Critics blast (R-NE) Johanns, other GOP senators for vote on jobs bill for vets

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120921/NEWS/709219941/1707#critics-blast-johanns-other-gop-senators-for-vote-on-jobs-bill-for-vets

By Joseph Morton

Rachel Maddow of MSNBC was among the critics calling out Mike Johanns and other
Republican senators for their votes that helped sink a jobs bill for veterans.
Click here to watch a YouTube clip of Maddow's comments:

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WASHINGTON — Particularly high unemployment rates among Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans gave extra charge to this week's vote on a jobs bill for veterans that is already heavy with political implications.

A recent report by Congress' Joint Economic Committee cited an 11 percent unemployment rate among Nebraska's post-9/11 veterans in 2011. In Iowa, the number was 11.8 percent, and nationally it's 12.1 percent.

Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska and several Republicans from the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee found themselves in the cross hairs of critics this week after their votes helped sink the jobs bill that included some of their own proposals.

Johanns said he still supports the substance of the bill, which would create a $1 billion program to put unemployed veterans to work tending federal lands and bolstering local police and fire departments.

FULL story at link.