Republican senators’ fist bumps following their vote to withhold funding for military veterans suffering from burn pit exposure have sparked uproar.
Shortly after Republicans succeeded on Thursday in blocking the PACT Act, which would have allowed soldiers, sailors, and airmen exposed to pits of smoldering waste in combat zones to be covered by the Veterans Affairs health care system for related illnesses, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was seen on video fist-bumping Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.). Cancer affects a lot of people.
Apparently in retaliation for Republicans being outplayed by Democrats earlier this week to pass a massive $740 billion package to raise taxes on the affluent and invest in climate change and healthcare, Republicans unexpectedly objected to the bill.
Democrats and veterans’ organisations were incensed that the expectedly passed veterans bill was being blocked by irate Republicans.
“This is complete nonsense. At a press conference conducted by Democrats and veterans on Thursday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) declared, “This is the worst sort of over politicisation I’ve literally ever seen.”
Many people found the callous fist-bumping celebration to be particularly difficult to handle.
Related
- ‘Today’ Toasts Pete Williams As He Retires From NBC News
- ‘DC League Of Super-Pets’ Takes Off With $2.2M In Previews
- Disney Offers Global Travel Package To All 12 Of Its Parks For $110,000
The former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart remarked on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Thursday, “The most vile aspect of this whole process is witnessing on the Senate floor Ted Cruz fist-bumping, and then [the Republicans] slapping one other on the back when they rejected this bill.”
They “celebrated their triumph over cancer-stricken veterans. Well done, guys! Well done! You finally gave it to the “huge veteran with cancer.” “, he quipped ironically.
