House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) recently announced that, for the first time in six decades, there would be no joint session of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees to hear concerns directly from organizations representing those who’ve served. The announcement was not well received. Disabled American Veterans National Commander Paul W. Jackson said, “The tradition of legislative presentations by veterans service organizations dates back to at least the 1950s. And the timing of this announcement — just before Veterans Day — could not have been worse.”
Similar comments came from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and others. Of course, it’s not just veterans’ groups. Congressional Dems are weighing in — and they’re making threats.
Democrats on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee are openly rebelling against Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) over his cancellation of Congress’s annual joint hearings with veterans groups, spurring lawmakers and lobbyists to consider breakaway hearings of their own. […]
Democrats on Buyer’s committee responded this week with a strongly worded letter, asking the chairman to reinstate the annual joint hearings or risk the embarrassment of hearings led by the minority.
Good for them. The Dems basically said if the GOP won’t give the veterans’ groups a chance to share their concerns directly with lawmakers, then the Dems will. Dems practically dared Buyer, saying he’s welcome to personally “withdraw” from the hearings, but Dems will be there, veterans will be there, and chances are, a few reporters might show up too.
In fact, Senate Republicans are already distancing themselves from Buyer’s move. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Larry Craig (R-Idaho) said yesterday, “I did not join [Buyer] in what he proposed.”
How soon until Buyer flip-flops his way back to endorsing the same joint hearing the committees have held for decades? It should happen any minute now. Good things happen when Dems play hardball.