U.S. News
Jon Stewart slams Ted Cruz for blocking bill to treat veterans [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Comedian Jon Stewart slammed lawmakers who blocked the PACT Act, a veterans healthcare bill.
- Stewart, a veterans advocate, has gone to war on Twitter with Sen. Ted Cruz over the PACT Act.
- The PACT Act would have expanded healthcare for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.
Comedian and former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart on Sunday knocked Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for voting no on a bill to aid military veterans exposed to toxic burn pits during their service.
“The bill that Ted Cruz voted yes on had the exact same funding provisions as the bill he voted no on. It’s the exact same bill. None of this makes any sense,” Stewart told moderator Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Stewart also pushed back on Cruz’s claims that the bill is a “budgetary trick” by the Democrats to make some discretionary spending mandatory.
“That’s just a word salad that he’s spewing into his coffee cup on his way to God knows where, as veterans sit in Washington, D.C., in the sweltering heat, demanding that they pass this legislation that they’ve been fighting for, for 15 years,” Stewart said
The bill would expand health care coverage for veterans exposed to toxins and burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Senate Republicans blocked the bill last week. Though all Democrats and eight Republicans voted in favor, the bill was five votes short of the amount needed to bypass the upper chamber’s filibuster.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats will bring the bill forward a second time on Monday.
“At some point, we all have to live in reality. And what he is saying is just factually incorrect,” Stewart said Sunday, referring to Cruz.
In a response video, Cruz said that the bill “gives a $400B blank check—separate from vets care—for unrelated pork that will supercharge inflation.”
The GOP senator added that the “facts matter” and that he believes in taking care of veterans and alleged that the “accounting gimmick” by Democratic lawmakers would have been “irresponsible” in light of inflation.
Source: Insider
Redrag
August 2, 2022 at 6:46 am
That sounds like demacrats. Must put a bunch of wasteful spending so whoever it goes to can return it as a party donation. Planned Parenthood has done this for years. They send millions and millions each year that the federal government gave them back to the demacrat party. If the demacrats really wanted to pass the bill it would be the ONLY item within the bill. This simply shows they care nothing for the country and only care about themselves.
Roland
August 2, 2022 at 6:53 am
Stewart has showed everyone that he is a typical Dem. Flap his lips like a flag on a windy day. While at the same time not saying anything that contains anywhere close to the actual relevant facts!
Red MacKay
August 2, 2022 at 8:24 am
I’m not a fan at all of libtard Jon Stewart – but just maybe he is right on this one. Get your ego out of your arse Ted and get this fixed! The veterans deserve better from you.
Roland
August 2, 2022 at 8:45 am
You don’t sound very intelligent. Why would you agree to give away almost one half Trillion dollars to get a bill passed that would pass stand alone on its own merit? Put your request for the free money up as its own bill and see if it passes muster. Typical Dim. Minion.
Michael Graham
August 2, 2022 at 1:24 pm
How about the $400B that’s over half as much as you see going to our vets health going out the door to do what??? If all of that nearly trillion $ was going to help vet Sen Cruz and many more Republicans would have voted in favor of the bill even though it would cost us. THESE VETS DESERVE THIS HELP!
tj
August 2, 2022 at 10:32 am
i certainly understand that the atrocity that happened to WAR VETERANS should be compensated ,it also an atrocity the way the Media present protest without presenting transparency to the BILL and ALL IT CONTAINS. Please present a BILL that makes ALL ITEMS WITHIN A BILL TO BE TRANSPARENT TO PUBLIC BEFORE COMING TO VOTE. This selective protests to individual items is true shameful. Hypocrisy to the highest degree.
Swifty
August 2, 2022 at 11:21 am
Cruz is right. Stewart is wrong. Now Toomey says the same thing Cruz said. Cruz is not alone in pointing out the runaway spending attached to the single issue Stewart is hyperventilating over.
WardMD
August 2, 2022 at 11:55 am
You’re an IDIOT, Stewart!
Okay, how’s this: I propose an AMNESTY for ALL Illegal Aliens (both those IN the country, and those who haven’t gotten here yet).
However, there are amendments to the bill, that PROHIBITS these aliens from EVER becoming citizens (aka, NEVER voting).
They can NEVER receive Government Subsidies (no Welfare, no Medicare, no Food Stamps, etc.)!
Are YOU going to vote for it?
Are YOU going to chastise Democrats (who would ALSO NOT vote for it) – for BLOCKING a bill to grant Amnesty to TENS of MILLIONS of Illegal Aliens?
THAT, in essence, is what Republicans have done: Objected to a bill that’s LOADED with UNRELATED CRAP (that they SHOULD oppose)!
Michael Graham
August 2, 2022 at 1:28 pm
Seems like most people who read this posting have a good idea about what the dems are trying to pull. I especially like the comment on Bill transparency!
Coolmeadow Kid
August 2, 2022 at 6:09 pm
Yep, Demorats find a bill Republicans want, then at the last minute, change things to try to get money for something totally unrelated that they want, and when they can’t sneak it through, blame the Republicans with a lie. I hope the home grown Democrats are learning the sleazy ways of the people they elected.
Everett
August 2, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Why is anybody even listening to this communist fascist left-wing moron??? I thought ALL earmark bills were banned? Don’t trust what this pervert is saying………we should know better than this by now. “Socialism is a philosophy of Failure, the creed of Ignorance and the gospel of Envy, it’s inherent virtue is the equal sharing of Misery.” Winston Churchill.
Leslie
August 3, 2022 at 12:26 am
Need to pass a law that lawmaker’s can only have 1 item per bill! This isn’t right to slide other agendas that waste $$$ on their special pet projects and confuse the original reason. They do this and make Republicans look bad when they vote against wasting taxpayer’s money! Especially when it is for veterans, it needs to be only for veterans!!
Gwyllim
August 3, 2022 at 9:17 pm
Yep, the bill WAS good for veterans, and sure to pass…that’s why the Dems glommed onto it and ADDED another 400 billion for THEIR pet projects, and the (R)s were having none of it.
CharlieSeattle
August 3, 2022 at 10:58 pm
Correct! Jon Stewart is ig’nate!