The Most Fresh & Cordial Political Thread Ever

[Chief X_Phackter]

Originally Posted by MTK

Shame that veterans are being jerked around like this

Veterans’ groups lash out after GOP blocks toxins bill: ‘I’m sick and tired of this bulls—’

Just another example in a long list of examples of the two major parties playing games, trying to make the other look bad - at the expense of those who need them to settle their differences, and do the people's work.

Anyway, this was a cloture vote, and now there will be debate on the legislation as written.

The way I read it, it looks like an amendment was proposed by Sen Toomey - R due to a separate section of the package that “would authorize $400 billion over the next 10 years of existing spending". He wanted that $400 billion moved back to discretionary spending, which is subject to annual congressional appropriations, rather than mandatory spending, which is not subject to annual congressional appropriations.

Toomey asked for unanimous consent to change the mandatory spending language back to discretionary - and back to the original language supported by 84 Senators in June.

The Senate will continue debate/discussion on the bill.


“I support providing coverage to service members affected by burn pit exposure. Unfortunately, the bill as written includes an unnecessary provision that opens the door for more reckless government spending, unrelated to the VA. I voted no on cloture tonight to insist on having the ability to amend the bill to correct this.”

- Sen Ron Johnson - R