The Veterans Jobs Corps Act of 2012, sponsored by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), would give grants to states, local governments, and federal agencies to hire veterans as police officers, fire fighters, and workers in parks and other public lands. It would help veteran entrepreneurs and contractors and make it easier for veterans to qualify for professional licenses based on their military training. The cost would be $1 billion over the next five years.

One would think Republicans would leap at the chance to co-sponsor the bill, given the disgraceful rate of unemployment, homelessness, and even suicide among veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq.

But no.Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he would block the bill until Pakistan releases the doctor who helped find Osama bin Laden (in other words, until hell freezes over). Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) called the bill “a political exercise.” (A political exercise? In the Senate?) “Where is our honor?” he wanted to know. “Where is our valor? Where is our sacrifice?” I should think the answer to that would be obvious: It’s in our veterans.

Besides, Coburn said, the House wouldn’t pass the bill anyway. Why not? Oh, right. The House is controlled by Republicans.

– Ann Adams

Oak Harbor