VA talks teeter on collapse

Negotiations over finalizing legislation overhauling the scandal-tarred Department of Veterans Affairs appeared on the verge of collapse Thursday amid deep partisan divides over cost.

Tension that had been bubbling for weeks exploded with a parade of Senate Democrats taking to the floor to blast House Republicans for calling a conference committee meeting at noon on Thursday. They said that decision was made unilaterally by House Veterans Affairs’ Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) to offer a “take-it-or-leave-it” proposal with just days left before a five-week congressional recess.

Barring a lightning quick breakthrough, the developments diminish hopes of Congress passing a new veterans law before next Friday, when the August break begins.

The standoff is notable because Miller and Senate Veterans’ Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) agree on the basic outline of a reform bill: Expand private health care access to veterans that live near overburdened facilities and crack down on bad actors within the department. But both parties are haggling over how to pay for it — one of the most difficult tasks for Congress on any legislation given the lack of appetite for new taxes or spending cuts so close to the midterm elections.

Sanders said that he submitted to Miller a compromise bill last week — and Miller’s response was to announce a conference committee meeting to offer GOP legislation that Sanders has not seen. Sanders also said he had not agreed to hold a conference committee meeting — which gaveled in with no Senate Democratic Caucus members attending, though a at least one House Democrats was on hand.

“My understanding is that he then wants to take this to the House on Monday to come up with a vote. In other words his idea of negotiation is: ‘We have a proposal. Take it or leave it,’” Sanders said on the floor. “Any sixth-grader in a school of the United States understands: This is not negotiation.”

Sanders was backed by two Democratic legislators who have keen interest in the conference committee, Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Mark Begich of Alaska, who told Republicans to “stop nickel and diming our veterans.”

“For six weeks, members on the other side of the aisle in both the House and the Senate have balked at the cost of taking care of our veterans. Many of these lawmakers are the same ones, the same ones who put our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on the credit card,” Tester said.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) attempted to arbitrate negotiations between Miller and Sanders, engaging in a floor discussion with the Vermont senator to try to find a middle ground that pays for some of a bill’s multibillion costs. Both the House and Senate proposals have been estimated to spend more than $30 billion; Sanders said his latest offer trims that number significantly.

McCain pleaded for a truce between the warring factions — but rapped Miller for violating the “simple courtesy” of scheduling a conference meeting with Sanders.

“I hope that kind of thing doesn’t happen again,” McCain said. “I beg my colleagues to sit down and let’s work this out. It’s a matter of money. It’s not a matter of the provisions of the bill. And that can’t be the reason for us not to reach some agreement.”

Miller said reports of negotiations falling through are “exaggerated.”

Still, the spat is reaching the upper levels of Congress.

“Senate Democrats refused to even show up and discuss bipartisan solutions, preferring instead to talk behind closed doors. That is shameful,” said Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio.) “If President Obama cares about America’s veterans, he needs to pick up his phone out in California and tell Senate Democrats to get to work.”

A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called the hearing a “partisan political press stunt.”

But there was at least one bipartisan breakthrough for vets on Thursday: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell struck a deal to hold a confirmation vote on the Obama administration’s pick to run the VA, Robert McDonald. He’s expected to be confirmed easily....