Jon Stewart has slammed Republicans for blocking a bill that would help veterans exposed to hotspots in Afghanistan and Iraq.
the old Daily show the host appeared on Fox News and Newsmax to address right-wing audiences to criticize GOP senators for what he says is “a disgrace.”
Texas Senator Ted Cruz accused Mr Stewart of twisting the bill, saying Democrats were trying a “budget trick” in the PACT Act. Mr. Cruz voted against the bill despite saying he supported it and supported veterans.
‘What Ted Cruz is describing is inaccurate, not true, bulls***t,’ Mr Stewart said in a video posted to Twitter, mocking Mr Cruz for saying Democrats put ‘discretionary’ funds in the legislation they had made “compulsory”. ”.
Mr. Cruz was speaking about a budget disagreement originally challenged by retired Republican Senator Pat Toomey. The Pennsylvanian claimed the legislation would mean that $400 billion in spending already decided on for veterans would not be controlled by annual appropriations from Congress.
Mr. Cruz was spotted punching Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines in the Senate after the bill was introduced, angering Democrats and veterans’ organizations.
Democrats and Mr Stewart rejected Republican claims about the bill. The comedian asked Mr. Cruz to clarify the $400 billion “blank check or unrelated expenses that were added/slipped.”
“Now I’m not a big-city, Harvard-educated lawyer, but I can read,” he said in a mocking Southern accent. “It has always been compulsory spending, so the government cannot just cut their funding at any time. No gimmicks, no gimmicks, I’ve been there the whole time.
“Jon, you’re a funny guy, and I appreciate your commitment to public policy issues. It’s a good thing,” Cruz said in a video tweeted Friday, still saying he was a strong supporter of the bill and veterans across the country.
“But if you want to do it, the facts matter,” he said.
The bill passed the Senate 84-14 on June 16, but was defeated after some changes were made to House legislation, prompting 25 GOP senators to vote against the bill when it came back to their room.
“The most despicable part of it all is watching on the Senate floor Ted Cruz bump his fist and then pat himself on the back when they blocked this bill,” Stewart told MSNBC on Friday.
He said Republicans who voted against the bill were “celebrating their victory over veterans with cancer.”
“He talks about the PACT law, which is a bill that I support. It’s a bill that most senators support,” Cruz told TMZ of Stewart’s comments. He claimed the bill was “part of the left’s out-of-control spending.”
“There is nothing in the bill that is not related to veterans’ expenses. … It’s for veterans who have suffered the health effects of burns and other toxins. That’s it!” Mr. Stewart said in his video on Twitter.
“You are wrong here. The bill gives a $400 billion blank check – separate from veterinary care – for unrelated pork that will increase inflation. I support the PACT Act and the $679.4 billion it would spend on vets. It’s people trying to use PACT to shovel more hogs that are exploiting vets,” Cruz tweeted.
“I’m not going to blame Jon for not knowing all the facts,” Fox News host Jesse Watters said on his show Friday. “In the future, let’s do this – I’ll do the research and Jon Stewart can do the farming. It’s better for everyone that way. »
“Ah my dear Theodore. I appreciate you and @JesseBWatters trying to rally the forces of misinformation to try and kill more vets…but not honey. I’m going to take it easy because I know you only went to Princeton and Harvard…” Mr. Stewart replied.
“This is not a game. Real people’s lives are at stake…people who fought for your life. The PACT law you voted for and then inexplicably shot down is the same one that Senators Tester and Moran posted online in MAY What You Read Because You’re Smart,” he added.
The Independent Gt