GOP Senator Anonymously Blocks COLA Increase for Veterans (UPDATED: Hold removed)

[WilliamPitt]

Last edited Thu Sep 27, 2012, 07:02 PM - Edit history (7)

Source: VetLawyers

After passing the House of Representatives, the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increase for VA benefits was blocked in the Senate by an unknown Senator, according to Senate staffers who alerted Bergmann & Moore.

The Veterans COLA affects a number of key benefits for veterans: disability compensation, pension as well as survivor benefits. The uncontroversial bill adjusts VA benefits to keep up with inflation and easily passes Congress each year.

Until now.

Paul Sullivan, a Gulf War veteran and Director of Veterans Outreach for Bergmann & Moore, LLC, a law firm concentrating on VA disability law, said, “This secret hold is unconscionable: it will take up to $500 next year out of the wallets of disabled veterans and their families: money they need to pay their rent and put food on the table for their children.”


Read more: http://vetlawyers.com/vetblog/index.php/2012/09/va-cost-of-living-increase-blocked-in-the-senate/

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Sen. Parry Murray statement on the anonymous block: http://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=65d3f84b-29cb-47c0-ae77-5fea93ea6fcb

Military.com has the story now: http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/09/27/senator-puts-secret-hold-on-veterans-cola-bill.html?comp=7000023317828&rank=1

The Navy Times has the story: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/09/military-senate-delay-could-mean-late-colas-retirees-092712w/

My take: http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/17539-the-scum-of-the-earth-gop-senator-blocks-bill-to-increase-benefits-for-veterans

"The Roman method for dealing with corruption was to sew the offender into a sack with a wild animal and have that bag thrown into the river. In these enlightened days, I'd be satisfied to sew whoever blocked this legislation into a sack with five veterans who depend on the benefits earned with their blood and service, and let nature take its course."

UPDATE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/patty-murray-says-gop-senator-blocking-vets-cola-increase/2012/09/27/da47ac88-08cb-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_blog.html

The chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee complained Thursday that an unnamed Republican senator blocked a bill last week to provide veterans with an annual cost of living adjustment, a maneuver that could delay payments for recpients.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) brought the bill to the Senate floor Sept. 21. The bill was cleared by Senate Democrats but was held up by an unnamed Republican, according to her office. The Senate subsequently recessed without passing the bill.

After Murray issued a statement Thursday morning calling the development “stunning,” the office of Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the ranking Republican on the Senate veterans’ committee, said the issue had been resolved.

“It has cleared our side, meaning there is no hold,” David Ward, a spokesman for Burr, said Thursday afternoon.

[sharp_stick]

1. They've got to stop this

anonymous blocking bullshit. If the slimy dirtbag doesn't have the stones to put their name and picture on a piece of legislation he/she wants to stall they shouldn't be allowed to do it.

I've always wondered why they allow this kind of idiocy.

[clydefrand]

4. Don't all of the senators and reps indicate they

voted and how they voted, yes or no...or whatever they call it. Yea/nay?

This doesn't make sense, does it?

[sharp_stick]

5. Yes but the key is

they put their name on it when they vote on it. Before they can vote on it any Senator can place an anonymous "hold" on a bill for any reason. With this hold in place the bill can't be voted on.

I don't mind the idea of putting a hold on a piece of legislation if you need time to read it or even if someone has pissed you off but the person putting the hold on it should be front and center saying. "I'm putting a hold on this bill".

[atreides1]

14. But

They cannot place an anonymous hold on any bill without the leadership knowing about it...so that would mean that No Chin McConnell made the decision and allowed this hold to be placed!

[Kelvin Mace]

6. Absolutely

And this is one of those areas where the Dems need to find a spine. I don't give a rat's ass about stupid rules that allow people to pull this shit. If I was serving on this committee and knew who it was, I would bust him and dare him to make an issue of it.

[clydefrand]

13. I am with you on this one

Why aren't we hearing about this on the news on TV?

Where is Harry? Let's have it, Harry. Or Patty

[valerief]

28. Bingo! What could happen? Really. What could happen? Only something good. nt

[DURHAM D]

2. It is probably Senator Coburn of Oklahoma.

[sharp_stick]

11. I was thinking of

Jim Demented (Nutjob SC) or Richard Shelby (Racist AL) but Coburn would fit in the mix of potential assholes pretty nicely.

[atreides1]

12. Afraid not

Neither Coburn or Rand Paul are on this committee.

But these asshats are:

Richard Burr, NC
Johnny Isakson, GA
Roger Wickers, MS
Mike Johanns, NE
Scott Brown, MA
Jerry Moran, KS
John Boozman, AR

[clydefrand]

19. Let's write to each one above

and ask if he was the one who didn't vote for our veterans.

You think Scott Brown might be the one because Elizabeth Warren is his opponent?

[montanacowboy]

22. Either Boozman or Burr

they quashed the Vets job bill that just got ashcaned

[valerief]

29. Good guess. nt

[AlbertCat]

39. I bet it's Burr

Our crappy Senator is a puppet and would eat McConnell's poo if asked.


Didn't he hold up something important and bi-partisan a while back with zero explanation? (I don't mean the recent Vet bill in which he got every amendment he asked for, and then voted "no&quot

[The Last Democrat]

44. Hell,

just don’t vote for any repugs….it makes no difference if there were on the committee or not, there are alike. Worst bunch of do-nothings’ that ever was.

[Dont call me Shirley]

3. And tell me why this is legal!

These gop obstructionists must be FORCED to stand at the podium on the floor of the senate and talk about why he/she is filibustering bills until they collapse from fatugue, then bring in a replacement until they have gone through every senator in their party. It must be made a difficult event to filibuster, not this "secret hold" cowardice!

[atreides1]

17. It sucks, but it's legal...

If the Senator provides notice privately to his or her party leadership of their intent (and the party leadership agreed), then the hold is known as a secret or anonymous hold. If the Senator actually objects on the Senate floor or the hold is publicly revealed, then the hold is more generally known as a Senatorial hold.

[h2ebits]

38. Why is this legal?

It's legal because the Senate voted it in with the filibuster.

My personal trend line today is: "There are often times when something is legal but it is morally and ethically wrong."

Effectively, this allows the majority to NOT prevail. Definitely un-American and as far as I am concerned treasonous. Until we elect Senators into office who work to repeal the filibuster rules in the Senate, we do NOT have a representative government Of the People, By the People, and For the People.

[Ian David]

7. Republicans hate our troops. They want the terrorists to win. n/t

[atreides1]

15. They "support" the troops

As long as they come back in body bags...it's veterans they don't like very much!

[AlbertCat]

41. They "support" the troops As long as they come back in body bags

Nonsense.

They don't even want anyone to take a picture of their coffins. So they don't support them at all.

[SDjack]

8. Who did it? Hard to tell -- a lot of GOPer senators don't give a shit about vets.

Most likely it was one who was elected in 2010. My guess is Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). He's dumb enough, stupid enough, and jerky enough to do it.

[KeepItReal]

9. Roman Maroney said it best:

[Deuce]

18. Thanks for the laugh...always loved that scene!

[Royal Sloan 09]

10. K & R, Wake the F*%$CK UP!

, Samuel L. Jackson video http://www.democraticunderground.com/101761971

[Wellstone ruled]

16. There you go again,

got to love it,another chicken hawk doing his duty. Got to find this person out,you know he's not running for reelection. It's all about sequestration. Some chicken hawk defense firm needs a favor.

[olddad56]

20. That is one way to send the message 'Thank you for your service, suckers'.

Should be a big boost to the military's recruiting effort.

[yardwork]

21. Let's hang it around the necks of all the Republican senators.

If the culprit won't speak up, we'll blame all the Republicans.

[allan01]

23. re: GOP Senator Anonymously Blocks COLA Increase for Veterans

meh. support the troops . it s ok to send them off to war . but when they come back, most of them are screwed by the very same folk who scream you are unpatriotic and dont support them when the troops come home . friends dont let friends vote repug.

[99th_Monkey]

24. The Senate Rules need a major overhaul it would seem

after the election when Ds have HUGE majority, let's just DO IT!

This kind of anonymous sabotage is really hurting our country,
and in this case, again, our Vets.

[Smilo]

25. What a freaking coward

hasn't even the balls to own up to this despicable act.

[Fresh_Start]

26. Every Democratic Senator should have a press release saying I and my Democratic colleagues voted

to help our veterans. The GOP defeated it.
Let the GOP try to defend themselves....

[valerief]

27. "Okay, Sennies, everyone who didn't block the COLA raise your hands."

How is this secret????? Guess I'd better read the links.

[oldsarge54]

30. Attention Rules Committee

No more antonymous anything. No more voice votes. Roll call everything. Either be proud and give out your name on what you do, Senators, or suffer in silence. Be accountable.

This rule I cheerfully will extend to all political parties in the Senate and House.

[MADem]

31. A reporter needs to buttonhole every GOP Senator and ask them the question

Point Blank.

Years ago, someone pulled the same shit, and someone (not very specific here, am I? Memory fails) managed to figure out who the shitbird was by process of elimination.

That's how it has to be done.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

36. What is the "reasoning" behind this anonymous hold rule?

I mean, I understand some logic behind other archaic rules of the Senate like, say, the filibuster but this has always perplexed me.

[MADem]

45. Someone else has something the holder wants, so the holder is engaging in extortion

until he (and I'm betting it is a he) gets it.

Those bastards wheel and deal in the most nefarious manner imaginable.

[DeSwiss]

32. K&R

“Politics is professional wrestling with ties.” ~Dana Gould

[clydefrand]

33. I just called Scott Brown

and sent each one of the republicans on that committee an email including Brown. I asked each the same...Did you vote for COLA for veterans? Lets see if I get an answer. When I called Scott Brown in DC, I was told that he didn't know how any of the votes went on this issue.

[WilliamPitt]

34. It hasn't come to a vote in the Senate yet

because of the anonymous hold.

It has already passed the House.

[MADem]

46. That is what is needed--save the replies. nt

[Denise21]

35. Vets why do you think that the GOP has your back

I don't get it they don't have your back! Deal with it....Go with with Dems we have your back. Get it!

[AsahinaKimi]

37. This is

Freaking outrageous! I hate these Republican Bastards who are doing this..They have zero respect for Veterans.

[yends21012]

40. I'm a veteran

and am one of the people who this would affect. I've never voted republican. They just don't care about veterans whether they are active duty, retired, or retired on disability. They do care about the cash flow from the large defense contractors and will pay attention to the people only to the extent that they are able to obtain funding for their campaign or riches afterwards. There voting records and rhetoric are almost always AGAINST my interest as a veteran and as a person. Blast the airwaves with all of their shit and continue exposing them for who they are. Self absorbed bullies who whore themselves to corporations for their personal gain.

[lamp_shade]

42. Rand Paul. I'm 100% sure.

[lovuian]

43. the corruption in Congress is MASSIVE

the Corporations get EVERYTHING and the people get nothing

[WilliamPitt]

47. HEADS UP: Hold removed?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/patty-murray-says-gop-senator-blocking-vets-cola-increase/2012/09/27/da47ac88-08cb-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_blog.html

The chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee complained Thursday that an unnamed Republican senator blocked a bill last week to provide veterans with an annual cost of living adjustment, a maneuver that could delay payments for recpients.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) brought the bill to the Senate floor Sept. 21. The bill was cleared by Senate Democrats but was held up by an unnamed Republican, according to her office. The Senate subsequently recessed without passing the bill.

After Murray issued a statement Thursday morning calling the development “stunning,” the office of Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the ranking Republican on the Senate veterans’ committee, said the issue had been resolved.

“It has cleared our side, meaning there is no hold,” David Ward, a spokesman for Burr, said Thursday afternoon.

[James48]

48. It's too late- the damage is already done

and the Senate is only going to meet in "pro-forma sessions" until after the election. No more floor votes.

It now can't even be considered until after the November election.


That republican just gave dems a huge think to talk about on the campaign trail. I HOPE each dem understands the significance of that hold and broadcasts it far and wide.

[WilliamPitt]

49. Sen. Murray disagrees

"With the Senate out of session until Nov. 13, it will have to immediatley pass the legislation to provide the increase in time for January’s disability checks, according to Murray’s office." - from WaPo office.

I hope she's right.

[James48]

51. It would be hard

to get the whole thing passed, signed into law, AND for the pay computers to be updated before the January checks go out December 31st. Actual pay cycle date is the 26th or 27th. That will be cutting it close.

[justice1]

50. If it was Johanns, that would be HUGE for Nebraska, the Senate and Obama