Veterans Jobs Bill Faces Vote
The fight over the budget is wreaking havoc with a veterans jobs bill. The program was initially proposed by President Obama in his State of the Union address and has become a political football. The Republicans in the Senate argue that there are ways of achieving the same goals without raising the deficit.
Here’s what I think. It’s time for politicians to start being like politicians. Rather than schmoozing with voters only at election time, why not schmooze with each other to sort out some solutions.
The Veterans Jobs Corps sounds like a great thing phonetically. I mean, who would not support more jobs for veterans? More jobs for vets is a great thing. In fact, I would be even greater to have more jobs for everyone. Not just veterans, but all Americans. I think at the end of the day most veterans want a healthy economy.
It stands to reason that since a healthy economy is what we all then programs that create real jobs through nurturing a healthy employment sector is the best idea.
Personally, while this one sounds good, it also sounds like we have a ton of resources going to veteran services now that are being mismanaged. My fear is that any further funding to programs like this will be mismanaged. Additionally, federal hiring has gotten out of hand, as well.
Instead of funneling more funds on projects like this to government sector, lets tweak the Veterans Jobs Corps Act of 2012 to provide enhanced tax incentives for veteran owned small businesses, since these are the same companies who employ relatively more veterans than anyone else.
Who’s side are you on in this one?
From the Washington Post:
A bill to put veterans to work preserving and restoring national parks and other federal, state and local lands has become mired in a political fight, facing a procedural vote in the Senate at noon Wednesday that could leave the legislation’s future in doubt.
Democratic sponsors charge that the Veterans Job Corps bill is being held up by Republicans who refuse to allow any legislative victories to the Obama administration, while Republicans counter that a GOP version of the legislation will lower veterans unemployment without raising the deficit.
The Democratic bill is based on a proposal for a $1 billion program outlined by Obama during the State of the Union Address, but has been amended to include a number of Republican sponsored provisions, including measures that would improve veterans’ access to internet tools to find jobs, and make it easier for troops leaving military service to get transition training for civilian life.
