Todays news from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): Veterans Bill Would Undo Military Pension Cuts: Legislation by Sen. Bernie Sanders would restore full funding for military retiree pensions and expand veterans’ benefits, WCAX-TV and Military Times reported. In a front page article, The Washington Post cited aides to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid saying the Senate will soon bring forward Sanders’ legislation to restore the benefit cuts. Sen. Richard Burr plans to introduce a Republican alternative to Sanders bill, because he doesnt think Sanders legislation can pass the House. The Senate Armed Services Committee will address the military pensions issue on Monday as it considers legislation by Sens. Mark Pryor and Kay Hagan, National Journal reported. VA Benefits Backlog: As veterans come home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are facing significant delays at the Department of Veterans Affairs, an agency that has struggled to upgrade its aged paper system to digital, Politico reported. The total number of backlogged VA claims has dropped more than 35 percent since it peaked in March. Sen. Sanders, chairman of the Senate veterans committee, said the department is finally “in the process now of undertaking something that should have been done years ago.” Sanders Supports USPS Banking: The Postal Service should be allowed to find innovative new ways to shore up its finances including offering limited banking services to customers, Sen. Sanders told The Ed Schultz Show. “We need to give the Postal Service the tools it needs - not just in banking but in a number of other areas - to serve the needs of the America people.” The Koch Brothers Party: Sen. Sanders lamented the rise of a third party in national and state politics - the Koch Brothers party - on The Thom Hartmann Program Wednesday. As wealthy donors pour millions into the political process following the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, Sanders said the political money affects every single issue and undermines the very foundations of our American democracy. Sanders called for public financing of elections. Continue reading here: sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/020614
Posted on: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 14:24:02 +0000
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