Having had no luck in a political battle pitting deficit reduction against the unemployed, Democrats on Tuesday tried deficit reduction against veterans. It didn't work.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) asked for unanimous consent to approve a $3.4 billion bill to help homeless women veterans and homeless vets with kids. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell objected on behalf of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who is taking a stand against any measure that adds to the deficit.
"If we don't start paying for new programs and continue on our path to bankruptcy we'll have a homelessness problem beyond imagination," Coburn spokesman John Hart told HuffPost. "The old Washington excuse that it's too hard to cut spending is undermining our troops, our veterans and our future."
Murray said she would ask again for unanimous consent. "I can't go home and look at someone who's served our country with distinction and honor who today is living on the street because the Senate is objecting."
Senate Democrats wasted no time memorializing the objection on YouTube:
Click HERE to download a PDF of a letter from Coburn, which suggests spending cuts to offset the cost of the bill.