The vote brought an early end to a measure that was already likely to fail. While the bill was a top priority of President Obama and many veterans’ organizations, the House of Representatives had no plans to take it up for consideration this year.
Sessions said he is as concerned as anyone about unemployed veterans, but doesn’t see the need to add $1 billion in spending to the $109 billion VA budget for 2013. New programs, if required, could be funded by cutting something else, he said.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., chief sponsor of the bill, said veterans won’t see the issue the same way. “Veterans don’t care to hear about why we cannot support them,” he said. “Veterans don’t care about a budget point of order.”
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Military Times