Senate GOP kills two bills that would have helped veterans and soldiers

[BurtWorm]

http://bobgeiger.blogspot.com/2005/11/senate-republicans-kill-two-bills-to.html

An amendment (S.Amdt. 2616) sponsored by John Kerry (D-MA) and Barack Obama (D-IL) would have extended the poverty-reducing, earned-income tax credit to the combat pay earned by soldiers on active duty in Iraq.

The amendment, argued Obama on the Senate floor, would "... ensure that the families of our men and women in combat are not deprived of their tax benefits."

"In the midst of war, are we really going to tell our troops that their combat pay doesn't count as earned income for purposes of calculating tax credits?" said the Illinois Senator. "That is hard to imagine. Our troops not only earn their combat pay, but they have also earned our respect. They deserve our commitment of support."

It was defeated with 55 votes in favor of passage and 60 votes required. Every Democrat voted in favor, while all votes against were cast by Republicans.

[Bluzmann57]

1. But but...

The repubs all are big time support the troops, I love the military types. I know this because they all have yellow ribbon magnets on their vehicles. Them there ribbons don't lie.

[TayTay]

2. Well, quite a few people on DU would hate this

because John Kerry sponsored it. He should have checked with Murtha before trying to do something good for the troops. They will disparage anything Kerry does, because it's Kerry doing it.

There are a number of posters at DU who will be glad this failed. They don't want Kerry getting any credit for doing anything.