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U.S. Senate Republicans block veterans' health bill

Posted: Feb 28, 2014

"With Democrats pressing for passage this week, Senate Republicans, backed by their leader, Mitch McConnell, attempted to attach controversial legislation calling for possible new sanctions on Iran that President Barack Obama opposes."

"The legislation had the backing of most veterans' organizations, but was doomed by deep disagreements between Democrats and Republicans that have made this Congress one of the least productive in decades.

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, had hoped senators would, "rise above the day-to-day rancor and the party politics that we see on this floor almost every single day," and support a law affecting 22 million veterans, including more than 2 million who served in Iraq and Afghanistan."

;

Gee, how come all of a sudden the Republicans - Truthhurts

[ In Reply To ..]
have the majority in the Senate???? Think about it.

It doesn't make sense, now does it, since they're the minority and have been outvoted by the Democrats on every vote taken up to this point?

As an amendment, the Senate would vote on just that Amendment, not the whole bill, so they could have just tabled the Iran sanctions.

There has to be something in the bill that the Democrats didn't like either.

They don't. Sixty votes were needed. Reps added the Iran sactions, not - Dems

[ In Reply To ..]
In the story linked:

"Republicans also raised budget concerns, forcing another key procedural vote that ended up killing the bill. By a vote of 56-41, the Senate failed to waive budget rules that would have allowed the bill to proceed. Sixty votes were needed and 41 of the chamber's 45 Republicans voted against the waiver."

"With Democrats pressing for passage this week, Senate Republicans, backed by their leader, Mitch McConnell, attempted to attach controversial legislation calling for possible new sanctions on Iran that President Barack Obama opposes."

and this:

"And early this week, with the initial 99-0 procedural vote on Sanders' bill, the Senate appeared to be delivering a strong show of support for veterans, only to see the legislation die in the Senate with Thursday's vote."

Why were 60 votes needed? Didn't Reid change it to 51? - Truthhurts

[ In Reply To ..]
I've been looking at the Senate Rules but have not seen anything where the Committee held hearings on changing any majority voting rules but Reid changed the procedural vote majority from 60 to 51 some weeks ago.

From the debate that took place prior to voting:
"One such provision which can help us build that kind of bipartisan support is the Iran sanctions provision in the legislation. It is sponsored by Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and also Republican Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois, and it is cosponsored by 57 other Senators, including myself. So we are talking about a piece of legislation within the Burr bill which has 59 Senators cosponsoring the legislation."

Note that the sanctions were SPONSORED BY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR Menendez AND Republican Senator Kirk with 59 Senators COSPONSORING the legislation.

So, how could this be all the Republican's fault?

Doesn't he change the rules every other day depending (sm) - Abby

[ In Reply To ..]
what he wants to get out of it? That's what I thought, but I could be wrong. Maybe someone can explain.

I guess not. They don't understand it either. - Abby

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Those darn pins. They just keep dropping, don't they? - The Sounds of Silence.

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

some of us don't care to cast pearls before ... well, you know - nm

[ In Reply To ..]

Right? and a whole 4 minute passed before pins started dropping - unbelievable

[ In Reply To ..]
but not surprising.

Yet no one responds to why Harry keeps changing - the rules. Interesting. (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
No, actually it's getting kind of boring. No answers.

I thought it was a rhetorical question. I still think - it is

[ In Reply To ..]
because the answer is quite obvious, common sense, and easily searchable if necessary.

I still wonder why cons condone (or don't address) the slap in the face the Republican Senators have delivered to our vets.

answer posted below - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
sorry to burst your talking-point bubble.

This is what I don't get - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Why are the Democrats "lo-info" when Reps don't even know the simplest policy/law.

Pins dropping on this one for over 24 hours. Thanks for pointing out the obvious and educating - the waylowinfosNM

[ In Reply To ..]
x

One dislike but no comment. Pins dropping all weekend long - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

It doesn't bother you that 41 of the 45 Reps voted against a veterans' health - bill?

[ In Reply To ..]
It really doesn't matter how many votes were needed. The reps put in the Iran sanctions to hold it up purposely. And then 41 voted against a health bill for veterans.

They continue to obstruct while Americans suffer, this time it's the vets. Read the article again. Read the bill. See what a difference it might have made in their lives.

when amendments are added to a bill, you need 60 - link (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
"Those opposed to a bill coming up for a vote can prevent the vote simply by proposing and debating countless amendments to the bill. This strategy allows them the benefit of a filibuster without the risks associated with being seen as an obstructionist or with the physical and emotional strain of having to read continuously for days on end. The only way to stop the endless proposal and debate of amendments to a particular bill and bring it to an immediate vote is with a successful vote of cloture. For such a vote to be successful, it must be supported by three fifths of the seated Senators which currently would be 60."

Your post takes thought and research - something - Libs/Dems sorely lack, which

[ In Reply To ..]
is why they could not figure out that WITH A SENATE MAJORITY OF DEMS, it was the DEMS blocking this vote. No only are they low infos, Dems cannot do mather either, which is why the deficit looks like it does and they can't put together a sensible budget.

answer posted above - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas and Dean Heller of Nevada were the only Republicans voting to keep the legislation alive and the only lawmakers crossing party lines on the vote.

Every time the President wants something, - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
the Republicans are on auto-pilot to want just the opposite.

If he has to use executive orders to get something done, I can certainly understand why.

Bush used to chew up and spit out executive orders or "signing statements" on a routine basis.

This is such a raw deal for our veterans, who, in my opinion, should be held in high esteem more than anyone, since they put their lives on the line in order for us to get cheap oil from Iraq, that the war in Iraq would pay for itself in the oil we'll be getting.

Hmmmmmmmm...I wonder whatever happened to all that oil........

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