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Senate Republican Blocks a Cost of Living Increase for Disabled Veterans
According to Sen. Patty Murray, an anonymous Senate Republican is blocking a cost of living increase for America’s disabled veterans.
A Republican senator is using an anonymous hold to block the traditionally bipartisan cost of living adjustment that is given to America’s disabled veterans and their survivors.
Sen. Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee said in a statement, “This is stunning. Particularly because we still don’t have any indication why someone would block a cost-of-living adjustment for veterans and their surviving spouses, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet. This adjustment for our disabled veterans is hard earned and well deserved. My hope is that whichever Senator has decided to hold up this bill will at least come forward to own up to it. That way we can move forward to overcome their opposition and get our veterans the support they need.”
The anonymous senator used an informal custom referred to as a hold, which allows any member of the Senate to stop legislation from coming to the floor for a vote by notifying and getting agreement from the party leadership for their intentions.
While it is one senator who requested the hold, Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republican leadership had to be notified of his intention to prevent a bill that would have provided a cost of living adjustment for disabled veterans, surviving spouses and children of members of our military who died while serving their country.
You may have thought that Republicans couldn’t get any lower than voting against creating jobs for vets, but they have hit a new low by anonymously blocking financial support for disabled veterans and the children and spouses of those who gave their lives for their country. The Senate Republican who put the hold on the bill is doing so for purely political reasons.
There is no good reason why disabled vets and surviving children and spouses should be denied a cost of living adjustment. The political reason is that Senate Republicans don’t want to give President Obama a “win” before the November election, so they have decided harm a group of people who have sacrificed for their country.
The Senate Republican leadership agreed with the anonymous request because they only care about defeating Obama. They don’t care about disabled veterans, and the families those who have died for their country left behind. For Senate Republicans, it’s all about politics. How can they hurt Obama? How can make America like Obama less? How can they make Obama look like a bad president? These questions have defined the congressional Republican course of action.
Instead of making Obama look bad, this Senate Republican has demonstrated to voters why the GOP shouldn’t be returned to the majority. To at least one senate Republican disabled vets and survivors’ benefits don’t matter to Senate Republicans. All that matters is defeating Barack Obama.
This Senate Republicans knows what he is doing is wrong. The senator who put the hold on the bill could have had his name entered into the public record by raising his objection on the Senate floor. Instead, this one coward has decided to hide behind a procedural rule while denying millions of veterans and their families a cost of living adjustment.
The Senate Republican who did this, and the leadership that is quietly standing behind him are cowards.
Image: Special Forces Association Chapter-72
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54 Responses to Senate Republican Blocks a Cost of Living Increase for Disabled Veterans
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Andrew Carvin
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
What the Republicans want is the complete destruction/subjugation of the non-rich to give everything to RICH WHITE STRAIGHT MEN. Unemployment will do nothing but increase wherever Republicans have power. I made a video about unemployment, and how we can fix it. It’s at my YouTube channel Zarrakan, and here’s the name:
2012 6 5 ZOC Job Pyramid
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l...
Watch it, share it, and join the fight against those who want to kill all of us with destructive social policies.
doug
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
They ain’t all straight.
Will Staples
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
No, but the ones who are gay (Larry Craig, etc.) are still fighting against gay rights, just like Palin and Bachmann are fighting against women.
larry
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Just a few days ago they blocked a bill that would help our veterans get a job. This has become a norm for the worthless GOP CONGRESS. We must all take note, that the cost of living has been denied not only to our VETS,but to all of us that work for a living.Greed,will be our downfall,if the middle,working poor ignore this!!!
Elle B
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Every time I think Republicans in Washington cannot do anything more despicable than (insert any one of hundreds of examples), they prove me wrong. And I hate to be wrong!
Are active service members, veterans and veteran support groups paying attention????
Tommys_girl
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
I agree with you. This is despicable! I’m tired, tired, tired of these Rep. jerks in DC! I hope they all get voted out in November – they don’t deserve to get re-elected. It’s cutting off their noses to spite their faces!! What vet groups can we get this to?
nonecaresok
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 5:13 pm
VoteVets is a good place to share this if they haven’t posted about it already. Unfortunately, many vets buy into the fox news kool aid and think the republicants are looking out for them.
Kassie
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 7:13 pm
MSNBC reported this morning, the Vets are voting for Romney.
Reynardine
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Maybe just the brain-damaged ones.
sgttroy2000
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 9:14 pm
this one isn’t
WV Veteran
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
This veteran isn’t voting for Romney.
Melanmoney
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 6:43 am
I’m not!
10 year Navy&Marine Vet currently Deployed
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 7:52 am
This vet isnt voting for Mr Rich Romney. Since the “R” went on this “Lets hold up Congress to destroy the Pres” they have destroyed a ton of careers and lives of service members by cutting our pay, forcing people out, and benefits while putting the blame on the Pres, whose in charge of the Budget committe? They are to blame i.e. Paul Ryan, people are so blind and mentally weak which is why so many service members are easily brain washed. Also Im a Reservist so I get the end of the stick on both sides, Civilian and Deployed Service Member
LarrySchuler
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
THIS VETERAN IS VOTING FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA!
I am NOT voting for Romney, and I think saying “Vets are going to vote for Romney” is nothing more than more LIES.
PamT
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
First the vet job bill, not disabled vets. And, the coward won’t even show his face.
Reynardine
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Let us go all the way back to 2003, when, having sent our military men and women into harm’s way to fight an elective war against an innocent country, the Republican-controlled Congress voted to cut their pay. They want to make it clear to all the ewepeople: *”You’re disposable resources. Shut up and quit pretending you have rights!*”
Judy M
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
The following are the Republicans on that committee:
Richard Burr, NC
Roger Wicker, MS
Mike Johanns, NE
Scott Brown, MA
Jerry Moran, KS
John Boozeman, AR.
It seems it is time for their constituents to be notified of what is going on in that committee….
randy everhart
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
i got in touch with burrs office,,,,their reason they voted down the jobs bill[even though it was paid for] was there are different branches of the gov. that would hire them…..now here a tea party follower that wants a smaller gov telling this old vet that crap!!!! these guys have never served,,,they want their pay raises…their health ins. …..and do this cowardly deed!!!
Patrick
Sep. 30th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
You can thank my Republican Senator Burr from NC, for blocking the COLA increase. Now the dilemma is, the last day of signing into law the COLA for 2013 is November 13, 2012. Ironically, this is the same day Congress returns from yet another long vacation. So do you think they will vote on the COLA the same day they come back? Doubtful.
So you can thank Senator Burr by sending an onslaught of emails to his office raving about his diligent actions… RIGHT!!!!!!
Jose Martinez MSQR
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Someone threw a rock. We don’t know who but it came from the Republican side. Playing do nothing politics, now with disabled vets, is what Republicans have been doing since at least 2010. This episode shows their disdain for the 47 percent. Imagine if they win the White House.
j
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
My useless senator Richard Burr is the head of the repub veterans committee, never served a day in his life, always votes against veterans and military, I email him constantly about his votes, my husband is a disabled vietnam veteran, Burr just ignores me now!
j
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
In addition can we now say the GOP has a war on veterans?
mjh
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
OK — let’s hear once again how the GOP “supports the troops” . . .
.
Ray Z
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 1:01 am
That’s the problem, they support the troops until that soldier has done his job and is now a Vet. The GOP wishes soldiers were the disposable type. Ya know, use them, then throw them in the trash! No cleaning, drying, folding, no fuss no muss, just use and toss away when you’re done w/em!!!
I’m a brain damaged vet who has been dealing w/the VA since the 70′s. In all that time of getting healthcare and benefits, almost 40 years, I came to realize it’s always been that way, “REPUBLICANS cut funding and benefits and the Democrats increase services and funding to the VA” and the vets. I cannot understand why so many veterans are voting for the Willard of Oz. Him and his party of munchkins(GOP) are a BANE(pun intended) to veterans everywhere!!
Beaglemom
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 10:17 am
Republicans sure did not support the troops they sent to Iraq to placate their president’s ambition – inadequate armature, inadequate funding in general and pay cuts. Remember the Republicans did nothing to pay for the wars they started during the Bush regime. Remember the scandalous conditions at Walter Reed Hospital that returning wounded soldiers met. Remember the ban on showing the dead returning home. Republicans have nothing but disdain for the military.
Shiva (Moderator)
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Those people think they are entitled to healthcare, food and a roof over their heads. The nerve
Or, why cant they rely on the charity of the 1% republicans?
JMarra
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Nah, the right wing doesn’t really care who’s gay or not. If you have enough money–like Dick Cheney–all the other money will be SO happy for your gay daughter’s happy marriage!
Jim
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
This dumb Bitch ( Sen. Patty Murray)should Hav eto try to live on what we have to ,It is damn hard to make it on the pissy amount we get payed..Jim,,
billybookworm
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Jim, Patty Murray has been the only thing keeping the republican’ts from gutting the VA for years. She is responsible for protecting the VA form devastating cuts over and over. Know your friends my friend.
Elizabeth
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Patty Murray is the best friend you’ve got. She is chair of this committee and apparently just got told there was a hold on the bill. As usual, Patty is raising holy hell and letting everybody know whats going on. When the Bush Administration wanted to CUT the Veterans Administration budget, Patty dragged that budget director over the coals trying to get him to admit he was going to need more money. Veterans’ rights and benefits have been Patty’s big “thing”. I think her Father was a disabled vet, as was mine. It is THE reason I keep voting for her when she comes up for reelection.
Theresa
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Um, Jim, I think you need to read this story again. The person you should be angry with is the anonymous Republican who is holding this up, with the tacit endorsement of his party, and not even enough guts to attach his name. The “dumb bitch” is fighting FOR YOU!
ibwilliamwsi
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 7:17 pm
It coincides with Bishop Romney’s newly released ad blaming President Obama for an increase in Military/Veteran suicides.
This ain’t no coinky-dinky.
1voice1vote
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
Which Republican coward does this to America’s disabled veterans and their families?
Richard Burr, R-NC
Johnny Isakson, R-GA
Roger Wicker,R-MS
Mike Johanns, R-NE
Scott Brown, R-MA
Jerry Moran, R-KS
John Boozman, R-AR
George Chip Leveto
Sep. 29th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
You missed some:
John Boehner
Mitch McConnel
Erick Cantor; some of the same ones who took the Norquist Oath, and vowed to filerbuster Obama’s every bill and proposal.. Do’nt even think we’re going to forget you ass wipes when your next
election comes due the calendars are posted. We’ve taken an oath too! To see the defeat of each and every one who stood in the face of our Constitution and denied any progress to help our economy, your turn will come..Its hard to believe Grown men , supposeasbly Americans , living in this country would be so low as you are, the truth of everything you’ve done will surely come out. What you’ve done is really under estimated the power of the internet, shows exactly what your intelligence is, everything you do and almost every thing you say is out here and your just too stupit to knowe it! Think what goes on behind closed doors isn’t passed on…?
Rixar13
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
“This adjustment for our disabled veterans is hard earned and well deserved. My hope is that whichever Senator has decided to hold up this bill will at least come forward to own up to it.”
“A Republican senator is using an anonymous hold to block” – Noted
Rudy Gonzales
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
An anonymous TEA-Republican is blocking cost of living increases for disabled veterans? This is the caliber of TEA-Republican’s holding veterans hostage our soldiers who volunteered their service. Every soldier bleeds the color – red! Then there is the 40 Republicans who voted to keep America’s veterans unemployed, here are some who voted against returning veterans:Alexander (R-TN) Ayotte (R-NH) – Barrasso (R-WY) – Blunt (R-MO) – Boozman (R-AR) – Burr (R-NC)- Chambliss (R-GA) – Coats (R-IN) – Coburn (R-OK) – Cochran (R-MS) – Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) – Crapo (R-ID) – DeMint (R-SC) – Enzi (R-WY) – Graham (R-SC) – Grassley (R-IA) – Hatch (R-UT) – Hoeven (R-ND) – Hutchison – (R-TX) – Isakson (R-GA) – Johanns (R-NE) – Johnson (R-WI) – Kyl (R-AZ) – Lee (R-UT) – Lugar (R-IN) – McCain (R-AZ) – McConnell (R-KY) – Moran (R-KS) – Paul (R-KY) This listing pretty well tells you who is behind you and the troops!
Beaglemom
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 10:20 am
Pretty stinky of John McCain to vote against jobs for veterans. We the American people have been taking care of him since he came home and ran for Congress. Without the hype of his having been a “hero,” he would never have been elected to any position, let alone the US Congress.
doug
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
“While it is one senator who requested the hold, Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republican leadership had to be notified of his intention…”
And they did NOTHING!!
Jerry
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
All of the Republican senators are guilty of holding up the bill. They just had to pull straws to see which one would pull the trigger.
jdkinpa
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Well if I was a betting man, I’d put my money on Rand Paul, and Jim DeMint would be on my short list too.
labman57
Sep. 27th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
File this under Republicans lacking the courage of their convictions …. among which is the belief that military vets have little intrinsic value to society.
Stephen Talley
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 1:43 am
To me it’s guilt by association. All the Repukes on the committe should be held accountable!
Duane Arledge
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 8:11 am
It would be nice if the name and number of the bill was posted with the story in order to properly validate the bill.
The Platzner Post
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 11:04 am
A new low for the GOP scum!!!
Sharing on The Platzner Post Facebook, and Twitter www.facebook.com/ThePlatz...
Mary
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Pro-life value only zygots. When the child is born do all we can to add more misery to their lives. Support the troops ONLY when it is a political advantage to the repugs. These scum need to all lose their jobs.
AJ Perea
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
KEEPING IT THOUGHTFULLY HONEST: Those Senate republican obstructionists were at it again! The voted to obstruct another record voted to ensure that American War Vets do not get employed! This time it is our returning war veterans that are affected! Last week ALL Senate republicans under the leadership of Mitch McConnell voted to effectively kill a measure to find jobs for unemployed veterans on a procedural vote Wednesday, after several attempts by Democrats to keep the bill on the table failed. “Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., point of order against the bill on Wednesday, citing alleged violations of Senate budget rules. Since 60% did not vote to waive the rules, the legislation was obstructed! But there is more, McConnell allowed Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C,) to PUT A HOLD to stop a Vets bill that give War Vets their earned pay raise as well as keep families of their love ones that died in action from getting their financial benefits along with cost of living increases! THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH: SO WHY IS OUR PRESS NOT INFORMING AMERICANS OF THESE RECENT UNPATRIOTIC SHENANIGANS IN THE SENATE? These actions are the latest in a string of obstacles designed to derail such bills, which would have created the Veterans Jobs Corps by setting aside $1 billion in federal grants to give veterans priority for jobs that might require military skills, such as in law enforcement or fire safety as well as earned cost of living benefits to Vets families. Hey how about that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., filibustered the legislation last week in an unrelated attempt to withdraw aid to Pakistan. The republicans by their actions do not care as long as our American economy stays in the ditch that they got us into four years ago so voters can blame the President! Maybe all Americans including responsible republicans and independent thinking Americans will vote to fire these bums! These shameless and disgraceful non-patriot jerks say they support the troops, yet need to be held accountable their…
Paul R Laubhan
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Veteran here, and I believe I am speaking on behalf of thousands of men and women (Tammy Duckworth for example,a lion of a woman who left both of her legs in the deserts of Iraq) when I say, Mitt Romney, you draft-dodging, cowardly shadow of a man, if you have any current influence over those running your party to order them as the man who believes he is the one to lead our country to right this most egregious violation of everything America supposedly stands for. And while you are at it, make the cowardly bastard using this anonymous ploy stand at the podium of the Senate, and with every one of them in attendance tell this man who has no right to represent anybody just what you feel about the actions he has taken behind the backs of the American people.
marinesgt
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Ladies and gentlemen,
You do realize that we were supposed to die for our country, not come back to be a burden on our country? And that is the attitude that will prevail as long as the rethugs hold power this mindset will continue. I live in Arkansas and have time and time again wrote to the rethuglican senator from my state John Boozeman. I received countless form letters back ” Thank you for your interest and contacting my blah blah blah. Btw, would you be interested in contributing to my re-election campaign? ” Fracking arseholes!!
Anne
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 5:50 pm
I have nothing but contempt for the GOP, because they love to give lip service to veterans but they are just as willing to throw them under the bus as they are any other constituency. This should truly be the last straw for veterans–disabled or otherwise–to see the modern Republican Party for what it is. They are a bunch of greedy, heartless, and soulless creeps who seem bent on alienating as many Americans as possible. I harbor a special contempt for the spineless jellyfish aka Willard Romney, who deliberately dodged military service while protesting in favor of the ill-considered Vietman War. He is doing the sable-rattling that is so typical of cowardly chicken hawks who don’t want to fight wars but don’t mind sending other people’s loved ones off to die. But the horse’s ass who decided to anonymously block this legislation is just as immoral and cowardly as Willard on his worst day.
liver
Sep. 28th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Wow, the GOP are a bunch of heartless, spineless, bureaucratic assholes. This is completely new information.
RailroadMike
Sep. 29th, 2012 at 3:47 am
USMC Major General Smedley D Butler two time winner of the “Congressional Medal of Honor”, in his book “War Is A Rackett” told in his book how our troops are just being used to protect corporate interest abroad. That our wars will only get the rich richer and our national treasuary drained. Oh Yes,he was also the person that discovered the plot to over throw the US Government in 1935. Google the “Business Plot”. Things havent changed much on Wall Street in the last 75 years.
Darren
Sep. 29th, 2012 at 8:19 am
Probably Burr. A man of the lowest caliber. Not that I’m impressed by any of them. And if anyone ever says “under the leadership of Mitch McConnell” I’m going to puke. He’s not a leader, he’s a tyrant, a bully and a coward.
Thank you, veterans, the ones who made it home whole, the ones who at least made it home, and the ones that didn’t. Love y’all.
Carabella1
Sep. 29th, 2012 at 11:12 am
My first guess is Rand Paul.
Ginny Mae
Sep. 30th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
My Older and youger brothers served during
the war. I lost two very good friends
during that war. My youger brother came back so different. He did not get benifits for himself or family.
My older brother served many years in the service he was discharged for medical reasons. He deserves every penny he gets.
Any one who serves their country deserves everything they can get.
To deny these people the benifits they deserve is a crime.