So many? You don't know how to count. Face it, th
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Posted On: 07/29/2022 1:22:25 PM
So many? You don't know how to count. Face it, the GOP is on the wrong side of the argument.
Republican lawmakers blocked passage of a bill in the U.S. Senate Wednesday that expands healthcare coverage for military veterans who were exposed to toxins and burn pits during their service. All Democrats and eight Republicans voted for the Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, but the 55 yes votes fell short of the 60 needed to end a filibuster in the Senate. Three Senators did not vote.
Indeed, for a while it seemed like a fairly easy legislative lift, despite some Republican opposition. The bill easily passed the Senate in June — only 14 GOP senators voted against it — and the House followed suit a couple of weeks ago, passing the measure 342 to 88. (All 88 opponents were Republicans.)
The Military Times reported Republicans scuttled the PACT Act because of “a surprise deal on health care and environmental policies announced by Senate Democratic leaders.” In other words, Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin struck a deal on a domestic package, and Republicans were so outraged by Democratic efforts to govern that the Senate GOP threw a tantrum — one that would undermine veterans’ needs.
The second question, meanwhile, is what will happen now. Republican Sen. John Cornyn said overnight that he expects the bill will ultimately pass “in some form or another.” For the sake of veterans and their families, we can certainly hope so.
But for today, it looks like a whole lot of GOP lawmakers turned a cold shoulder — for no good reason — to veterans who deserved better. As the editorial board of The Kansas City Star put it, Republicans “betrayed sick veterans” with a move that “boggles the mind.”
Update: Here's a list of the 25 Senate Republicans who flipped on hte PACT Act for no apparent reason.
Republican lawmakers blocked passage of a bill in the U.S. Senate Wednesday that expands healthcare coverage for military veterans who were exposed to toxins and burn pits during their service. All Democrats and eight Republicans voted for the Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, but the 55 yes votes fell short of the 60 needed to end a filibuster in the Senate. Three Senators did not vote.
Indeed, for a while it seemed like a fairly easy legislative lift, despite some Republican opposition. The bill easily passed the Senate in June — only 14 GOP senators voted against it — and the House followed suit a couple of weeks ago, passing the measure 342 to 88. (All 88 opponents were Republicans.)
The Military Times reported Republicans scuttled the PACT Act because of “a surprise deal on health care and environmental policies announced by Senate Democratic leaders.” In other words, Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin struck a deal on a domestic package, and Republicans were so outraged by Democratic efforts to govern that the Senate GOP threw a tantrum — one that would undermine veterans’ needs.
The second question, meanwhile, is what will happen now. Republican Sen. John Cornyn said overnight that he expects the bill will ultimately pass “in some form or another.” For the sake of veterans and their families, we can certainly hope so.
But for today, it looks like a whole lot of GOP lawmakers turned a cold shoulder — for no good reason — to veterans who deserved better. As the editorial board of The Kansas City Star put it, Republicans “betrayed sick veterans” with a move that “boggles the mind.”
Update: Here's a list of the 25 Senate Republicans who flipped on hte PACT Act for no apparent reason.
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