Senate passes veterans health bill after Republicans cave to pressure

[msongs]

Source: nbc news

"WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday passed legislation expanding lifesaving health care benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

The 86-11 vote came after Republicans agreed to lift their blockade of the popular bill, caving to pressure from more than 60 veterans groups — and comedian Jon Stewart — who had railed against Republicans for days outside the Capitol"

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-passes-veterans-health-bill-republicans-cave-pressure-rcna41215

[Funtatlaguy]

1. I know that Veterans policy is his passion, but maybe Jon Stewart

would agree to be the public face and progressive voice on other issues also?
He comes across great on tv and the public likes him.

[bluestarone]

3. Agree

He would be a big PLUS on other issues too!

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Just ssw the breakings

I know here in PA Bob Casey was ripping Teabagger Toomey - the organizer of the bill blocking stunt - a new one. That was probably the biggest backfire move from the GOP of the year and let's hope we can capitalize on that.

[Ocelot II]

4. Who were the 11 asspimples who voted against it??

[2naSalit]

6. That's what I want to know.

I want to know if that skeeve, Daines, is one of them.

[moonshinegnomie]

9. these 11

Crapo, Lankford, Lee, Lummis, Paul, Risch, Romney, Shelby, Tillis, Toomey, Tuberville

[druidity33]

12. Romney is a surprise. I wonder what his reason was. nt.

[Better Days Ahoy]

46. Agree! What a pack of jackasses

Romney found himself running with. Headscratcher.

[LudwigPastorius]

47. Romney will be 78 by the time his Senate term is up.

Maybe, between that and his vote to impeach Trump, he figures he's done. He can retire, make a few speeches, serve on a few boards, take it easy and rake in the cash in his remaining years.

[calimary]

16. Veterans, this is the list of Republicans who don't give a damn about you.

If they did, they would have passed this one awhile ago. They got shamed into it, this time.

[niyad]

26. rMoney?? Did he give an excuse. . errr, a reason?

[Rebl2]

33. Kind of surprised

About Romney voting against it. Also shocked hawley voted for it.

[IronLionZion]

54. Those asswipes need to lose votes from veterans and military families

[TexasBushwhacker]

13. This is the most current I could find

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00230.htm

[Ocelot II]

14. Most of the usual suspects, but Romney?

[AZProgressive]

18. Romney is bad on economic issues

Not surprised to see that he would be against relief for veterans.

[Ocelot II]

21. That's true. He's a plutocrat at heart. And his seat is safe for now and maybe forever.

He's not up for re-election until 2024; the Utah Mormons love him and the electorate has a short memory. He probably won't ever have to explain voting against veterans' health.

[sarcasmo]

48. Romney is vile.

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. I was surprised at that too

Does it mean he won't run in 2024? The other Senator from UT voted nay too.

Of course, instead of risking getting drafted to Vietnam, he went on a 30 month mission to FRANCE!

[herding cats]

49. I don't see him running in 2024.

He'll be 77 years old and he's not even close to the current flavor of the GOP. I expect he'll serve out this term as a senator and move on to greener pastures.

[TexasBushwhacker]

50. A lot could depend on this November

If the GOP loses big in November, it could mean that support for the RWNJs is waining.

[Docreed2003]

5. Excellent news

[iluvtennis]

7. So glad these evil bastards succumbed to the pressure of protests so the vets can get the health

care they need.

[moonshinegnomie]

28. someone needs to put up billboards

reminding people that the GOP voted against providing healthcare for injured vets.
ideally saying the voted for tax breaks for the wealthy buy against healthcare for vets.

[moose65]

29. See, that's the thing....

They didn’t vote against the bill itself. They voted against ending debate on the bill. That way, they can say that they didn’t vote against the bill itself.

I guess they didn’t have to vote for cloture again, since they “dropped their opposition.” What happens if they do that? They don’t have to vote to end debate? No wonder most people are confused about how Congress operates. 🙄

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. Thank you, Jon Stewart,

Link to tweet

[Rhiannon12866]

17. +1000!

[Marthe48]

10. Glad the r's did the right thing

although true to form, they did the wrong thing first. I hope the veterans' backlash is nothing compared to womens' backlash.

[intrepidity]

11. And now they'll crow about it 'til the cows come home

Count on them to spin this as a victory for them, due to them. Just watch.

[ShazzieB]

20. Yes, unfortunately.

I'm really glad the bill passed but decidedly not pleased about people like Cruz and his fellow fist bumpers now being able to knock themselves out patting themselves on the back!

I know getting aid to those vets is what matters most, but that still bothers me.

[imavoter]

15. Bless their cold, dead Republican hearts n/t

[ananda]

19. What about women's healthcare?

Do women even count at all????????????????

[niyad]

27. Don't be silly. It isn't as if women are actually PEOPLE.

[PatSeg]

22. Such good news

That little stunt of the republicans really backfired on them this time. No one was buying what they were selling.

[Victor_c3]

25. Send us to war then not want to be responsible for our care?

What sort of “personal responsibility” is that?

“You break it, you buy it”, that’s what my parents taught me when I was a kid. The same is true for our politicians when they send us to fight in a bullshit war - they owe us healthcare and compensation accordingly.

[MyOwnPeace]

35. DAMNED straight they do!

It really pizzes me off when I see these ads on TV asking America to donate to this group or that group to 'Support our Patriotic Veterans!'

Those ads SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY!!!!!!

We, the American Government, should be the ones 'Supporting our Troops!'

THEY fought for us, no matter how absurd the reason for the conflict - the LEAST we can and should do is SUPPORT OUR TROOPS when they come home!!!

And the 'fist-bump' celebration?

FUCK THEM ALL!!!!!!!

[BOSSHOG]

42. And thanks to those with conservative values

Poor families have to put jelly jars at gas station check outs and members of their communities have fund raisers and there is always the hope that someone will start a go fund me sight so money can be raised for Good ole Joe, 45 years old, married father of three who has been diagnosed with (fill in the blank.). Can’t have universal health care, because those with conservative values won’t profit from it.

[mwb970]

52. Force us to give birth then not help us raise our child?

[Dysfunctional]

56. Congress refuses to give the VA healthcare system the money it needs.

All my specialists are non-VA.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

30. WOMEN need to do a John Stewart on Abortion Rights and Contraception in mass numbers.

Take names and remember who is AGAINST them.

[usonian]

31. VETERANS, WOMEN, GAYS, SCHOOLKIDS, SENIORS -- EVERYONE!

Don't let them cover up, deflect or squirm out of their treachery.

REMIND, REMIND, REMIND.

They only behave when horsewhipped. Hmmm

Can we change their default behavior?

[Joinfortmill]

32. Thank you, Jon Stewart!

[Mr.Bill]

34. It's official.

They are scared shitless of Jon Stewart.

[Upthevibe]

36. msongs............

Thanks for this post with the news.

And a HUGE thank you to Jon Stewart!!!!!!!!!!

[ificandream]

37. Hopefully, this is the beginning of turning the power against the GOP idiots.

[summer_in_TX]

38. Rand Paul was one of the No votes.

THAT'll help him hang onto his seat over Charles Booker.

[dflprincess]

39. And just like they take credit for the infrastructure money spent in their states

they will all pat themselves on the back for "taking care of our veterans".

I really can't stand any of them.

[RussBLib]

41. You know they will

...the bastards

[Probatim]

40. So they were against it before they were for it?

Assbags.

[question everything]

43. Did Cruz fist bumped his lousy face? I hope

[BaronChocula]

44. I hope the DemocratIC Party doesn't wuss out on the messaging

I hope they (we) continue to use the initial gopper obstruction to nail their asses. Lesson: Don't let up just because you have them on the run. Destroy them because their goal is to destroy you (us).

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

45. Good

[SouthernDem4ever]

51. here are the latest republican no votes

Mitt Romney of Utah

Rand Paul of Kentucky

Mike Crapo of Idaho

James Lankford of Oklahoma

Mike Lee of Utah

Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming

James Risch of Idaho

Richard Shelby of Alabama

Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania

Tommy Tuberville of Alabama

Thom Tillis of North Carolina

Apparently, they all voted no the first time too.

[Beartracks]

53. And of course, Republicans will crow about passing this bill and supporting veterans...

... because Republicans are all about being two-faced.

==========

[Liberty Belle]

55. Rep Issa voted no! His San Diego district has a high number of veterans and several military bases.

I wonder how all those mostly conservative military vets will vote if they learn their Rep doesn't care if they live or die of diseases caused by their service?

Note the bill covers more than burn pits, it also gives coverage to Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange.

This who situation is heartbreaking. I had a friend who got cancer likely related to her military service, the VA first misdiagnosed it and then refused to cover it. She was a single mom. She died on the operating table after a last-ditch effort when she was found to have stage-4 colon cancer, leaving behind a 12-year old son.

Republicans only care about sending military members off to war; most of them don't care what happens when they return.

Note: Issa voted against the bill in the House, the only San Diego repreesntative who didn't support it, though the other four are Dems.

[electric_blue68]

57. Oh, Good!!! Thought I saw that but So extra busy past 2 days...

An extra Yay🧡 for John Stewart's high profile continuing efforts!