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I thought Republicans were all in favour of supporting "our veterans". They certainly were quite vocal in their attacks on the failures of Obama's Veterans Affairs department. Why did Coburn do this - ego?
The Republican-controlled House passed the bill but the rather complex and esoteric rules of the Senate allow a single Senator to derail a popular measure.
Coburn Blocks Bill on Veterans' Suicide Prevention
Veterans groups blasted Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn Monday for blocking a bill intended to reduce a suicide epidemic that claims the lives of 22 military veterans every day.
"This is why people hate Washington," said Paul Rieckhoff, CEO and founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, an advocacy group.
Rieckhoff accused Coburn of single-handedly blocking a bill that could save the lives of thousands of veterans.
Coburn, a Republican, is retiring after 10 years in the Senate. In a floor speech Monday night, he defended his actions, saying the bill would not accomplish its stated goal and duplicates programs that already exist.
The Republican-controlled House passed the bill but the rather complex and esoteric rules of the Senate allow a single Senator to derail a popular measure.