Armytimes.com : Veterans Job Corps Act dies in Senate

[killerbee99]

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/0...fc9edd06081fba

The Veterans Job Corps Act died in the Senate Wednesday on a procedural vote when 40 senators balked at the $1 billion price tag for a measure that would have provided employment for veterans in conservation work, in Veterans Affairs Department cemeteries, and helped in police and fire departments.
Supporters needed 60 votes and got only 58 to overcome an objection by Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., that the $1 billion in costs, although paid for through budgetary gimmicks, would have pushed VA over the spending limits set by last year’s Budget Control Act.
The vote brought an early end to a measure that was already likely to fail. While the bill was a top priority of President Obama and many veterans’ organizations, the House of Representatives had no plans to take it up for consideration this year.

As a current soldier, this makes my blood boil, just found out about this bill being killed by 4 Republicans who had parts in writing the bill, decide to note vote for it because it would add $1 billion to the Dept of VA Budget.

Quick note: We spend about $1 billion every week in Afghanistan. I really am beginning to hate Republicans overall as a party.

[Madison Redskin]

The GOP has been fighting to keep VA spending down (but other DoD spending up) for years. This isn't much different than the Republicans trying to block bills intended to help 911 responders. If you wrap yourself in the flag and wear one on your lapel, you're excused from supporting those who shed blood to defend it.

[Renegade7]

"Support the Troops" is starting to feel like "Think about the children" when I hear it come out of politicians' mouths. They get in trouble when they don't say it, but they are constantly not backing up their words with actions...

[Koolblue13]

The cost of our veterans health should be the number one priority when considering going to war. Our Vets shouldn't need private groups or charity to get health care. It's bull**** and pathetic.

We have veterans starving and freezing in our streets. A lot of them because of mental disabilities they suffered directly from the war.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Vets are the neglected orphans of our war machine. Shame on these politicians for sending our sons to war only to abandon them at home.

[Burgold]

I hate to say it, but by and large, elected Republicans do not support the troops. They support the military industry and to a lesser extent the Pentagon, but they have shown time and again that they don't support the troops themselves. I spent five years volunteering with a group that worked with military hospitals and got to see too much first hand during the hotter parts of the war about what our soldiers, marines, sailors, and reserve went without. It was depressing.

This is just another example. More, it really demonstrates again how political games matter more to Republicans than helping people including Vets. They do not want Obama getting any credit for something like this. They'd rather kill it than do good regardless of their stated reasons for fighting the bill.

[skinsmarydu]

Vets are the neglected orphans of our war machine. Shame on these politicians for sending our sons to war only to abandon them at home.

This. Thanks for all you do, killerbee.
Hail!

[twa]

I'd prefer a different solution
http://www.usatoday.com/news/militar...ent/54889194/1

which must mean I hate the troops

[AsburySkinsFan]

I'd prefer a different solution
http://www.usatoday.com/news/militar...ent/54889194/1

which must mean I hate the troops

And yet it not on the merit of the program that it was killed by the GOP...it was the cost.

[SnyderShrugged]

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/0...fc9edd06081fba




Quick note: We spend about $1 billion every week in Afghanistan. I really am beginning to hate Republicans overall as a party.

Maybe it would be best to save that money and spend some of it on the vets rather than a wasted decade long effort of futility and nation building (the policy shared by our President and President Bush and Candidate Romney)

[Koolblue13]

We are at War now and have more military actions going on then any time in history, with a Dem in charge. We are wasting epic tons of money doing it.

Blame the Reps and the Dems and ourselves for voting for people who continue to support endless wars and nation building.

[twa]

And yet it not on the merit of the program that it was killed by the GOP...it was the cost.

Let me guess, it became a priority for the Dems when elections approached?

It is nice to see them finally focused on jobs though...govt jobs of course

[killerbee99]

This. Thanks for all you do, killerbee.
Hail!

Meh, not to bad for me 12 hr days, 6 day work week, I'll live at least I am in Kuwait. I just feel sorry for our guys in Afghanistan, well I am probably on my way to Fort Bragg after I leave Kuwait in Dec. Airborne school and probably on my way there in 2014. Can't wait (being sarcastic on this part). Just pass the job bill as long as it's covered through good funding. Heck , I know you can trim foreign aid to numerous countries that hate us to pay for it, assisting in creating new job opportunities for the approximately over 100,000 veterans who will be looking for jobs when this war ends and we trim down our ranks.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Let me guess, it became a priority for the Dems when elections approached?

It is nice to see them finally focused on jobs though...govt jobs of course

Fail....they were ALREADY government workers!
You fail even when you try to move the goal posts.

[twa]

Fail....they were ALREADY government workers!
You fail even when you try to move the goal posts.

and are entitled to continue as such in a different position?
as Killerbee mentioned there are cuts in troop levels coming.