VA secretary: GOP-backed burn pit amendments would lead to 'rationing of care for vets'

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

Proposed amendments by Republican senators to a bill aimed at aiding veterans exposed to toxic burn pits would results in “rationing of care for vets,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said on Sunday.

“I can’t in good conscience do that, because the outcome of that will be rationing of care for vets, which is something I just can’t sign up for,” McDonough told Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) appeared on the show earlier Sunday morning to explain Republican opposition to the bill, which was blocked last week when it fell five votes short of the tally needed to bypass the filibuster.

All Democrats and eight Republicans backed the proposal, and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats will bring the bill forward a second time on Monday.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/va-secretary-gop-backed-burn-193301649.html

[czarjak]

1. The real death panels then!

[harumph]

2. Why?

Why would it result in rationing care? If the bill isn't an unfunded mandate, how would rationing occur?
I'd like to hear some explanation rather than conclusory statements.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. The amendments the GOP tried to attach would have.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Share with us the amendments

And how they would not lead to rationing. I spent 30 years supporting and defending your rights, including the right to post. I look forward to your well thought out and patriotic comments.

[harumph]

5. that's what I'm asking - what are the amendments that would lead to rationing?

IOW, I do not know what amendments the VA Secretary is referring to.

[Geechie]

6. After a brief search:

“GOP-backed amendments would put a year-on-year cap on spending and do away with the funding for veterans after 10 years.”

[link:https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/3581802-va-secretary-gop-backed-burn-pit-amendments-would-lead-to-rationing-of-care-for-vets/|]

From what I understand, Republicans are painting this as a Democratic backed opportunity to create a “slush fund” and want to limit spending per year and also end it after 10 years, which anybody who is ever worked with the chronically ill knows is a recipe for disaster.

A google search for the amendments’ texts leads to a maze of links, but it’s easy to find several links to Sen. Toomey’s speech. He lays it out pretty plainly what the Republicans object to.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Forgetting that we are still treating those veterans who served in Vietnam.

[Geechie]

16. People have the memory of a gnat.

[Shipwack]

21. Only when it comes to helping others...

See also: GOP politicians who voted against hurricane disaster relief for blue states, but want it for flooding or snowstorms in their own states.

They have a long memory when it comes to slights against them... I swear, there are some that still want payback for Nixon.

[Geechie]

22. Yeah, or Sherman's march thru Georgia .. nt

[PatSeg]

12. Thank you for checking and posting

Yes, such amendments would certainly result in rationing of healthcare and some vets would be left behind. Could republicans possibly be any more insensitive and cruel?

[Geechie]

17. I'm sure they're trying.

As Adam Serwer put it, “The cruelty is the point.”

[link:https://www.theatlantic.com/author/adam-serwer/|]

[PatSeg]

20. Exactly

When I first read that awhile back, it really rang true to me. Sometimes it feels like there is no other reasonable explanation - “The cruelty is the point". Some of the things that republicans do make no sense politically or strategically; it would seem they enjoy being mean and hurtful.

For decades republicans have used our troops and vets as political pawns. Now they openly undercut them while still wearing their dumb flag pins. Do they actually wake up every morning and ask, "Who can I really hurt today?"

[Skittles]

8. repukes are for death panels

how DARE repukes wear those flag pins

[Rebl2]

11. Just what

they accused Dems of when trying to pass the ACA.

[PatSeg]

13. They are monsters

And how dare voters keep electing such people to congress.

[IronLionZion]

9. GOP always complain about socialism and rationing care

they're the ones doing it.

Even in countries with universal health care programs, conservative politicians restrict funding to cause the problems our GOP complains about.

[AZLD4Candidate]

10. "Conservatives want live babies so they raise them to be dead soldiers" - George Carlin

"See the soldier with his gun who must be dead to be admired" - Gordon Lightfoot.

"You had me on your honor roll. For your dream I would die. Now I would not even cross the street to help you live a lie" - Harry Chapin

[twodogsbarking]

14. Wouldn't it be easier to just make health care available to everyone?

Well fuck that.

[Hotler]

15. "I can't in good conscience" stop being selfish. I bet this rat fucker tips only $1.00

every time he eats out.

[Mysterian]

19. The VA secretary is not the rat-fucker

It's the republicans.

[Hotler]

23. Thank you. nt

[turbinetree]

18. Fuck the republicans they are in a death spiral they have done nothing

Last edited Mon Aug 1, 2022, 11:18 AM - Edit history (1)

they will not control the senate or the house...after this mid-terms, not only are they dissing the military / families and the tax payers, they have 8 of there cohorts that signed a letter to throw out votes from millions of people and the veterans / and active members and families......end of story....