Senate Dems Block Zika, National Defense Funding Again

Pat Powers

thuneheadernew John_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_Congress

Senate Dems Block Zika, National Defense Funding Again
“This well-established pattern of choosing politics over the health and safety of the American people is both cynical and dangerous.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats today blocked funding for veterans benefits, combating the Zika virus, and the Department of Defense for the third time this year.

“Despite the fact the Zika virus currently poses a significant public health threat to an increasing number of Americans, especially would-be mothers, Senate Democrats have chosen to filibuster this important funding for the third time. They would rather see funds go to a far-left special interest group than to fighting the virus, and are even willing to risk benefits for our nation’s veterans by blocking the bill,” said Thune.

Senate Democrats today also blocked a must-pass bill that allocates funds for the Department of Defense necessary for the fight against ISIS.

Thune said: “Senate Democrats today also blocked critical funding for our troops, even as our nation faces increased threats to the homeland and our men and women in uniform continue to head to the Middle East. This well-established pattern of choosing politics over the health and safety of the American people is both cynical and dangerous.”

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10 thoughts on “Senate Dems Block Zika, National Defense Funding Again”

  1. This photo, op has voted against veterans in the past on mandatory funding for health care.He is not a saint,Photo op though I would say.

  2. John put a bill in for mandatory funding for health care for all veterans ,watch your party. Vote against it you will have de mocha tic support.As the republican house and senate won’t fund it.

  4. These were all voted against by Repugs. How many did Thune vote against?–

    H.R. 466 — Wounded Veteran Job Security Act

    This bill would actually provide job security for veterans who are receiving medical treatment for injuries suffered while fighting in defense of their country. It would prohibit employers from terminating employees who miss work while receiving treatment for a service-related disability.
    2. H.R. 1168 — Veterans Retraining Act

    This bill would provide for assistance to help veterans who are currently unemployed with their expenses while retraining for the current job market.
    3. H.R. 1171 — Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization

    This bill would reauthorize programs in support of homeless veterans, to assist them with job training, counseling, and placement services through the Department of Veterans Affairs through 2014.
    4. H.R. 1172 — Requiring List on VA Website of Organizations Providing Scholarships for Veterans

    Does nothing more than direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to include information about scholarships for veterans.
    5. H.R. 1293 — Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009

    Here’s another bill in support of those who have fought for their country, passed by House Democrats and blocked from becoming law by Republicans.

    This would increase the amount paid by the VA to disabled veterans for necessary home structural improvements from $4,100 to $6,800 for those who are more than 50% disabled, and from $1,200 to $2,000 who are less than 50%, disabled. This means, if a veteran lost the use of his legs in service of his country, the country will pay for the wheelchair ramp so that he can live at home.

    By the way, the last time this ceiling was lifted was in 1992. There isn’t even a fiscal reason for being against this bill, as the total cost of this bill, according to CBO estimates, would be a whopping $20 million. That’s about a quarter (25 cents) per family of four.
    6. H.R. 1803 — Veterans Business Center Act

    This bill would set up a Veterans Business Center program within the Small Business Administration, which would specialize in such programs as grants for service-disabled veterans, help them develop business plans and secure business opportunities. In other words, folks, it would create jobs and offer opportunities those who have fought in defense of our country.
    7. H.R. 2352 — Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act

    This bill essentially combines a number of other bills that Republicans had blocked in the Senate previously, and adds a few elements. The bill would again establish a Veterans Business Center Program; …. it would establish a Military Entrepreneurs Program

    However, absent from the list is HR 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act of 2014. On its face, the bill sounds ambitious enough. The sad reality is this bill is sponsored by the Koch Brothers, which should tell you enough. The gist of the bill is to “Amend(s) the Internal Revenue Code to permit an employer, for purposes of determining whether such employer is an applicable large employer and thus required to provide health care coverage to its employees under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), to exclude employees who have coverage under a health care program administered by the Department of Defense (DOD), including TRICARE, or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).”

  5. Moses/What’sup and Jaa Dee:

    Tell us what justified the Democrats obstruction of dealing with the Zika virus and funding the Dept. of Defense?

    Can’t help but notice how you both changes the subject.

    1. Weren’t the Demoncrats trying to include funding for Planned(non)Parenthood in the Zika funding? That is what I heard Rounds say on Belfrage this morning. If the Dems wanted to include blood money in the Zika funding, I think it is on them that there was not a funding bill passed for the Zika threat. I know that the Dems always try to get money for their precious abortion providers, but you would think they would be able to see that it would make sense to fund Zika prevention even if it meant that the baby killers wouldn’t get additional funding.

      1. “Weren’t the Demoncrats trying to include funding for Planned(non)Parenthood in the Zika funding?”– and what org. is best situated to handle zika prevention?
        Do you not know that abortion is a Constitutional right?

        Don’t you know that is the game the repugs play? Pack a bill with something they know Dems. won’t vote for and spew out the cherry picked whining of Thune and you people have no clue what is really going on…

        1. Dems put the PP funding in there.

          Because who knows blood sucking killers better than PP, the mighty mosquito fighters.

    2. Why don’t you find out instead of being the ignorant gullible rube Thune knows you are? Don’t you get insulted know ing Thune and Rounds can spew any twisted , cherry picked dishonesty and they know you will just accept it without question….”Tell us what justified the Democrats obstruction of dealing with the Zika virus and funding the Dept. of Defense?”– That is pathetic, sir…

      Apparently the point of the list I posted went over your head.

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