Eager to shoot down President Obama’s legislative agenda just weeks before the election, Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked a measure that would have provided $1 billion over five years to help veterans find work in their communities.
The measure, which would have potentially created jobs for up to 20,000 veterans, was blocked on a procedural point by Republicans, who argued that the bill was unpaid for. Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat and the bill’s main sponsor, said the bill would have covered the costs in part with fees on Medicare providers and suppliers who are delinquent on their tax bills.
The procedural vote was 58 to 40; 60 votes would have been required to waive Republican objections.
The bill was opposed, by, among others, Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, who said he believed the bill duplicated existing job programs for veterans that are not well run, and Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, who has been seeking amendments on bills that would cut off funding to Egypt and to Pakistan until Pakistan freed Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the United States find Osama bin Laden.
“It’s both shocking and shameful that Republicans today chose to kill a bill to put America’s veterans back to work,” Ms. Murray said in a statement.
“At a time when one in four young veterans are unemployed,” she said, “Republicans should have been able, for just this once, to put aside the politics of obstruction and to help these men and women provide for their families.”
She added that the vote was “stark reminder” that Mitch McConnell, Senate minority leader from Kentucky, and Senate Republicans “are willing to do absolutely anything to fulfill the pledge he made nearly two years ago to defeat President Obama. It doesn’t matter who gets in their way or which Americans they have to sacrifice in that pursuit, even if it’s our nation’s veterans.”
Some Republicans, five of whom voted for the bill, also seemed disappointed about the failure of legislation that had the veneer of bipartisan support. “These men and women have worn our uniform, shouldered the burden and faced unthinkable dangers in forward areas during a very dangerous time,” Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said.
The vote was met with a strong rebuke from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “Once again, this Congress let partisan bickering stand in the way of putting thousands of America’s heroes back to work,“ said Paul Rieckhoff, the organization’s founder. “Lowering veteran unemployment is something both parties should be able to agree on – even in an election year.”
Quote: The measure, which would have potentially created jobs for up to 20,000 veterans, was blocked on a procedural point by Republicans, who argued that the bill was unpaid for.
So the Jobs Bill for Veterans "was not paid for", according to Republicans?....
I'm gonna guess that all or most who voted down this Veterans' job bill never served their country...never put their life on the line for their country. Elected Republicans like to pretend they support the troops...but they only use them, then kick them to the curb after their photo-op.
To those Republicans who voted NO on this bill, saying it was not paid for...why do you lie?
...this bill "was paid for" IN BLOOD...blood shed on the battlefield abroad as well as here at home* after the troops have fulfilled their duty...(* read below).
Veteran Suicide: Are We Losing The Battle?
Updated: 01/02/2012
With insufficient attention and systems in place, it may be that we're losing the battle against military suicide, a new study suggests.
Military suicides have increased since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a Center for a New American Security Suicide report. In the fiscal year 2009 alone, 1,868 veterans of these wars have made suicide attempts, according to armytimes.com.
A veteran commits suicide every 80 minutes, a fact the study attributes to the VA.
These staggering figures underscore the need for the VA to develop more mental-health programs and an accurate system for recording the number of veterans and service members who take their lives.
"America is losing its battle against suicide by veterans and service members," authors Dr. Margaret C. Harrell and Nancy Berglass concluded. "And as more troops return from deployment, the risk will only grow."
Faced with the stigma of post-traumatic stress disorder, unemployment rates tipping 12 percent and a loss of the military camaraderie, many veterans report feeling purposeless upon returning home.
Marine Corps veteran Jason Christiansen, 35, of St. Paul, Minn. is one such veteran that nearly killed himself after watching his life unravel upon completing his service. He lost his job as an auto dealer in 2008, avoided debt collectors and fell into a serious depression, Minnesota.publicradio.org reports.
"At one point, I was sitting there with a gun in my mouth," Christiansen told the news outlet.
A friend pushed Christiansen to seek help at a VA program, a key player in the rescuing of veterans in despair.
The Veterans Crisis Line, launched in 2007, has fielded more than 400,000 calls and has saved more than 14,000 lives, according to the Veterans Affairs mental health website.
The epidemic is raging among those who are currently serving too. From 2005 to 2010, approximately one service member committed suicide every 36 hours, the CNAS study revealed.
While the VA mental-health programs have proven to be effective, the authors of the report offered concrete suggestions on how to prevent even more military members and veterans from taking their lives.
Establishing an Army unit cohesion period
When soldiers are deployed to a new mission, the unit quickly disbands, leaving service members reeling from the loss of the leaders and the service members that they had learned to trust and rely on. "This lack of unit stability following a deployment has unfortunate implications for individuals struggling with reintegration," Harrell and Berglass noted. The authors suggested that the Army follow the Marines protocol of keeping a unit together for 90 days following deployment.
Discussing personally-owned weapons with service members
Though 48 percent of military suicides in 2010 occurred at the hands of privately-owned weapons, the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act bars military leaders from broaching the topic with military members, even if they appear to be severely depressed. The authors want Congress to rescind the act, so that military leaders can, at the very least, suggest that service members purchase gunlocks or store their weapons outside of the home if they suspect that they may be at risk for committing suicide.
Improving the analysis of veteran suicide data
The VA estimates that about 18 veterans commit suicide every day, but this statistic is based on limited data. Only 16 states submit the cause of death among veterans and the VA relies on 3-year-old data for its reports. Improved information collection could help determine if veterans are committing suicide soon after leaving the military and if there's a higher risk among post-9/11 veterans compared with earlier generations, the study noted.
"The DOD does not currently take sufficient responsibility for veteran suicide," the authors said. "Given the potential implications of veteran suicide for the all volunteer force, the DOD should seek to understand which veterans, and how many veterans, are dying by suicide."
Do you actually even believe some of the garbage that you type? I ask that in complete seriousness.
"The bill was paid for in BLOOD". RAWR.
Are you freaking serious?
Blood is great for paying for things on the battlefield, but no matter how much I offer, it won't get me a damned thing at Macy's - not even a ride on DC's Metro. When the military starts training our guys to bleed Benjamins, your little diatribe might hold some water.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
Quote: blocked a measure that would have provided $1 billion over five years to help veterans find work in their communities.
The measure, which would have potentially created jobs for up to 20,000 veterans,
Ok, I don't know much about the bill, but which is it? Was the money to help them find work or was it to create the jobs.... Those are two completely different things. If it was to "create jobs" then $1 billion divided by 20,000 jobs is $50K/year... for 1 year.... and that's if you don't take any administrative money out of that $1 billion... Then what?
This is a very emotional thing for a lot of people, understandably so, it's not a lot money by government standards, it's for veterans, it's easy to say, "Go ahead and spend it."
I disagree with Paul that you should vote against this to make a point about funding to Egypt... two completely different issues and should be addressed seperately.
I do agree that there are a lot of programs out there to help military folks transition from the military back to civilian life and yes, like everything else the government does, they are very poorly run. So I'm not sure why we should believe that this program has any greater chance at success.
Now with that said, if this looks like a good program and the Rs blocked it just so Obama couldn't claim a victory, then that is pathetic.... if they have legit objections or an alternate proposal then let's hear them.
On a side note, a lot of Ds and Is often ask the question, why won't the Rs cut military spending, why is it off limits? Well I can tell you that if we cut it significantly a lot of people are going to be forced out, which will make veteran unemployment an even bigger problem. Yes there is money that can be saved on weapons systems, base realignment, etc... but in the end, a lot of people will be out of work if we make big cuts in military spending, some civilian and some service personnel... just a thought.
Quote: Wait, it takes 50k per vet to help them find jobs??
Yes, $3.00 to send the vet the classified ads, and $49,997 to pad the pockets of politicians in the form of incentives, travel, expense reimbursements, raises, etc.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
Quote: Wait, it takes 50k per vet to help them find jobs??
Well, the way it's written it's hard to tell. Either they are going to spend $50K per vet to help them find a job.. or they are going to create a job for 20,000 vets which could pay them up to $50K for one year, then the funding runs out.
The "job creating stimulus bill" was supposed to create jobs. Using the same math .... that $1 billion would create 20,000 jobs, then the $879 billion stimulus should have created 17 million jobs ....... or maybe even more, since they were "shovel ready" and all .........
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Quote: Wait, it takes 50k per vet to help them find jobs??
Well, the way it's written it's hard to tell. Either they are going to spend $50K per vet to help them find a job.. or they are going to create a job for 20,000 vets which could pay them up to $50K for one year, then the funding runs out.
or they are going to create 20K jobs to help veterans find jobs for 5 years (which means they are paying these 20K people $10K/year - part-time work?)
Quote: Wait, it takes 50k per vet to help them find jobs??
Well, the way it's written it's hard to tell. Either they are going to spend $50K per vet to help them find a job.. or they are going to create a job for 20,000 vets which could pay them up to $50K for one year, then the funding runs out.
or they are going to create 20K jobs to help veterans find jobs for 5 years (which means they are paying these 20K people $10K/year - part-time work?)
that is actually how I read it.
By the time you take out administrative costs, it's probably half that. (10% per year in administrative costs is not all that all that out of line for Washington)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Quote: Wait, it takes 50k per vet to help them find jobs??
Well, the way it's written it's hard to tell. Either they are going to spend $50K per vet to help them find a job.. or they are going to create a job for 20,000 vets which could pay them up to $50K for one year, then the funding runs out.
We're struggling with this ourselves as employers. At first we thought it was a subsidy. Meaning, let's say we wanted to pay a vet 15.00 per hour, but in order to get to 50K, the government would pay the rest which would be an extra 14.03 per hour (using 2080 hours per year or 40 hours a week x 52 weeks as the base)
But then it turns out that that's not right, so I have yet to figure out how this thing is supposed to work.
I suppose now that it's dead it doesn't matter.
hey, I'm all for helping a vet.. If you really want to help them and you have 50k set aside per vet to do so, give them the freakin 50k minus income taxes and that should give them a nice kitty to live off of until they find a job using normal channels.
No sense in making it more complicated then it needs to be.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
or they are going to create 20K jobs to help veterans find jobs for 5 years (which means they are paying these 20K people $10K/year - part-time work?)
that is actually how I read it.
So, there isn't even a guarantee of vets getting jobs? It's basically just a $1 billion bureaucracy set up in the name of helping vets find jobs.
Heck, if they want ... they can pay me HALF that, and I'll go look up jobs for Vets. If they don't want to do that, then they just hate Veterans!
Yes, as it was presented, it is very much what the Ds blasted the Rs for during the Bush administration when the Rs basically said "We need unlimited funding for this war and if you don't sign it, then you hate the troops." They were wrong in doing that. The Ds are now wrong for employing the same tactic.
Veterans are in a very bad spot... poor economy, struggling with societal re-acclamation, adjusting to physical wounds, etc... they absolutely positively NEED HELP. I don't see how throwing a $1 billion at it in this way is the answer.
Veterans are in a very bad spot... poor economy, struggling with societal re-acclamation, adjusting to physical wounds, etc... they absolutely positively NEED HELP. I don't see how throwing a $1 billion at it in this way is the answer.
(acclimation, by the way)
It's not the answer, throwing 1 billion dollars at it. But, it makes good political sense to propose a bill you think won't get passed and calling it "help for veterans" - because when it doesn't get passed, you can attack the other party by saying....ummmm "Hey, republicans don't want to help the veterans."
Veterans are in a very bad spot... poor economy, struggling with societal re-acclamation, adjusting to physical wounds, etc... they absolutely positively NEED HELP. I don't see how throwing a $1 billion at it in this way is the answer.
(acclimation, by the way)
It's not the answer, throwing 1 billion dollars at it. But, it makes good political sense to propose a bill you think won't get passed and calling it "help for veterans" - because when it doesn't get passed, you can attack the other party by saying....ummmm "Hey, republicans don't want to help the veterans."
It's shameful and despicable ... also politics as usual in this F'ed up, dysfunctional country of ours.
Quote: ummmm "Hey, republicans don't want to help the veterans."
Pretty much the only ones that want to help vets are vets.
And those who donate to veteran causes and organizations. (even on a substantially lowered, fixed income)
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Mourg, I thought you may be interested in this article from last year.
More than 10,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are homeless or in programs aimed at keeping them off the streets, a number that has doubled three times since 2006, according to figures released by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
By Evan Eile, USA TODAY Military officials celebrate Veteran's Day at the Central Union Mission in D.C. with some of the area's disadvantaged veterans.
The rise comes at a time when the total number of homeless veterans has declined from a peak of about 400,000 in 2004 to 135,000 today. "We're seeing more and more (Iraq and Afghanistan veterans)," says Richard Thomas, a Volunteers of America case manager at a shelter in Los Angeles. "It's just a bad time for them to return now and get out of the military." The VA blames the rise on a poor economy and the nature of the current wars, where a limited number of troops serve multiple deployments. The result is a group of homeless veterans where 70% have a history of combat exposure with its psychological effects, says Pete Dougherty, a senior policy adviser on homelessness at the VA. Among all homeless veterans, perhaps 20% to 33% were in combat, he says. Homeless vets
Number of U.S. veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan wars who are homeless or in programs to prevent homelessness: 2006: 1,297 2007: 2,167 2008: 3,495 2009: 5,881 2010: 9,750 2011: 10,476 (through May) Source: Department of Veterans Affairs LaShonna Perry, a former Army mechanic who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was homeless for more than year after leaving the military. She rented an apartment last year with a federal voucher. "Some soldiers still have issues they're dealing with from what they've seen, what they've experienced," she says. "Some think, 'There's nothing wrong with me.' They can deal with it on their own. Until it gets out of control." As of May, there were 10,476 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans either living on the streets, in temporary housing or receiving federal vouchers to help pay rent for an apartment. About 13% are women, the VA says. The spike in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seeking shelter comes at a time when the government and non-profit groups are pouring more resources than ever into fighting veteran homelessness. The VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are spending $46.2 million to expand the voucher program. The VA is set to announce Tuesday that nearly $60 million will fund a program of grants to veterans with families who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes. "There are places to turn to for help that did not exist before," says John Driscoll, president and chief executive officer of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. He said more than 2,400 non-profit organizations across the country now have homeless veteran programs.
So while we still have way too many homeless veterans (and homeless people in general), the good news is we've gone from 400,000 in 2004 to 135,000 this past year. Our military men and women put their lives on the line every day and we all have a duty to make sure that their country serves them after they've completed serving their country.
Im all for helping vets but how would the new bill which only creates 20.000 jobs and we dont even know if those are vets getting those jobs, how do we help the other 135,000 that are homeless? How many Vets are unemployed beyond those that are homeless? Perhaps we should only let new police be vets? They are trained and it would be a Gov job? I dont know lots of possiblilitys. Then again they may want to get out of the death and danger. (I wouldnt blame them).
They have access to alot of things, and they deserve every one of them. But some of them they dont use or understand the use of them like joining an AL post or a VFW post where they can be with people who understand what they been through.
I would say more but I dont want to be out of line.
If you need 3 years to be a winner you got here 2 years to early. Get it done Browns.
Obama will just enact his Obama youth movement, don't you remember this? The only catch is that the King will have to use his back channel Czars to override the existing legislation. The Czars will get rid of any sort of age requirement.
I know most will have a hard time believing this but there is discrimination against vets in the job market. That is the biggest reason for so many vets having difficult times. I know some will say it is because of the possiblity of recall and others for whatever reason if all things are equal will simply look to the other guy.
I believe companies that hire vets should receive tax credit. I really am not familiar with what this bill is about but this is a real issue. I think there are ways to fix the issue other than throwing a ton of money at it.
I'm also not so concerned about the budget when it comes to taking care of our veterans. We should do whatever we can for them, however, there must be a reasonable expectation that any program we put in place will actually work.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
I've recently begun working directly with homeless and among them are veterans. I think one of the major issues behind Veterans functioning in "normal society" is that PTSD and mental issues associated with going through traumatic experiences were either a) completely ignored b) stigmatized as a sign of weakness and therefore many veterans did not seek help. Even in today's society, PTSD and mental health issues as a whole (regardless whether the individual is a military member or not) are stigmatized and people who genuinely need help are too embarrassed to get some. Specifically for veterans, going from the structured life of the military to essentially having free reign to do whatever is too much to cope for some. I know we have some veterans on here, so they may be able to expand on these things, but I think the issues are very real, are often overlooked, and the lack of support (especially regarding mental health) our veterans historically get in making sure their transition to civilian life has been severely lacking.
I don't really know much about this bill which is why I've refrained from discussing it, I'm just discussing veterans' issue as a whole and separate from this legislation.
VA clinics make every effort to help with PTSD and mental heath issues, including group sessions for PTSD, private sessions with counselors and physiologists. They provide meds either for free or very low copay (I know at one time my drugs cost well over $1,000 a month). The most I pay is $8 for my very expensive drugs. If they decide your disability (PSTD can be considered a disability ) is military related you can receive disability from the military.
Depending what your income is you can even get travel money if you need to go to one of the VA hospitals if you aren't local. If you don't have a car they do have buses to get you where you need to go.These benefits are there for anyone who was in the service.
The thing is you can't force vets to use these services. I have sympathy for those vets that are in need. However if they know about these benefits and choose not to use them I am not going to lose sleep at night.
Quote: Do you actually even believe some of the garbage that you type? I ask that in complete seriousness.
"The bill was paid for in BLOOD". RAWR.
Are you freaking serious?
Blood is great for paying for things on the battlefield, but no matter how much I offer, it won't get me a damned thing at Macy's - not even a ride on DC's Metro. When the military starts training our guys to bleed Benjamins, your little diatribe might hold some water.
prp...damn right I'm freaking serious.
Our soldiers have paid for this bill in blood...
American soldiers killed in Iraq...........4486.. American soldiers killed in Afgn..........2121.. American soldiers wounded in Iraq....32,223.. American soldiers wounded in Afgn...15,322..
That's not enough blood for you?...and the GOP and their RW supporters?
What is amazing, when the GOP (and rw supporters) voted for the WMD War in Iraq, they never asked, who is going to pay the 3 trillion dollar bill...did they?
When the GOP (and rw supporters) voted for the Afghan War in 2001, they didn't ask, who is going to pay for this, did they?
The GOP and their RW supporters didn't care how much they spent on the wars...UNTIL, a Democrat President was elected. Only then did the GOP and their RW supporters find some fiscal religion...hypocrites at their best.
Now the GOP and their RW supporters want kick American soldiers to the curb, choosing not to provide for our soldiers needs, once they return home and attempt to adjust to civilian life.
You may not believe their is much value to the blood our soldiers shed in Iraq and Afghanistan...I DO..what ever it takes to support our troops when depoloyed to a war zone...OR...once they return home. It is our moral duty to provide for those who served to protect us.
Sometimes we need a reminder as to what our troops do for this country...and for "YOU"...
In the video below, pay particular attention to the pictures in the passage that reads...
and they always know where they fall...there will be a helping hand, no matter the cost
As Americans, it is our responsibility to return a helping hand to those who served the United States of America...NO MATTER THE COST !
Now the GOP and their RW supporters want kick American soldiers to the curb, choosing not to provide for our soldiers needs, once they return home and attempt to adjust to civilian life.
Mac, please spare us the hyperbole ... this is an American dilemma, not a Dem and Rep one.
As I stated above ... shame on those who would use our Vets in this political arena.
This issue didn't just appear over night. Why bring it into the political circus now?
It's poor Judgement on the behalf of the Dem's and Obama here. I'm I surprised? Heck no. Would the Rep do the same if the shoe was on the other foot? probably. There all a bunch of scum suckers imo.
The thing that peeves me the most is the Veterans of past Wars have become forgotten (the what have you done 4 us lately attitude) and the country owes them no less than those who are making sacrifices today.
What are you telling us Mac? That the Dems are looking out for the Military? I think everybody that isn't a idiot know how the Dems feel about all things military.
Quote: What are you telling us Mac? That the Dems are looking out for the Military? I think everybody that isn't a idiot know how the Dems feel about all things military.
Call me an idiot. I don't disagree on how the Dems feel about the size and spending of the military but they do care about the men and women in uniform, except when they tried to disenfranchise overseas veterans when their was an issue with their ballots getting in on time.
Quote: Wait, it takes 50k per vet to help them find jobs??
Well, the way it's written it's hard to tell. Either they are going to spend $50K per vet to help them find a job.. or they are going to create a job for 20,000 vets which could pay them up to $50K for one year, then the funding runs out.
or they are going to create 20K jobs to help veterans find jobs for 5 years (which means they are paying these 20K people $10K/year - part-time work?)
that is actually how I read it.
Im sure some of it is for educational purposes. So 50k isnt that much. The current 9/11 GI bill pays the veteran E5 BAQ/VHA, all school tuition, and fees. So thats about 1500 a month plus the schooling. 50k isn't that much. So if this plan is to provide additional benefits and aid to help veterans find jobs... then why not. Unlike Romney's supposed 47% theory, they got up and served their country and did something. Everyone of those Republicans who voted against....should be thankful. Not use it as a tool against the current President. They just dont care who has to pay or suffer, right or wrong. As long as they prevent anything good passing that will have the Obama name on it.
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