Edwards blocks GIs' loan break

Washington Times ^ | Tuesday, July 1, 2003 | By Charles Hurt

[JohnHuang2]

Sen. John Edwards, North Carolina Democrat, is single-handedly blocking Senate action on legislation all but unanimously supported by the House to ease the student-loan burden for soldiers fighting overseas.

In April, the House voted 421-1 to pass the HEROES Act, which essentially would defer student loans for soldiers called into action. The only dissenting vote was cast accidentally by one of the bill's sponsors.

[Constitution Day]

Indexing to Edwards Watch...

[Dante3]

A stupid move.

[ctonious]

Told last week that everyone involved with the legislation adamantly said that Mr. Edwards put the hold on it, Edwards spokesman Mike Briggs replied, "They're adamantly wrong."

Yesterday, however, Mr. Briggs acknowledged that his boss was stalling the bill.

Par for the course. The 'Rats can't help themselves. They are congenital liars.

[Constitution Day]

In May, Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, and Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat, introduced a bill that would require senators to publish their reasons in the Congressional Record within two days of lodging such a hold.

Does this mean the bill is still in committee, or what?

[Alas Babylon!]

You know, I'm sure, that if this was a Republican running for the Presidency, it would be the top story tonight on ABC/CBS/CNN/MSNBC/NBC/PBS.

[TommyDale]

"Isn't Edwards the same SOB that has a problem showing up for a vote on ANY bill and now he's holding this one up..."

Yes, my thoughts exactly. Just when does Edwards find time to show up at the Senate, anyway? Will this story be reported in the North Carolina newspapers, TV & Radio?

[ought-six]

"Speaking of Mr.Viet Nam. I heard on a local talk show that he was not really a hero there, but instead got mixed up with Jane Fonda, or something of that sort and was considered a traitor by the men in his company.
Does anyone know the story on this?"

He served on a Navy patrol boat. After he was discharged he became VERY active in the anti-war movement, especially the Vietnam Veterans Against The War.

[mewzilla]

bump

[alancarp]

ditto. Bumped and forwarded to WSJS Radio (Winston-Salem).

[mewzilla]

I think Edwards and Lieberman are trying to see who can best screw the military. Oh, what this says about their constituencies...

[cinFLA]

Any Senator running for President should be required to resign their Senate position. It is impossible to work for the interest of the country while working for your own interest.

You make the assumption that when they are working for the senate they are dedicated to working for the country.

[mykdsmom]

Bump and sent to Jerry Agar, hopefully this will make his show.

MKM

[kaboom]

If Edwards is holding this up, then he certainly is an ass.

What really concerns me lately, is the power lust being shown by the Senate in general. They give themselves powers, money, and benefits that far exceed their intended scope and the people that they represent (ie. the forementioned "tradition", pay raises, health plans. etc...) Where has their representative duty to the people gone? Where is the accountability when they set up their "secret" rules? </idealist rant off>

[petitfour]

The Edwards amendment would waive interest accrued by soldiers while engaged in military action and would cost about $10 million per deployment, Mr. Briggs said. I don't have a problem with the Edwards amendment. Why won't the rest of the committee add the amendment to the bill? Or are they the ones putting politics before substance. If the soldiers are gonna get deferments because of military action, shouldn't the interest stop? The statement about soldiers having to mail a check from Baghdad is sort of misleading. Everything is automated. The loan payment can be automatically deducted from a checking account. How are soldiers paid? Do they have their checks automatically deposited?

[gathersnomoss]

Another liberal prop waiting for his/her rightful turn for a public office. Just what the founding fathers warned us about. Is he trying to "feel" someone's pain? BC the second.

[wimpycat]

He's a real SOB.

He's a Damn Liar!

(as opposed to just being a liar)

[Howlin]

I did the same thing to WRAL and the N&O!

Rebel, can you get this to the Greensboro papers and TV stations?

kayak, can you get this to Charlotte?

[Howlin]

Why, yes, he is; he missed 53 percent of the votes last month!

Busy, busy. And just so you know, he was NOT in North Carolina.

[Howlin]

Get this to the Rocky Mount etc. stations!

[jpl]

Sometimes I think there's absolutely nothing in this world more despicable than a U.S. Senator.