Republican senators are starting to freak out after blocking the veterans' health bill
Sarah K. Burris
August 02, 2022

Republican senators are starting to freak out after blocking the veterans' health bill
Wounded veteran soldier sitting in a wheelchair (Shutterstock)


Republican senators have discovered that trying to block veterans from healthcare doesn't play well among American v**ers. With fewer than 100 days until the 2022 midterm e******ns, GOP senators who previously supported legislation to care for veterans with cancer due to burn pits v**ed it down. Now they're having second thoughts, Politico reported.

It was mere weeks ago when 84 Senators, all Democrats and a hefty chunk of Republicans, v**ed to pass the bill. One small tweak in the language was eliminated involving taking over private care, but it didn't change anything meaningful in the bill. But last week, Republicans v**ed it down. They've been trying to justify it by saying that Democrats added in all of these budget spending measures, but those were actually in the bill they supported.

Former "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart raged at Republican officials for the excuse in videos that have gone v***l.

Veterans are protesting by staging a sit-in along the halls of the Senate office buildings, forcing Republicans to walk by them. Activist Paul Rieckhoff of Righteous Media told MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace that at least one of the men sleeping on the floor is hooked up to oxygen.


Former Donald Trump Homeland Security chief of staff, Miles Taylor, said the opposition is actually part of an ongoing effort by lawmakers like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to defund the Veterans Administration and privatize it. He recalled when he was working for the Trump administration that there were many who were trying to bring down the VA, but decided it couldn't happen in Trump's first term because he would need to be reelected.

But other Republicans claim that it was an effort by Republican Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), who tried to claim a "budgetary gimmick." As political strategists say frequently, however, if you're trying to explain yourself, you're losing.



"Regardless of their reasoning, the GOP was quickly forced to play defense against both Democrats and veterans’ advocates who were caught off-guard by Republican delaying tactics after the party greenlit a nearly identical bill in June," wrote Politico.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) has tried to blame Democrats for Republicans v****g against the bill, saying they "screwed up the first time." His problem is he has to explain how Democrats screwed up but still got 84 v**es to pass it.


“I’m doing everything I can do,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who has been trying to get the bill passed since 2021. "I don’t know [if] people really understand what they were v****g on, to be honest with you. There’s no slush fund in this."

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Toomey is trying to rally the GOP around an amendment, which some Republicans like Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) would support, but they're not willing to let the bill die if the amendment isn't approved.

The GOP's lack of support has pitted Republicans against groups like the American Legion and AMVETS, which have volunteers at the Capitol. The Vietnam Veterans of America have been close allies to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans because they too experienced toxic chemical exposure when fighting overseas. It's become a public relations nightmare mere days before the senators are expected to go home to campaign during the August Recess.

Doesn’t that beat all ?
John Thune -republican
Wants to blame the Dems for republicans v****g against the bill.
Just when you think you’ve heard the craziest chit from the right , there’s more.
Was it the Dems fault they for the bill the first time , but v**ed against
the same exact bill the second time.???
If the Dems possess this sort of power we really need to be using it to our advantage.

Oh , and don’t forget how Donald was all about “helping” veterans.

** He recalled when he was working for the Trump administration that there were many who were trying to bring down the VA, but decided it couldn't happen in Trump's first term because he would need to be reelected.***
Not helping, trying to destroy the VA for a plan to privatize it.

***They've been trying to justify it by saying that Democrats added in all of these budget spending measures, but those were actually in the bill they supported.

>>>Somehow they overlooked that. Never trust a democrat bill. It is never for the good that was proposed, but for what they can sneak into it for their own benefit. Reread this part, "these budget spending measures, but those were actually in the bill".

The point is there were all of "these budget spending measures," and we should be glad that the Republicans finally came to their sense and stopped this travesty. They will back a Veterans bill that is only a Veterans bill and not a Veterans bill and democrat pork bill combined.

For all of you ignorant OPP l*****ts, get this. Republicans are for Veterans. democrats use veterans like every other group they can marginalize, every time they can. FACT.

Rewrite that Veterans Bill as a stand alone, guaranteed Veterans Bill with no trade offs, or added pork, and guaranteed in full, and the Republicans will more then support it. They will co sponsor it.

***They've been trying to justify it by saying that Democrats added in all of these budget spending measures, but those were actually in the bill they supported.

>>>Somehow they overlooked that. Never trust a democrat bill. It is never for the good that was proposed, but for what they can sneak into it for their own benefit. Reread this part, "these budget spending measures, but those were actually in the bill".

The point is there were all of "these budget spending measures," and we should be glad that the Republicans finally came to their sense and stopped this travesty. They will back a Veterans bill that is only a Veterans bill and not a Veterans bill and democrat pork bill combined.

For all of you ignorant OPP l*****ts, get this. Republicans are for Veterans. democrats use veterans like every other group they can marginalize, every time they can. FACT.

Rewrite that Veterans Bill as a stand alone, guaranteed Veterans Bill with no trade offs, or added pork, and guaranteed in full, and the Republicans will more then support it. They will co sponsor it.