The GOP just loves the troops.
They are usually very anxious that the troops get to use their skills by looking for a war to send them to, or someone else’s problem they can deal with.
And it doesn’t cost all that much either. After they have done their jobs and been great photo ops (remember this is Christmas so we will get distracted from the realities of why they are where they are, and how we just throw them away when they get home because we get to ooh and ahh at all the Christmas videos of returning troops jumping out of over sized, wrapped presents) before we just throw them aside.
Lots of flags get to flutter with all the hot air that has no real substance when many in the GOP try to out patriot the rest of us.
And let’s not forget that when the GOP shut down the government, a bunch of them ran to the World War II memorial to be seen.
This is a list of the bills that would have benefited the veterans, but which the GOP killed either in the House or the Senate. It may not be a complete list, but I found this on Daily Kos when I went there to post something on my blog with them.
“1. H.R. 466 – Wounded Veteran Job Security Act
This bill would actually provide job security for veterans who are receiving medical treatment for injuries suffered while fighting in defense of their country. It would prohibit employers from terminating employees who miss work while receiving treatment for a service-related disability.
2. H.R. 1168 — Veterans Retraining Act
This bill would provide for assistance to help veterans who are currently unemployed with their expenses while retraining for the current job market.
3. H.R. 1172 — Requiring List on VA Website of Organizations Providing Scholarships for Veterans
Does nothing more than direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to include information about scholarships for veterans.
4. H.R. 1293 — Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009
Here’s another bill in support of those who have fought for their country, passed by House Democrats and blocked from becoming law by Republicans.
This would increase the amount paid by the VA to disabled veterans for necessary home structural improvements from $4,100 to $6,800 for those who are more than 50% disabled, and from $1,200 to $2,000 who are less than 50%, disabled. This means, if a veteran lost the use of his legs in service of his country, the country will pay for the wheelchair ramp so that he can live at home.
There isn’t even a fiscal reason for being against this bill, as the total cost of this bill, according to CBO estimates, would be a “whopping” $20 million. That’s about a quarter (25 cents) per family of four.
5. H.R. 1803 — Veterans Business Center Act
This bill would set up a Veterans Business Center program within the Small Business Administration, which would specialize in such programs as grants for service-disabled veterans, help them develop business plans and secure business opportunities. In other words, folks, it would create jobs and offer opportunities those who have fought in defense of our country.
Zinc is also directly involved in glycolysis and oxidation of sperm, maintaining the integrity and permeability of the sperm cell membrane and cialis 60mg the vitality of the sperm. These medicines prescription canada de viagra help dealing with hypertension causing ED problems. If you do your job right when you are undergoing your driver’s education. buy levitra icks.org He talks about the viagra fast idea of, in social media, you want to approach it like the branded one. 6. H.R. 2352 – Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act
This bill essentially combines a number of other bills that Republicans had blocked in the Senate previously, and adds a few elements. The bill would again establish a Veterans Business Center Program; …. it would establish a Military Entrepreneurs Program.
HR 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act of 2014 did pass, but it is not exactly a no strings attached pro-veterans’ bill. It basically Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an employer, for purposes of determining whether such employer is an applicable large employer and thus required to provide health care coverage to its employees under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), to exclude employees who have coverage under a health care program administered by the Department of Defense (DOD), including TRICARE, or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).”
This excludes some veterans with DOD benefits from getting certain coverage from an employer, coverage that might include things like dental and optical that many veteran plans do not have, and may exclude them from coverage that is more complete for those who have families.
But as a Koch backed bill, you can see that it is better for employers than veterans.
There is a commercial on television sponsored by the VFW in which veterans ask the very disturbing question, “You say you support the troops, but did you….?” at which point they list practical concrete thing like paying their rent, feeding their kids, helping their families with rent, things that go far beyond singing patriotic songs, waving flags, and accusing others of being less American than yourself.
Now with the majority in both Houses of congress, perhaps, the GOP will reconsider and put substance behind their words and theatrics.
As Eliza Doolittle sang:
“Words, words, words!
I’m so sick of words
I get words all day through
First from him, now from you
Is that all you blighters can do?
Don’t talk of stars, burning above
If you’re in love, show me!
Tell me no dreams, filled with desire
If you’re on fire, show me!
Sing me no song, read me no rhyme
Don’t waste my time, show me!
Don’t talk of June, don’t talk of fall
Don’t talk at all!
Show me!