THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

Now that Old Dr.No, Tom Coburn is no longer in the Senate, there appears to be no one who will block the passage of this bill to prevent veteran suicides. This does not mean that the Republican/Teabaggers won't find a way to render the bill worthless. When needed they can always fall back on their tried and true standby, not funding the bill.

A bill to reduce suicides among veterans stalled in the Senate last month despite its heartrending cause and strong bipartisan support. Now it’s on the verge of final passage thanks to the departure of its main critic.

Veterans were infuriated in December when retiring Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., used parliamentary tactics to single-handedly block a vote on the legislation, citing cost concerns. Projected to cost $22 million over five years, the bill includes language that explicitly prohibits the authorization of any additional funds to carry out its provisions.

Still, supporters of the legislation – among them Republican Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas and Roy Blunt of Missouri – say extra funds aren’t necessary to consolidate and improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ suicide prevention programs. They expect the bill to get another shot at final passage in the Senate in the coming days. This time, they say, it will pass easily.

Blunt says it shouldn’t be hard for VA to shift resources around and find the necessary savings within its existing budget to pay for the bill.

“Twenty-two million over five years means $4.4 million over every year,” Blunt said Wednesday in a press call with Missouri reporters. “The department has a lot of money. They proved last year that they were not spending that money wisely.”

One of the pilot programs would repay the student loans of psychiatrists who commit to at least two years of service with VA, while the other would create partnerships between VA medical centers and nonprofit community groups to establish support networks for veterans.

Another provision of the bill would extend the eligibility of combat veterans who were discharged between 2009 and 2011, enabling them to qualify for VA medical services and nursing home care even if they haven’t proven that their illnesses are linked to their military service.

Wasting $Billions on the F-35 and the Little Crappy Ships but cheaping out on $22Million for veterans. The heart and soul of the Republican/Teabaggers.