...and Webb blasts GOP for "playing games" with veterans' health care

Sen. Jim Webb's office issued this release a short while ago, about his attempt to ensure that there is no confusion over TRICARE and the health care reform bill:

Webb Blasts Republicans for “Playing Games”

With Military, Veterans Benefits

 

Washington, DC—During a debate last night on health care legislation, Republicans blocked a motion by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) to provide immediate fixes to two areas of the law that would have clarified and protected coverage for millions of TRICARE and Veterans Administration beneficiaries.

 

Senator Webb put forward a motion to adopt two bills—S. 3148, his TRICARE Affirmation Act and S. 3162, sponsored by Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Daniel Akaka—which garnered the cosponsorship of every Democratic Senator and five Republican Senators.  

 

“If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle really want to fix this problem, we can and should fix it right now,” Senator Webb said last night on the Senate floor. “I introduced a bill on Monday which already passed the House unanimously to protect TRICARE benefits.  Today, Chairman Akaka introduced a bill to clarify that the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs constitutes minimum essential coverage.  I ask unanimous consent that we pass these two measures and not allow this issue to be tied up in the melodrama of the moment.”

 

Webb continued: “The American people should understand that the Republicans blocked legislation that could have enacted into law immediately a permanent fix to this issue.” 

 

Senator Webb’s bill gained the strong endorsement of VFW and the support of an array of organizations committed to protecting the health care benefits administered by the VA and DOD.

 

Webb said today: “This should have been resolved on the Senate floor last night.  We are going to fix it. I am going to do everything I can to get it fixed this week.”

Comments

[GOP SUX]

Mike is just another gop sphincter, loves America but hates Americans.

[Mike McNichol]

When were you going to stand up and protect MY RIGHTS as an American to be free of undue government control. God Bless our veterans, but the rest of us are Americans too and you trampled our rights with your votes on this health care bill. See you in 2014.