White House Continues Blasting Congressional GOP Over Potential Veterans Benefit Cuts

LOADING ERROR LOADING More than 600,000 veterans in a handful of high-profile congressional battleground districts could be hurt by potential cuts to government programs if the House debt limit bill becomes law, according to the White House. “If House Republicans have buyers’ remorse about the agonizing cuts they just endorsed for those that sacrificed for our freedom and security, the good news is there’s an obvious solution: stop holding our economy hostage and cleanly vote against causing a recession,” said Andrew Bates, a White House deputy press secretary, in a memo obtained by HuffPost on Saturday. Rep. Kay Granger, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee, has said lawmakers can provide for defense, veterans and border security while cutting overall annual spending. Rep. Kay Granger, the chair of the House Appropriations Committee that doles out annual spending, said in April, “We will provide for our national defense, take care of veterans, and secure our border – all while reducing overall spending.” Rep. Mike Bost, the chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, said Democrats are engaging in “dangerous rhetoric.” “Simply put, they are playing politics with our veterans,” Bost said. Veterans are not political pawns to advance a political agenda.” - Rep. Mike Bost, chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee The heat over the potential cuts illustrates the political potency of the veterans issue.