David Vitter: “I object on behalf of 43 Senators, including myself. Reclaiming the floor and reclaiming my time, I would say we all…”

“I object on behalf of 43 Senators, including myself. Reclaiming the floor and reclaiming my time, I would say we all want to work very hard to help veterans. We all acknowledge that the health care and work claim backlog issues are extremely important. That is why I am very involved in all of those issues across the board. That is why, for instance, I am an active member of the claims backlog working group, working with the VA to improve that situation and proposing focused legislation. We all care very much about that. But right now Senator Sanders' comprehensive bill has significant concerns in opposition--43 Senators, over 40 percent of the whole body. I do object on behalf of myself and the rest of those folks. I do commit to continuing to work on those issues, but I also express real regret that when this body is very divided on the important details of that bill--and the details do matter--we don't come together on something we agree on, and we can't accomplish a few important steps at a time. Perhaps Senator Sanders thinks that if we do this, somehow it takes away momentum for his larger bill. I think that is nonsense. These 27 clinics in 18 States are important, but they are a trivial part of that broader bill. They are a trivial part of all of the proposals in that broader bill. I don't think it takes away any momentum in any way, shape, or form for that broader bill.…”