Reid pushes for vote on Filipino vets bill

[unhappycamper]

Reid pushes for vote on Filipino vets bill
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Apr 18, 2008 11:39:39 EDT

A 10-month stalemate over a major veterans’ benefits bill will come to a head Tuesday with a procedural vote in the Senate to take up a controversial measure: providing pensions to Filipino veterans who served with American troops in World War II by cutting benefits for other U.S. veterans.

The Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 was approved by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on June 29 but has never been taken up by the full Senate because of objections to the proposed benefits for Filipino Scouts.

Tired of waiting, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Thursday night filed a cloture petition — a move to place a time limit on the consideration of a bill — that would end the standoff. A vote to invoke cloture, which will come at noon Tuesday, requires 60 votes to pass.

“I am disappointed that I need to file this,” Reid said as he made the motion, reminding senators that the fight was over a bill that included many improvements in veterans’ benefits, especially for those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reid said he tried to reach a deal with Republicans on bringing up the bill but did not get any response.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/military_veteransbenefits_bill_041808w/