Political Quotes

“yesterday my friend the Republican leader ticked off a list of bills on which he believes Democrats and Republicans can agree. I couldn't help but notice that the VOW to Hire Heroes legislation that would give tax cuts to companies to hire out- of-work and disabled veterans wasn't on that list he ticked off. The bill I just referred to, the VOW to Hire Heroes legislation, ought to be free of even a whiff of controversy. House Republicans already voted for the major components of that bill--a plan to give older veterans access to job training so they can keep up with the rapidly changing workplace and to help young veterans transition from Active-Duty service to the civilian workplace. The bill wouldn't add a dime to the deficit, so there should be no objection there. It is paid for with a noncontroversial extension of an existing fee on VA-backed mortgages. It is a version of the same bill for which House Republicans already voted. Republicans have voted for tax credits for companies that hire out-of-work and disabled veterans in the past, so that can't be the holdup. We will pass this important legislation as an amendment to a bill sent over from the House to repeal a 3 percent withholding provision from government contractors. Republicans have been chomping at the bit to pass this measure, so the House vehicle for VOW to Hire Heroes is not the source of their radio silence, I am sure. There are no procedural or philosophical hurdles to passing this bill.…”