Susan Collins Proves Rick Santorum Was Right About Her-- GOP Ideology First, Maine's Veterans Last

This afternoon, the Republicans were able to kill a bill living up to the country's debts to military veterans, by filibustering the attempt to move it forward. Although every Democrat plus two Republicans-- Dean Heller (NV) and Jerry Moran (KS)-- voted for it, they needed 60 to shut down the filibuster. The final vote was 56-41. Even if Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who was away from the Senate today, was there and voting yes-- she's one of the few Republicans who is reliably pro-veteran-- the bill would have still failed.

All the fake GOP "moderates," who claim to want to help military veterans, like Mark Kirk (R-IL), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Bob Corker (R-TN), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and, worst of all, Susan Collins (R-ME), joined the lunatic fringe obstructionists-- the Ted Cruzes and Mike Lees and Jeff Sessions-- to prevent a straight up or down vote. When far right fanatic Rick Santorum said that Collins was, at heart, one of the nuts like himself, he wasn't just hoping it was true. Santorum said that Collins may vote moderate sometimes, but at least she is a team player who "always plays with the team and never plays against the conservative side even if she has to give the liberals a vote because she's from Maine." Yes, that's an apt description of Collins alright. After the vote today, we contacted Shenna Bellows, the independent-minded progressive Democrat opposing Collins' reelection this cycle.

She seemed surprised Collins would vote with the extremists against Maine's veterans. "It is unconscionable," she told me on the phone, "that Republicans, including my opponent Susan Collins, would block veterans' benefits over the issue of Iran sanctions, which most military, diplomatic and intelligence experts think would bring us closer to another war in the Middle East. We cannot keep calling upon young men and women to serve in costly overseas conflicts without keeping our promises to them when they come home."

Iran? What does Iran have to do with it? Well, nothing really. But Collins and the other right-wingers were using the veterans benefits as a hostage in their desire to push Obama into a war with Iran. Collins is always eager to play the rule of the floating third stooge to McCain and Lindsey Graham in anything that looks warlike. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: “I hope all the veterans groups have witnessed all the contortions the Republicans have done to defeat this bill. Shame on Republicans for bringing base politics into a bill to help veterans.”

Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is the chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. He worked hard to try to get Collins and the other self-styled "reasonable" Republicans to put partisanship and their bloodlust aside for the veterans. But he wasn't able to move anyone aside from Moran and Heller. This came from his office after the vote:

A disappointed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pledged today to continue to fight for improved benefits for veterans after Senate Republicans blocked a vote on comprehensive legislation to expand health care, education, job-training and other programs.

Republicans derailed the bill by raising a budget point of order challenging outlays for veterans. Sanders’ motion to advance the bill won by a vote of 56-41, but Republicans invoked a rule that required 60 votes to proceed.

“I had hoped that at least on this issue-- the need to protect and defend our veterans and their families-- we could rise above the day-to-day rancor and party politics that we see here in Congress,” said Sanders, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

“I am going to keep fighting. I am proud that we received every Democratic vote and that two Republicans also voted with us. In the coming weeks I will be working hard to secure three additional Republican votes and I think we can do that,” Sanders added.

The legislation was backed by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and virtually every other veterans’ and military service organization in the country.

“The cost of war does not end once the last shots are fired and the last battles are fought,” Sanders said. “When members of the military lose arms, legs and eyesight fighting in wars that Congress authorized, we have a moral obligation to make sure that those Americans receive all of the benefits that they have earned and deserve.  When American soldiers die in combat, we have a moral obligation to make sure that the spouses and children they leave behind are taken care of and do not live in abject poverty.”

The measure would have improved health and dental care services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also would have allowed the VA to open 27 new clinics and medical facilities. Educational opportunities would have been expanded for post-9/11 veterans. Another provision would have improved access to care and benefits for veterans who experienced sexual trauma while serving in the military. Also full cost-of-living adjustments would be restored for future military retirees.

And, by the way, if you'd like to help Shenna Bellows replace Susan Collins in the Senate, you can do that here.