Accusations about cuts to veterans’ programs adds new volatility to debt ceiling standoff – By Scott MacFarlane and Rebecca Kaplan (CBS News) / May 1, 2023
An already volatile and dangerous political standoff over raising the nation’s debt ceiling has escalated, with the well-being of military veterans now thrust into the debate.
House Republicans scheduled a late Sunday news conference and used the House GOP social media platform on Monday to rebut accusations that their plan to raise the debt ceiling would cut benefits or services to veterans.
“Democrats are now lying to cover up what the Biden administration has done to hurt veterans and their pocketbooks over the last two years and it’s despicable. Republicans on the other hand, have been serious about cutting wasteful government spending and controlling inflation,” said Rep. Jennifer Kiggans, Republican of Virginia, one of several GOP members who served in the military and joined the Sunday call.
The dispute over veterans’ benefits stems from the mandate in the GOP debt ceiling bill to return to the levels of discretionary spending in the fiscal year 2022 budget. Democrats say that would result in a 22% cut across all programs, while Republicans say they would tailor the cuts through the appropriations process. The GOP plan to raise the debt limit does not explicitly cut veterans programs — but it does not exempt them from cuts either.
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