has the flu!
In a characteristically impassioned Senate floor speech, Senate Veterans
Affairs Committee (SVAC) Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt), who introduced the legislation, welcomed the strong statements
this week from the leading veterans groups and urged Senate Republicans to come to their senses.
“Please do not inject the Iran sanctions issue into a debate on how we can improve the lives of veterans and their families," said Sanders, who in an interview on CNN said the Iran amendment is an attempt “to torpedo this very important piece of legislation.”
That's exactly what it is. But McConnell doesn't want to hear it. He told AP today that attaching the Iran sanctions to the veterans bill is a good idea because it would enhance the prospects for sanctions. He said there is "no excuse for muzzling the Congress on an issue of this importance to our own national security" and the security of other countries.
I hope every veteran and, well, every person living in Kentucky takes heed of what McConnell is doing this week and remembers it come November. National security is of course a hugely important issue, and the debate over what to do about Iran’s nuclear program is obviously a worthy one. But I'm sorry, Mitch, you are not allowed to have this debate at the expense of veterans. If there is any justice you will be voted out of office this year.
I ask that you please call your senators this week, folks, be they Republican, Democrat or Independent, and tell them in no uncertain terms that what these Republican senators are doing with this bill is just flat-out wrong. And tell 'em I sent you. Then you're sure to tick them off.
“Please do not inject the Iran sanctions issue into a debate on how we can improve the lives of veterans and their families," said Sanders, who in an interview on CNN said the Iran amendment is an attempt “to torpedo this very important piece of legislation.”
That's exactly what it is. But McConnell doesn't want to hear it. He told AP today that attaching the Iran sanctions to the veterans bill is a good idea because it would enhance the prospects for sanctions. He said there is "no excuse for muzzling the Congress on an issue of this importance to our own national security" and the security of other countries.
I hope every veteran and, well, every person living in Kentucky takes heed of what McConnell is doing this week and remembers it come November. National security is of course a hugely important issue, and the debate over what to do about Iran’s nuclear program is obviously a worthy one. But I'm sorry, Mitch, you are not allowed to have this debate at the expense of veterans. If there is any justice you will be voted out of office this year.
I ask that you please call your senators this week, folks, be they Republican, Democrat or Independent, and tell them in no uncertain terms that what these Republican senators are doing with this bill is just flat-out wrong. And tell 'em I sent you. Then you're sure to tick them off.
What is happening in this country is unprecedented. The Republication party has become the new fascists. And like Germany in the thirties and forties, Hitler could not have risen to power if those who didn't agree with his philosophy stopped him, before it became catastrophic. Decent Republicans, where are you?! Sixty years ago, it was a standard joke to say, someone who said and did things that went against the American way was against mom and apple pie. Now, the new Republicans are not only against Mom and apple pie, but the men and women who fight our wars for us. Republican extremists like Mitch McConnell, senator from Kentucky, got his piece of the apple pie already, by wrangling three billion from the last budget for a damn project in his state, that had been in construction way too long and way over budget and wasting millions of dollars. Yet, he fights giving health care benefits, education and employment programs to take care of our returning vets. He is a pathetic and sickening excuse for a human being, but he couldn't win if other senators, both Democrats and Republicans, didn't follow his lead by voting against Bill S.1982. Shame on them all.
ReplyDeleteThe entire GOP should be brought up on treason charges for intentionally trying to destroy this country,
ReplyDeletei agree with you 110%
DeleteWhat a brain dead idiot you are. You and your fellow left morons HATE THIS COUNTRY, HATE OUR VETERANS and OUR DESTROYING THE CONSTITUTION.
Delete@Anonymous: Why do you think are we trying to destroy the constitution? Simply because you disagree with us? I actually think you need to be committed to a mental institution and be put in a padded room!
DeleteWhen I hear and see things like this from McConnell and similar types of bills from other Republicans and Republican-Democrats, I wonder if the representatives really care about who they are harming. In this instance, they are harming our Veterans who have risked their lives for us, as well as the very idiots who are putting a knife in their backs. How despicable.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't those that want sanctions against Iran introduce their own bill for them. Now they want to go into the Ukraine to stop Russia. I say, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. We interfere in other nations politics only if it suits what the "rich" want, not for humanitarian reasons. I think Bush and Cheney should be brought up on war crimes charges because they invaded just because they were wanting to "kick somebodies ass".
ReplyDeletePerhaps if the author of this piece would give a little history on how Emperor Harry has run the Senate, maybe then she can provide some context to why there is so much contention in that place. Republicans are almost always forbidden from introducing amendments to ANY piece of legislation which means they have to resort to other tactics to be heard. Does she think this is right? How many pieces of legislation that have passed the House are collecting dust in Emperor Harry's office? Emperor Harry changed 200+ years of Senate rules because he doesn't care. It's his way or the highway.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, this bill is a colossal waste of billions of dollars. It won't help the veterans and it will further throw billions into the mess called the VA. That place needs to be fixed. Period!
If Senate Majority Leader Harry (D-NV) denies Republicans a vote on these amendments, GOP senators reportedly will resort to procedural moves to block the measure from reaching final passage<<<
ReplyDeleteSo why is the tone of your article blaming the GOP instead of blaming Harry??? Why won't he allow a vote? We all know why, perhaps you don't. He doesn't want to put any of his members on record. Same game he has been playing since he took charge of that place. So why don't they allow votes on ALL the amendments and guess what, there would be no filibusters and cloture votes.
So Ms. Reno, a little common sense helps. Instead of calling the GOP senators, call the emperor. If the bill fails, he holds 100% of the responsibility.
It's Mr. Reno, and are you really that clueless? You have failed Government 101. Republicans demanded that this unrelated amendment be added to the veterans bill or they would not support the bill. Pretty simple. They were using our veterans as political pawns to make a political point that had nothing to do with this bill. It was cynical and disrespected our war heroes. This bill would have added more than 20 facilities and many more doctors to VA, and would have helped veterans in countless other ways, as well. The American Legion and so many others supported the bill and condemned the Republicans' attempts to kill it by adding an amendment that had absolutely nothing to do with veterans.
DeleteSenate is controlled by Democrats. Put the bill, as-is to a vote. If the Dems are on the "right" side of this, and the Repubs are on the "wrong" side. The bill will pass without the ammendment. See, Harry and his ilk are not wanting this bill. Cause if they wanted it, they could have it.
Deleteyou truly do not know what you are talking about.
Delete