Mystery Republican Holds Up COLA Vote For Disabled Veterans
In another shifty move by Senate Republicans, one Senator anonymously blocked the annual vote for the Cost of Living Increase for disabled veterans.
This serves as yet another blow to veterans legislation just on the heels of Senate Republicans voting down the Veterans Jobs Corps. Rachel Maddow did a great piece on the issues with the obstructionist techniques these Senators are suddenly employing.
Here is what basically went down according to the Beast:
[quote]
“It cleared every Democrat in the Senate [Veterans Affairs Committee], but there was still a hold on the bill, so obviously it had to be from someone on the Republican side,” said Matt McAlvanah, a spokesman for Senator Murray. “It lasted until we adjourned, nearly 72 hours. We then went into recess, with the Republicans still having a hold on this bill. So we put out a release today saying someone should step forward.”
“Now we hear that Republicans are saying there is no longer a hold. That’s fine, but it does little good now because we’re not coming back until postelection. Now we have to pass this bill by the skin of our teeth just to make sure the VA can process the checks. It’s going to be a close call.”
Because of the delay, the Senate, which is out of session until Nov. 13, will have to vote on the legislation on the very same day it reconvenes in order for its payments to get out on time, according to a statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Should Congress pass the COLA after that date, VA would have to make complex programming changes to the system that could not be accomplished in time to pay the COLA increase on January 1,” according to the VA release. “Consequently, the December COLA increase would have to be paid retroactively.”
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Ironically, with the Veterans Jobs Corps, the Senate Republicans drafted part of that legislation despite not being in the majority. Still, they voted it down.
- Richard Burr, NC
- Roger Wicker, MS
- Mike Johanns, NE
- Scott Brown, MA
- Jerry Moran, KS
- John Boozeman, AR
Generally speaking, I am centrist on most issues. The same applies to veterans issues. I will fight tooth and claw for these and side with anyone who has the strongest platform to support veterans.
Now, I see Republicans filibustering legislation supporting veterans. This same legislation was written in part by the Republicans. It was paid for through offsets. Yet, when it came time for the rubber to meet the road, they vetoed the Jobs Corps bill.
This bill, the Jobs Corps Act, will need to wait until next year. Hopefully, they will sort out the coward Republican who anonymously blocked the vote on the COLA increase for disabled veterans.
Take Action, Support Disabled Veterans
Now, it’s your turn to do something. Send a letter to YOUR elected official telling them what you think. If you think it was good to delay the vote until after the election. Then fine, tell them. If you think it was immoral to delay the vote, then tell them that. This widget below will guarantee that your letter will get to Congress:
Source: The Daily Beast
Stop the madness help the vet.
You can BET that if they had “forgotten” their own pay raise, they would find a way to give themself each ten grand more a year for their “costs” as a rider on COLA Bill! I am equally annoyed that neither Presidential debates nor VP debate even talked about Veterans, when we have been at war longer than any conflict/war in our history. Sure, Afghanistan is brought-up as a political talking point; meanwhile, it seems they are hell-bent to draw yet another “line in the sand” and stir-up crap with Iran. I swear some of these self-serving a@@es see the military already being over in Middle-East as an excuse to get involved in more potential conflicts. Too late already, but we should have again learned from HISTORY–then-USSR war with Afghanistan had ALOT to do with breaking back of USSR to point they high-tailed and LEFT all their equipment there, then literal falling apart of a once powerful country and military force. Would these same politicians be more worried about getting all their war machine hardware back before taking care of the “software”, military warm bodies?
I think we need to be able to hold-up Congressional pay raises by taking their power away to give themselves HUGE raises each year, yet manipulate economic data to decide as they have that Soc Sec COLA may be no more than 1.5%…and even THAT may nothappen as they may make that be part of new budget! What’s to say they are just stalling to do same with Veteran’s COLA?
It is a dishonor to us all who have sacrificed for our country to be used in such a disgraceful manner your conduct is cowardly you have no business representing those of us who truly know and feel the price of serving our great country! Remove yourself from office as of this day we shall find you and you will be removed from office for being a COWARD
I think they should restart the draft and draft only the sons of registered republicans, Oh and let them buy their own weapons and ammo too.
Yeah, but only give them BLANKS and glow in dark uniforms!
Absolutely disgusting. When a republican looks a Veteran in the eye and tells them they are supported and cared for it is a bold faced lie every time. If republicans want war so damn bad they can send their boys and girls to die, but they so rarely do.