GOP, Dems Butt Heads over Bill to Help Vets - East Idaho News
Politics

GOP, Dems Butt Heads over Bill to Help Vets

  Published at

062614 NYVA?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1406302547445ABC News(WASHINGTON) — Once more gridlock in Washington may waylay an important bill, this time to aid veterans.

Republicans and Democrats have been working on a measure that would provide funds for doctors and facilities to care for vets, many of whom have waited endlessly for treatment at Veterans Affairs facilities.

Although they agree on the urgency to treat veterans, House Republicans and Senate lawmakers disagree on just how much money is needed and how to offset costs.

House Speaker John Boehner complained Thursday, “The White House rolls in with a request for 13.6 billion dollars of new money, not very clearly outlined. No hearings, no nothing and expect us to just add it to this conference report. We’re not going to do that.”

Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, alleged that this was another example of Republican stonewalling in an election year.

After six weeks of negotiations, Sanders lamented, “I am sad to say that at this point I can only conclude with great reluctance that the good faith we have shown is simply not being reciprocated by the other side.”

With lawmakers heading out for a long summer recess after next week, Sanders said he was pessimistic that any deal can be worked out by the end of July.


Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION