Fox News: (h/t Zip)
A final effort by Senate Republicans to halt cuts to pensions of military retirees failed late Tuesday, after Democrats blocked an amendment to the controversial budget bill.
The two-year budget agreement, which cleared a key test vote earlier in the day, was expected to get a final vote no later than Wednesday.
Ahead of the final vote, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., tried unsuccessfully to use a parliamentary tactic to force a vote on the amendment, which he wrote to undo the cuts for military retirees.
A provision in the already House-passed bill would cut retirement benefits for military retirees by $6 billion over 10 years.
Sessions wanted to instead eliminate an estimated $4.2 billion in spending by reining in an IRS credit that illegal immigrants have claimed.
He and fellow senators argued the bill unfairly sticks veterans and other military retirees with the cost of new spending.
“It’s not correct, and it should not happen,” Sessions said on the floor.
“By blocking my amendment, they voted to cut pensions for wounded warriors,” he said afterwards. “Senators in this chamber have many valid ideas for replacing these pension cuts, including my proposal to close the tax welfare loophole for illegal filers, and all deserved a fair and open hearing. But they were denied.”
For your 2014 elections “kick the bums out” score card – Twelve Republicans voted for cloture on the Murry-Ryan Budget Deal, they are:
Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, John McCain of Arizona, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rob Portman of Ohio.
House voting results: http://heritageactionscorecard.com/votes/vote/h640-2013
These people are really despicable….I am at a loss for words with this country. with this Government and especially the STUPID Cowards who are making and voting on decisions like this…
There should be a payback for amnesty – No hand outs. Period! Otherwise…
Deport them all I say….get them the hell out of this country… I am tired of them breaking our Laws by being here…I am tired of paying for them…and I am tired of hearing the infighting about WHAT to do with them…Deport them! – then hit the Staples “That was Easy” button….
Then give the money saved back to the Military where it belongs…
@Ditto#1 – I like the Link you provided…will visit often…Thank you.
@FAITH7: Yep, vote the rascals out.