Senate Heads Toward Showdown Vote on Veterans Bill

WASHINGTON February 26, 2014 (AP)
By ALAN FRAM Associated Press

A Democratic bill enhancing health care, education and job-training benefits for veterans faces an uphill climb as the Senate approaches a showdown vote on the $21 billion legislation.

Both political parties generally favor helping the nation's 22 million veterans and their families, especially in a congressional election year. But Republicans consider the wide-ranging legislation too expensive, and they also want to add a provision imposing new sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has blocked a vote on a GOP alternative eliminating some of the improvements and slapping the sanctions on Iran. Citing Reid's move, Republicans were expected to rally behind a procedural effort Thursday to derail the veterans bill — and each party accused the other of seeking partisan gain.

President Barack Obama strongly opposes the additional sanctions, saying international talks on Iran's nuclear program must be given more time. Similar, bipartisan Iran legislation drew 59 Senate co-sponsors, and a vote potentially could embarrass the White House.

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