Squabble ties up bill on veteran suicides

[unhappycamper]

Squabble ties up bill on veteran suicides
JANE NORMAN
REGISTER WASHING BUREAU
September 10, 2007


Washington, D.C. - Two powerful U.S. senators are feuding over a seemingly noncontroversial bill to prevent suicides among returning veterans, a spat that's seen as reflecting larger tensions in Congress connected to the Iraq war and more.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Ia., and Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., have gone toe-to-toe over the Joshua Omvig Suicide Prevention Act, named for a young Army reservist from Grundy Center who took his own life after returning from an 11-month deployment in Iraq.

The legislation would require that all Veterans Administration patients be screened for suicide risk factors, and that the VA track those at risk.

At least one suicide-prevention counselor would be required at every VA medical center, and mental health care would have to be available on a 24-hour basis.

A recent government report estimated 5,000 suicides annually among all veterans and a rising tide of cases of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Harkin is a sponsor of the bill, and Coburn is refusing to relinquish a hold he has on it, which means the bill can't quickly move ahead. Harkin calls Coburn's objections "completely bogus" and "a travesty," and says they are symptomatic of Republicans slowing congressional action on many key issues.


Rest of article at: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070910/NEWS09/709100331/1001/NEWS

[babylonsister]

1. This is sickening; how many Vets will kill themselves in the meantime? nt

[Ken Burch]

2. Coburn progably figures: More vet suicides, fewer benefits to pay out.

Probably also figures REAL soldiers don't ever have mental health problems after a war.

BTW, anybody know if Coburn volunteered for combat in 'Nam?

[unhappycamper]

3. According to his web site, he did not.

http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorCoburn.Biography

[Ken Burch]

4. Imagine my INCREDIBLE surprise.

:sarcasm:

[w8liftinglady]

5. a young neocon in my area's reply about my son's ptsd-

"he's just depressed-he'll get over it"My response was irrational.I regret that,but my patience with their uncaring attitude just pisses me off.