Tulsa World: Coburn to offer amendment on wounded veterans bill

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Coburn to offer amendment on wounded veterans bill

Sen. Tom Coburn

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau
Published: 11/18/2009 9:13 AM
Last Modified: 11/18/2009 11:43 AM

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday an agreement has been reached to allow a vote on a bill to help severely wounded veterans that has been held up Sen. Tom Coburn.

Reid, D-Nev., said the agreement also calls for a vote on an amendment by Coburn, R-Okla.

Coburn, who has been blocking a vote on the bill partly out of concerns that its costs should be offset, is expected to offer an amendment to transfer funding from United Nations contributions.

He has said the costs of the bill would be $3.7 billion over five years.

Democrats and veterans organizations have criticized Coburn for blocking a vote on the bill, saying he has put budget concerns over providing care for wounded veterans.

After the vote on the Coburn amendment, Reid said senators should expect passage of the bill.

It was unclear whether those votes could be held Wednesday or Thursday.

Provisions of the bill would provide a stipend and other benefits to caregivers for severely wounded veterans as well as ensure equal access to female veterans and expand service to veteran in rural areas.

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Veterans care bill roadblock bypassed," which was published on 11/19/2009. So far, 54 comments have been made.