Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) Attacks Veterans Job Act of 2012

First it was Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) then it was Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and now it's:

Republicans vs. Veterans’ Jobs
September 16, 2012 - If you made a list of things lawmakers of both parties profess to value at all times — like “jobs,” “opportunity,” “veterans,” “law enforcement,” “firefighters,” “safe streets,” “small business” — and plugged them into a Congressional bill-writing app, you would probably end up with something like the Veterans Job Corps Act of 2012.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, would hire veterans as firefighters and police officers and for conservation jobs in national parks and on other public lands, through grants to federal departments and agencies and contracts with state and local governments and private organizations. It would give a lift to veteran entrepreneurs and contractors in various ways, like making it easier for veterans to use their military training to qualify for civilian professional licenses.

snip

It makes sense for the 99 percent of Americans to find new ways to pay their debt to the 1 percent who serve in uniform.

To most people, Senator Murray’s bill would seem like one decent way to do that. But not if you’re one of those Republicans in Washington who thinks it’s more important in an election year to deny Democrats a success or accomplishment of any kind.

This has led to some wacky maneuvers in the Senate. Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, perhaps forgetting where he worked, denounced the legislation as a “political exercise.” He also called it a waste of time, since the House wasn’t going to pass it anyway, and objected to the cost (estimated at $1 billion for the next five years, though Ms. Murray’s aides say the program will be paid for by recovering more money from tax-delinquent Medicare providers and forcing big tax deadbeats to pay up before receiving passports).

“Where is our honor? Where is our valor? Where is our sacrifice?” thundered Mr. Coburn, suggesting that giving jobs to veterans was an affront to American values. Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, went further, saying he would block the bill until Pakistan freed Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the United States find Osama bin Laden. read more>>>

Only thing I want to add, I'm getting even more pissed then what I was after the midterms with this election coming and wondering just what the Democrats will do this time, turn back to the bush years and tepub congresses completely!!!!


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You've missed the mark on your Sept 16 negative post regarding Tom Coburn. Maybe you haven't seen his full presentation:
http://uneditedpolitics.com/2012/09/20/oklahoma-senator-tom-coburn-floor-speech-on-vets-job-bill-91912/

I wish Harry Reid would get out of the way and let a real leader lead.