GOP Senator holding back vetern benefits identified.

[SirNitram]

Marine Corps Times

[quote]Thirteen major military and veterans groups have joined forces to try to force one senator — Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma — to release a hold that he has placed on a major veterans benefits bill.

Coburn has been identified by Senate aides as the lawmaker preventing consideration of S 1963, the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act of 2009, by using an informal but legal practice of putting a hold on a bill.

Coburn’s staff did not respond to questions, but Senate aides said the first-term senator has expressed concern about creating new and unfunded benefits and wants the opportunity to amend the measure.

One of Coburn’s suggestions is to divert money from unspent economic and job stimulus programs to cover costs of new benefits for veterans and their families, according to sources who have discussed the issue with Coburn’s staff.

So far, at least, Senate leaders don’t want to let Coburn offer any amendments because of the precedent that would set to delay other legislation. Actual funding for benefits traditionally is handled separately from the bills that authorize the benefits, Senate aides said.

Earlier this fall, Coburn placed holds on S 252, the Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009, and S 728, the Veterans’ Insurance and Benefits Enhancement Act of 2009, which led to the introduction of S 1963, which combines key provisions of the two earlier bills in an effort to get around Coburn’s opposition.

In a letter sent Monday night to the Senate majority leader, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the 13 military and veterans groups ask the Senate to get on with it.

“It is essential that Congress act on this comprehensive measure without further delay,â€

[Rogue 9]

You'd think the rest of the party would string Coburn up in the rotunda considering how rah-rah their constituency tends to be about the military.

[frigidmagi]

This is the same party that voted against the new GI Bill in a block! The same party who marched lock step with a President to strip Reservist and Guardsmen of pay, medical help and benefits while using them intensity in a bloody war! This is the party of McCain! The guy who campaigned on veteran status while stabbing veteran groups in the back for fucking decades!

The only part of the military they're interested in helping these days is the part that makes multi-million dollar weapons and gets them stock options!