A couple of weeks ago, I wrote how one Senator, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, was obstructing urgently needed legislation intended to help wounded veterans and their families.
The New York Times wrote:
The omnibus legislation drew unanimous committee approval. But Senator Coburn objected to quick floor passage, demanding that the five-year, $3.7 billion cost be offset with immediate budget cuts. The senator’s argument rings hollow in the face of veterans’ suffering and the world of deficit budgeting brought on by his party’s tax cuts and zealous war investments.
Now he is demanding balanced books for wounded vets? Sheer embarrassment should drive the senator into retreat as he trifles with veterans’ needs and burnishes his petty role as Dr. No.
Speaking on the Senate floor about Coburn’s procedural hold that was blocking passage of S. 1963, the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, said “it would be truly disgraceful” if the bill didn’t clear the Senate by Veterans’ Day. It didn’t.
However, after thousands of Americans let the Senator “have a piece of their mind,” demanding that he release his inexplicable hold on an important veterans spending bill, Senator Coburn caved in a few days ago, released his hold, and the bill passed unanimously!
To those of you who expressed support for passing this vital legislation for our veterans, Thank You!
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.