U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-FL) announce bipartisan legislation to address problems in the VA healthcare system.
With a veterans' healthcare compromise in place, the race is on to line up the votes before Congress departs for its August recess. A House vote may come
as soon as Wednesday, with House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chair Jeff Miller working to
line up Republican votes—a possible challenge given that $12 billion of the $17 billion bill is not paid for by cuts elsewhere:
Miller said he approved of adding to the deficit in this instance “because the veterans need a quick response.”
He also expressed confidence that he would be able to convince fiscally conservative GOP and Tea Party members to vote for a compromise bill that boosts spending.
“There will be an education process that will have to take place,” Miller added. “Obviously, some of our members will need a little more educating than others.”
Isn't that a charmingly diplomatic way of putting it? And yes, many House Republicans doubtless will take some "educating" before they realize that ongoing health care for people injured in war is one of the costs of war. Or just that it will look really, really bad if they oppose this bill, and voters might just notice. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile,
wants a quick vote:
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) should bring the conference report hammered out by House and Senate lawmakers “to the floor without any further delay,” Pelosi said in a statement, a clear indication that the measure will enjoy broad support from Democrats.
Congress will leave for August recess on Friday.