This morning, we wrote that Tammy Duckworth had "all
but seal[ed] up her nomination to serve as an assistant secretary for
the federal V.A.," after her confirmation hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Commmittee yesterday. Duckworth had been expecting a committee vote today, followed by a swearing-in ceremony tomorrow at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in D.C., where she recovered in 2004 after losing both of her legs as an IL National Guard major serving in Iraq.
But Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) scuttled that plan by blocking the committee vote this morning. Army Times has the details:
Burr aides said the senator is not blocking her nomination. They described the delay as a matter of paperwork and timing. [...]
Duckworth’s nomination won’t come to a vote until Burr gets answers to some questions, Senate sources said, without specifying exactly what Burr wanted to know. [...]
The Senate will be wrapping up its work on Thursday or Friday and will then take a two-week Easter recess, which means the veterans committee won’t be prepared for another vote before April 21.
Hmmm. Jon Soltz, Iraq War veteran and chairman of VoteVets.org, released the following statement in response:
"How dare Senator Burr needlessly delay the nomination of a war hero like Tammy Duckworth to perform critical duties at the Department of Veterans Affairs? The VA is overloaded with troops coming home, and needs all hands on deck, but as of right now, only Secretary Shinseki has been confirmed and sworn-in. Tammy Duckworth isn’t only qualified to take office at Veterans Affairs, she is exactly what we need right now – an Iraq veteran with experience in the VA system.
“Tammy Duckworth was nominated a couple of months ago, and Senator Burr has had plenty of time to ask questions of her. Senator Burr is only hurting American veterans with this nonsense. He should stop playing petty partisan games, stop needling the White House for the sheer fun of it, and grow up.”
We'll let you know if we get any more details on those "questions" Burr wants answered.
Comments
Philosophe Forum on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:24
She's never been that outspoken about the abuses at Walter Reed. She's also a huge Blago crony. WaPo has always had the real scoop on her. No one's paid any attention -- unless there's a deal to be made.
ALISON, MPA
Philosophe Forum
Vanessa (not verified) on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:36
Major Duckworth is not a crony of Blagojevich. She is a decorated hero who ran a clean and forthright congressional campaign against a Republican who smeared her in horrible negative ads, while she refused to get in the gutter. Senator Richard Durbin discovered this amazing woman when he chose to have an Iraq veteran accompany him to the State of the Union several years ago. She is an impressive and smart woman with a delightful sense of humor and and earthy realness. Blagojevich never campaigned for her or appeared at her events. He appointed her to a position as head of Illinois Veteran Affairs because she had distinguished herself. Illinois has its reformers, and Ms. Duckworth is one of them. She is a moderate Democrat who is in the middle on most issues and is firmly committed to the well-being of veterans. And, by the way, she was extremely candid about the excellent care she got at Walter Reed. However, when she learned about the sordid quarters some Vets were living in, she was highly critical. This slowdown on her confirmation is political. Period. The Republicans in the Senate are blocking as many appointments as they can. This is just the next one on the list.
ncmagnolia (not verified) on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 04:53
I don't know the Major but living in North Carolina, I am unfortunately familiar w Burr. He has like his crony Libby Dole, stood for nothing but Republican nihilism. And, like Dole he will be replaced if he runs for a second term in NC. Good riddance!
Philosophe Forum on Sat, 04/04/2009 - 08:49
The only reason IL & the rest of the country know that Duckworth exists is because Rambo had an intense hatred of Christine Cegelis when she wouldn't behave & follow his orders like a good little girl. That's what he wanted. That's what Durbin supplied. Duckworth is a face & fundraiser for the Party as she talks about her experiences. She is a wonderful illusion.
She has never been outspoken about the abuses at Walter Reed. If she had used her Congressional run to point out how inadequate the hospital was during her stay there, if not specifically for her, but for others, she would be in Congress today. Not fighting for vets makes her a very wrong person for this job.
The Daily Herald reported that Duckworth had nothing to say when allegations came out in impeachment proceedings that the Blago Administration was illegally passing over veterans to install cronies in state jobs. Not fighting for vets makes her a crony & proves she hasn't reformed anything.
Also, Blago just got indicted. I don't believe in coincidences. If we're lucky, the illusion's finally coming to an end.
ALISON, MPA
Philosophe Forum
heal57 (not verified) on Mon, 04/06/2009 - 20:12
How do the Democrats, the party in power, allow this nonsense to go on? Senator Akaka [D-AK] is on the Committee and I emailed him to do something to get Duckworth confirmed pronto. If the Democrats saw a spoine, they wouldn't know what it was.
Post new comment
Progress Illinois' intention is to foster community and to maintain a comfortable and constructive blogging environment. While we encourage and appreciates different points of view, we do not consider it our duty to give a voice to anybody with an opinion.
Discussion on this site is moderated. All comments submitted will be automatically held for review by the editors before posting. Your comment will not appear on the site until it has been approved.
We will not publish comments that we consider:
Please leave a name or nickname when commenting, as it makes it easier for others to respond directly.