GOP's Coburn Blocks Bill Disabled Vets Bill

November 11, 2009

Listen to the Story

[2 min 36 sec]

text sizeA A A

November 11, 2009

The Senate wants to provide $4 billion to help homecare providers for 6,800 disabled veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Leaders hoped the measure would sail through on the eve of Veterans Day by unanimous consent, but they got one no vote: Republican Tom Coburn. He says there is no budgeted money for the bill and that other programs should be cut to pay for it, and he isn't backing down.

RENEE MONTAGNE, host:

And to mark today, Veterans Day, Senate Democrats had hoped to pass legislation helping caregivers of disabled American veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But efforts this week to consider that bill ran into the implacable opposition of one Republican senator, Oklahomas Tom Coburn.

Heres NPRs David Welna.

DAVID WELNA: Ed Edmondson was on Capitol Hill yesterday with his son Eric Edmondson, an Army specialist who was left quadriplegic from an IED attack in Iraq four years ago. The father said he and his wife have struggled to care for their son. At a news conference he urged the Senate to pass legislation providing home caregivers like himself a stipend, health insurance, counseling, and a two-week annual break.

Mr. ED EDMONDSON: I urge you, I ask you, I beg you to get the caregiver bill passed.

WELNA: But theres no money to pay for the bill, which is why Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn put a hold on it.

Senator TOM COBURN (Republican, Oklahoma): I sent a letter to every senator at the beginning of this Congress that if you put a bill on the floor and youre going to authorize new spending, you better be putting something with it thats going to decrease the spending to pay for that. And so therefore thats the reason for the hold.

WELNA: Coburn, whos also a physician, insists he too thinks the nation should keep its commitment to veterans.

Sen. COBURN: And I think many of the programs that are in this bill are ideally suited for the problems that our veterans have. What I object to is the fact that were going to create $3.7 billion worth of spending over the next five years and not make any effort whatsoever to eliminate programs that dont have anywhere near the priority that this program does.

WELNA: Coburn also questions why caregivers of Vietnam and Gulf War veterans are not included. Dick Durbin, the Senates number two Democrat, is the bills sponsor. He points out that Coburn is the only senator blocking the bill.

Senator DICK DURBIN (Democrat, Illinois): And because of his objection, 6,800 veterans of those served in Iraq and Afghanistan are unable to get this additional care. I know we cant give it to every caregiver. I know it will be limited. And well have to make that decision as part of our deliberation as to what we can do. But to say that we should do nothing for these people is to make a mockery of this Veterans Day.

WELNA: And Majority Leader Harry Reid notes that Coburn did not block bills funding the Iraq war that werent paid for.

Senator HARRY REID (Democrat, Nevada): I have no ability to comprehend the illogic of Dr. Coburn.

WELNA: A vote on breaking Coburns hold on the bill is expected next week.

David Welna, NPR News, the Capitol.

Copyright ©2009 National Public Radio®. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.