Coburn places hold on veterans benefits bill.
Coburn places hold on veterans benefits bill.
One of the Senate’s most vociferous opponents of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has been Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who called the stimulus “the worst act of generational theft in our nation’s history.” Today, The Marine Corp Times revealed exactly how far Coburn was willing to go to undermine ARRA. It turns out Coburn has been the senator who has placed holds on several veterans benefits bills because he wanted to divert money from unspent ARRA funds on them:
Thirteen major military and veterans groups have joined forces to try to force one senator — Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma — to release a hold that he has placed on a major veterans benefits bill.
Coburn has been identified by Senate aides as the lawmaker preventing consideration of S 1963, the Veterans’ Caregiver and Omnibus Health Benefits Act of 2009, by using an informal but legal practice of putting a hold on a bill. [...]
In a letter sent Monday night to the Senate majority leader, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the 13 military and veterans groups ask the Senate to get on with it.
“It is essential that Congress act on this comprehensive measure without further delay,” the letter reads. “Thousands of disabled veterans with serious medical conditions and the family members who care for them are counting on this additional support.”
Steve Robertson, the legislative director for the veterans advocacy group The American Legion, met with Coburn’s staff about the holds on the bills and came away disappointed with their refusal to budge on the issue. “For a lot of family caregivers, delay is costing them their jobs and their savings. It’s having a big impact,” Robertson told the press. “They made it clear that Sen. Coburn sees this as using his rights as a senator to place a hold on a bill…I agree with that, but that doesn’t mean it makes sense to hold up a bill that would do a lot of good things for veterans that has cleared a committee and is ready for a vote.”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
The party of NO….this is their immoral, unethical code…
….America first my butt…help the Vets you unamerican POS.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:07 pmThese guys have really bad Karma don’t they? Here on a day of tragedy, we find out this SOB has been a opponent of Veteran Benefits. These GOPers have the stink on them.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:09 pmThe GOP : revealing once again how passionately they support the troops ……….
November 5th, 2009 at 7:10 pmDoes Reid have to honor this malicious “hold”? Why doesn’t he just pull a “Pelosi” and move the bill along without Senator Cobum
November 5th, 2009 at 7:12 pm“Coburn places hold on veterans benefits bill.”
A real shame. Is this how you support the troops that have been put in harm’s way, Sen. Coburn??? Memo to OK constituents: Time to vote Coburn out of office.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:15 pmYessiree, them Republipimps and Pseudo-Conservatives surely do support our troops and vets. Why, if they weren’t chickenhawks, they’d get right out in front of the troops and vets and tell them that cutting their budget is the best thing that could ever happen to them, but we all know how our brave chickenhawk brothers prefer to hide somewhere or blame someone else.
Tom Coburn, Republipimp shitbird and chickenhawk – (not)OK
November 5th, 2009 at 7:15 pmWay to support the troops, Coburn. The tent is shrinking again…
November 5th, 2009 at 7:15 pmbecause he wanted to divert money from unspent ARRA funds them:
eh… something’s missing, zaid…
.
whoa… talk about bad timing…
November 5th, 2009 at 7:15 pmcoburn’s shitting that this is out right now… … good.
I’m completely not surprised that a seditious traitor Republican a-hole is behind this delay. How any veteran can claim to be a member of this party is beyond me. How any American can claim this is also beyond my comprehension. They’ve become so totally wrapped up with not letting anything pass while they aren’t in power that they don’t care who is hurt or affected. It’s all about them and screw the commoners!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:18 pmRethuglicans are like abusive husbands and fathers. They are a sore on the ass of this country and should quit their positions and go back home and quit sucking the government taxpayer teat.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:18 pmI hope all servicemen/women read this before casting their next vote for any conservapub. After reading this I went to the VetVotes site and signed the petition.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pmOur nation’s veterans thank you Coburn… What a patriot. Not.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pmHe’s a real jerk! How dare he hold up the benefits for the soldiers who went to the war-for-no-reason that he supported?
November 5th, 2009 at 7:21 pmIt is beyond disgusting. I have no idea how he sleeps at night.
Update VoteVotes is circulating a petition against [ WHO??? ]
c’mon zaid! COPY CHECK!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:24 pmKaty’s on top of the typo alerts. Hey, if TP needs a proofreader, I’m available.
Sheesh…
November 5th, 2009 at 7:27 pmCoburn apparently never learned a basic maxim: “just because you have the right to do something, doesn’t necessarily mean it is right to do”. He has a right to put a hold on a bill, but doing so in this context is exceedingly wrong. I hope his constituents get to hear about it (meaning, I hope they don’t get their “news” exclusively from FOX.)
November 5th, 2009 at 7:28 pmThis sorry ass is playing politics with peoples lives. These young men and women have paid with blood to serve this country, and this ass is just going to kick them in the gutter for politics. Once again vets get shit on, and there seem to be little outrage. Where is Fox news and all those gung ho Americans who for years trashed Democrats for not supporting the troops?
As a Vietnam wounded combat vet this really makes me angry, and I’d like to see this bum recalled and striped of all his benefits that he has gotten as a Senator. He’s a traitor and should be treated as such.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:29 pmI think it’s hilarious that Coburn calls the stimulus — money that is supposed to help ordinary Americans — the worst act of generational theft, but I’m wondering how he felt about the bailouts of the financial institutions — after they stole money from ordinary Americans?
November 5th, 2009 at 7:30 pm1. “Marine Corp Times”
2. “he wanted to divert money from unspent ARRA funds them”
3. “VoteVotes is circulating a petition”
4. “Tom Cobrun”
5. “He is simply playing politics with are nation’s heroes.”
Correct the mistakes and resubmit.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:31 pmCoburn is inviting vets organizations to work against his reelection and they will. I can forsee a lot of money coming in to his challenger. These holds will not go over very well with his constituents either. Coburn will become an ex-Senator next election.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:31 pmNo “F’ing” way!!! Not a republican. I thought they loved and supported the troops?
November 5th, 2009 at 7:33 pmThe GOP supports the troops leaving not coming back. They wouldn’t even honor the coffins that came back so its no surprise that the military families are left out in the cold. Its absurd that Coburn implies he is doing this out of principle. Where was he when the practice of non-competative bidding contracts were shoveled out to contracting companies? Many rich men shook his hand and stole the doe. Now that is a conservative principle.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:33 pmMaybe there should be a Pee Party Protest at his office to force media coverage and give this coward the exposure he’s earned.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:34 pmAnyone remember a Far Side cartoon showing a circle of covered wagons under attack by Indians, who are firing burning arrows at them? One character inside the circle says “Burning arrows! Can they DO that?”
That’s what I’d like to know about Cobag. Is it necessary to “honor” his hold, or can he just be sneered at by Reid, as he should be?
November 5th, 2009 at 7:35 pmCorrect the mistakes and resubmit
Coburn first.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:36 pmzooey – that ‘generational theft’… i was thinking more along the lines of boosh’s ‘war on terra’… now, THAT was a drain…
November 5th, 2009 at 7:36 pmbiggest treasury heist in history, i’d bet…
This is what repugs do, I’m not surprised and watch this clown talk about love of country without losing a breath.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:37 pmIf McCain had any seeds he would “visit” this clown and tell to lift the hold immediately. C’mon ex-POW love of country,veteran, tell this clown to stop.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:39 pm“There is no legitimate excuse Tom Cobrun can make for holding up legislation to help Veterans and wounded warriors in need of care. He is simply playing politics with are nation’s heroes.”
– - Umm, ‘Coburn’ and ‘our.’
November 5th, 2009 at 7:41 pmHow can anyone deny veterans anything. What ever a veteran needs they should recieve immediatly. A politician who holds up benefits for veterans is just like a rapist or child molester, the worst of the worst. They all should be hung.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:42 pmGenerational Theft” ?
Five words for you , Coburn : The 2000 Presidential Election
November 5th, 2009 at 7:43 pmBTW
Shouldn’t you be counseling Ensign on another pay-off ?
Coburn is lower than a scurrying roach. I’m convinced that he’s a sadist and gets off on being obstructionist. How could he do something like this to our Veterans?!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:51 pmCoburn puts the “pig” in repiggie.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:52 pmMaxamillion, the repugs dont give a flying fck about our servicemen and women. I know you already know that, but I just wanted to make a comment about it. It gets me angry when a repug pulls stupid crap like this. They would never say no to sending kids overseas to fight a war. If they come back with PTSD, Then the repugs will deny that it even is a disorder. They love em when their being shipped out, but if you make it back alive then your on your own. FCK THE REPUGS.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:56 pmUnlike all those wounded vets, this a$$wipe has no family members serving, he has not served, nor has he been wounded, so he could care less how long he ‘holds’ these crucial benefits up. Bet if he was a wounded vet or there were any family members of his, he’d be ‘pulling teeth’ out of any SOB holding up the Bill. This is on lousy way to get attention!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:57 pmCoburn has his priorities. After all, soldiers have already been born and so their civil rights aren’t all that important. Now, if the bill had something to do with protecting fetuses, Little Tommy wouldn’t have placed a hold on it because that is where his priorities lie.
This a**hole is a sad excuse for a legislator. He should resign and go back to his first profession . . . baby-catching.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:00 pmI don’t get the some of the more arcane practices of the Senate. What possible justification allows a single Senator like Tom Coburn from a minority party and representing a state with a relatively small population, to without making it widely known, hold up a major piece of legislation? From the US Senate website, I found a hold defined as –
If the “Majority Leader need not follow the Senator’s wishes” why doesn’t Harry Reid just ignore this clown and bring the legislation to the floor? I’d like to see Coburn have to get up, come out from behind his anonymous hold, and explain why he doesn’t think veterans are entitled to benefits that would most likely be approved by the majority. I’m sure that would go over big back in his home state of Oklahoma.
If the Senate wants to continue this inane practice, it should at least be required that the Senator enter his or her “hold” on the record and publicly announce his or her reasons for wishing to hold up the “particular bill or other measure” on the Senate floor.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:02 pmOT. Hopefully TP will post this latest on the two sumo wrestling wingnuts Newt and Rush From Crooks and Liars:
King Solomon Newt bows down to El Rushbo
On Sean Hannity’s Fox News show last night, he explained in detail why he regretted having supported Scozzafava. It was pretty abject.
Gingrich: I think the nomination was a mistake. I wish that we had gotten involved earlier. And if we had, I would have done everything I could to make sure she had not been picked. And she clearly proved in the last few days that she was in no way a loyal Republican.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:06 pmAnd of course Coburn’s a Republican. No need to check.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:07 pmso that “Support the Troops” magnet on the SUV means what?
November 5th, 2009 at 8:12 pmThis isnt the first time Coburn has put holds on something.
They really need to abolish this ‘hold’ dithering to obstruct
November 5th, 2009 at 8:13 pmHey Z, I was looking for your email addy but couldnt find it something at moscow[idaho] university.
If you would email me here I need to ask you something
jetmknxatgmail.com
November 5th, 2009 at 8:15 pmI say we permanently suspend Coburn’s salary, health care, pension, franking and parking privileges, and any tax-funded use of his office; it’s all wasteful government spending.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:15 pmNo surprise to the Military Families as the Law Makers have done nothing for our soldiers but lie and show stickers saying ” We Support Our Troops”. Notice how even a Major went mad and shot up Fort Hood knowing he would be sent again to Afghanistan/Iraq to kill. Many have no idea what our troops are going through when overseas and when they come home. Many were surprised at how made Walter Reed Hospital was few know nothing has changed. My Daughter came home after Stop Lock and she had changed. I had to pay for her to see a doctor to get the horror she had been in for 6 years in the bad conditions and no supplies. I had to buy a bullet proof vest, she had to pay for food, cleaning of her clothes and I heard the Pentagon say they paid for that with taxpayers money. Yes I looked at her pay stub and the Bush Administration LIED AGAIN. We had soldiers protecting Oil sites as they were paid 3,000 dollars a month, while the US Contractors made 10,000 4 hours a day for 3 days a week, all with taxpayers money. Each soldiers who comes home from Afghaistan/Iraq need help. We see soldiers and their families are homeless and few soldiers have jobs. But still Americans wave the signs ” We Support Our Troops”. Now if President Obama were to open the US Draft watch how fast the Wars would end as the War supporters will never serve in the Military. Look we have Bush who was a coward and had his Daddy get him out. Cheney the waste of life, dodged the draft and even dropped so low to use his wife and child to get out of serving in the Military.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:20 pmThu, 11/13/2008
Bloomberg has filed FOIA requests to find out who Hank Paulson has given two trillion* in emergency loans to, and what collateral he accepted. (This is a separate program from the Bush + Reid + Paulson + Obama + Paulson bailout bill, where accountability is also non-existent.) Here’s how the Fed responded to one request:
“I have confirmed that the information you seek is confidential commercial information,” Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh said in the letter. “The information at issue contains confidential commercial business information regarding securities pledged as collateral in connection with JPMCs acquisition of Bear Stearns.”
November 5th, 2009 at 8:26 pmI just sent this this story to my father who has voted republican since he started voting in 1964 along with this message:
Explain to me why you would vote for anyone that belongs the the same party, GOP, as Senator Tom Coburn?
November 5th, 2009 at 8:27 pmTom Coburn is a sad excuse for a representative of the people.He also had a hold on unemployment benefits for 200,000 Americans for a month. He basically doesn’t care.Another good reason to fight for health care.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:33 pmCome on Oklahoma, surely you guys can do better than the two incompetent senators you guys sent to DC. You are not looking very good to the rest of us.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:47 pmI can think of no other person who is more disgusting than Coburn if this is his point of view. He is no patriot at all. Our service people go to battle for our country after our Republican Party mucked the war in Afghanistan so that now, our military is forced to fight in the most terribly grim circumstances. All the while this dolt sits in safety, caring less about the safety of our military and their needs. Of course, he loves bloviating about the war and he seems uncaring about military people’s safety after their return from the fighting zones. Amazing that Coburn has the guts to cash his own paycheck when he has held up benefits for Veterans who have disrupted their own lives to fight for our country. No patriotism in this guy whatsoever. He is a shame and embarrassment to Republicans, that is for sure. If he ever faces Ronald Reagan in the after life, he better be good and ready for good verbal thrashing. What a shame he is to our party.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pmThat is just terrible Jackie. I hope your daughter is doing better.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm50 Thank you so much and with God’s blessings my daugher is back to being funny and happy. The Doctor did say War changes a person but she has put the pass away and is dealing with life. Yes I know Afghanistan/Iraq is now a part of her but she can deal with it now. I spoke to many soldiers and their parents who didn’t get the help. I have seen our soldiers who come home broken and confused as I wish someone would help them all. I still keep in touch with Peache’s fellow soldiers as she does. It’s important for them to know their not forgotten by America. I’ve added so many more kids to my Christmas list and life. I love them all.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:00 pmKaty I did not write the update.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:05 pmThe level to which any one of these repugniscum will sink is astonishing.
The same jerks who wouldn’t tolerate a cross word about Bush’s horrible mismanagement of the war and that he sent our soldiers to war ill-equipped. The same jerks who criticized anyone who mocked Bush’s plastic turkey in the mess hall. The same jerks who claimed that dissenters were not patriotic if not traitors.
These are the jerks who, today, are against spending money on veterans. Against spending money to help unemployed people. Against sick people, particularly poor, sick people.
Coburn has a lot of company in the rat hole he inhabits. It’s the Repugniscum side of the Congress.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:08 pmGee. No trolls in this thread?
I guess all goopers feel this is how we should support out troops. WTG, trolls!!
November 5th, 2009 at 9:13 pmJackie, I, too, am glad to hear your daughter is doing well.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:14 pmTo be reminded of how much Bush lied to the troops makes me furious all over again.
I don’t believe in heaven or hell, but they make me wish there were a hell in which they could burn for eternity.
Ms Joanne,
November 5th, 2009 at 9:16 pmPerhaps even our own stupid and ridiculous trolls recognize the Coburn is the slimiest of scumbags.
One monkey can stop the show?
coburn is playing “god.”
November 5th, 2009 at 9:18 pmIt’s only un-American for the left to oppose.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:18 pmBulletin
November 5th, 2009 at 9:18 pmThe shooter from Ft. Hood is not dead but in stable condition.
har5125 says:
I just sent this this story to my father who has voted republican since he started voting in 1964 along with this message:
Explain to me why you would vote for anyone that belongs the the same party, GOP, as Senator Tom Coburn?
good idea… please let us know how that goes…
November 5th, 2009 at 9:34 pmThis is not rocket science folks. Wounded soldiers are not productive, they can’t work, and probably hate Repugs, so the best thing from Coburn’s perspective is to let them die.
Did I mention how much I sincerely hate Repugnants?
November 5th, 2009 at 9:37 pmZaid Jilani says:
Katy I did not write the update.
ok… who knew? … but can you change/fix it? and the rest?
that’s your name up there…
it’s a great story… and (unfortunately) perfect timing…
November 5th, 2009 at 9:41 pmRemember the drunkard, drug dealer rummie’s response to our soldiers’ request for basics needs? Did the Taliban fly the planes or were they Saudis?
repugs remain podded to the nuts because they are nuts. Nuts are the leader of their racist club.
All of them talk out their clogged azzes.
And President Obama remains the First African-American President of the United States of America. Sane people Love him.
repugs are the snot eaters of the world. They are willing to dither in their own shyte.
Where are your viable candidates, repugs? All of your choices are laughable and sad.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:49 pmkellygrrrl says:
so that “Support the Troops” magnet on the SUV means what?
That you spent $1.49 for a false sense of patriotism?
November 5th, 2009 at 10:00 pm@rwm:
I’m not sure that the people of OK would be surprised or shocked. They support this wingnut to the wall. My feeling is that Reid should bring this to the floor and dare Coburn to filibuster the bill. That would be real LEADERSHIP.
This is the same senator that Obama is so close to. Obama thinks that he is someone he can “work” with (bipartisanship). I believe it is time to OUT these weasels but the problem is that the MSM will never report on any of this. Once again, ThinkProgress is “preaching to the choir”.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:04 pmHow does he get away with it ?
The Vets are an entitlement group that are untouchable.(on the local scale, teachers are the same). Vets are also a group that traditionally on the TV saying conservative things.
This is policically worse than kicking babies down the stairs – and yet he isn’t called on it ?.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:11 pmOur military has historically voted Republican, and this is the thanks they get.
:P
November 5th, 2009 at 10:13 pmCoburn and Inhofe. Too much for one nation, let alone one state. Oklahoma, I hope yer proud of yourselves.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:19 pmThis should tell all you ever need to know about Tom Coburn, BUT you would be overlooking the other things that Coburn brings to the biggest rip-off party of all times.
Let’s talk about Tom’s ‘negotiation’ for his senate bud from Nevada with his wife/business partner/employee/lover/payoff recipient/liar/you make up the rest of the standard terms, OR you can explore Tom’s involvement with Mark Sanford, OR you could delve into the detail of Tom’s illegal dealings with the “Family” who maintains the GOP bordello over on “C” street that makes plans to take over the world – daily – with Tom’s help. They also fund (illegally) a LOT of Tom’s travel around the world on ‘missions”…
But does Tom believe in helping anyone else but his Family-related pals??? Not a chance… He and his asshat sidekick, Inhofe, are two of the biggest crooks and liars that serve in the Senate today and the hoodwinked folks in Oklahoma just keep sending these fools back again and agin…Talk about stupidity !!
November 5th, 2009 at 10:27 pmI scrolled down through the thread and notice not a troll in sight.
I wonder why? Appears the conservatives don’t want to take ownership of this proud moment.
“They made it clear that Sen. Coburn sees this as using his rights as a senator to place a hold on a bill”.
Is this an act of a narcissist? There appears to be an epidemic amoung the Republicans these days. I suspect Coburn is sadly playing “plug up the system”; keep the Obama Administration bogged down. They need to be called on it, especially for our veterans.
November 5th, 2009 at 10:56 pmSee Republicans get away with bullshit like this because the media never calls them out on this. They always use some quaint term such as exercising his rights or procedural motions. Now if this were on the other side of the political aisle…
November 5th, 2009 at 11:08 pm@ 65. lcdrrek …
Good substantive info, that. And this is the perfect time for Harry Reid to exercise leadership in exactly the way described. That might smoke out a couple of other arses, too.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:21 am.
Why does Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) hate the troops?
.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:40 amCoburn thinks that doctors who perform abortions should be given the death penalty. But I think he is the one who really deserves the death penalty. He is such a scumbag.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:46 amTELL YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS, VERY SIMPLY: “ENOUGH”! It’s time that cynicism has no place in the political process. Vote these guys out and send a serious message, not BS!
November 6th, 2009 at 7:53 amWhat bothers me about all of these Republiscum backed anonymous holds is that the Right aren’t following the actual intent of the rule (no big surprise). An anonymous hold is SUPPOSED to be for use in a situation where legislation headed for the floor for a vote will directly affect a Senator’s home state. The intent of the rule allows for an anonymous hold that will block the bill from coming to the floor in order to offer the Senator proper time to read the bill before letting it come to the floor. It seems that our Repub Senators have been abusing this loophole for reasons other than the original intent in which case Harry Reid has EVERY RIGHT to name the anonymous blocker and bring this to a vote. Reid unfortunately is like an abused wife. Despite years of being a punching bag for the GOP he just keeps coming back for more abuse and NEVER stands up to the bullies…not even when they are in such a minority. Get rid of Reid and give us a Democratic leader who can LEAD!
November 6th, 2009 at 8:18 amAs a veteran (United States Navy, 1984-88) I am appalled and disgusted that a United States Senator, while troops are overseas involved in a war, would purposely and with no ounce of remorse place a hold on a bill that would provide benefits to veterans.
Coburn has put his personal ideology above the well-being of those who have served this country.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:22 amIts pretty clear to me. This run of the mill OK nut is anti-American. If the shoe would have been on the other foot and a Democrat would be taking this action he or she would be labeled traitorous by the wingnuts and their compliant MSM.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:57 amWHY is everyone surprised that a cowardly, unpatriotic, sniveling, low-life, far-right, wing-nut, is holding up
a veteran’s benefits bill…??
TYPICAL behavior by a POS republican…!!!
November 12th, 2009 at 1:31 am