We’ve made it to Wednesday – congrats!  You should find some shade, a cool beverage, and relax while reading today’s column!

Today I talk about the 33rd vote, veterans’ claims, waffles, Missing in America Project, fundraising, compromise, poll results, and much more!

33rd Vote:

Today we find the U.S. House of Representatives preparing to take its 33rd vote to repeal all or part of the Affordable Care Act.  Of course they won’t repeal it because the U.S. House is run by Republicans and the U.S. Senate and the White House are controlled by the Democrats.

It’s a purely political show today and frankly it’s getting old and ridiculous.  Where do we get leaders, like Majority Leader Eric Cantor and House Speaker John Boehner, who can’t lead and don’t seem to compromise?  It’s too bad the sides cannot get together and make the Affordable Care Act stronger and better for all Americans. 

If I were a Republican in the U.S. House I would be a little nervous that the voters back home are getting a little tired of the same tune.  There are much more important things – like veterans issues, jobs, and paying down the debt, that should take most of their attention – not scoring political points…

If I were a Democrat in the House, I’d talk about the issues our country needs to address…

565,000:

That’s a number that our federally-elected officials (Senator Max Baucus, Senator Jon Tester, and Congressman Denny Rehberg) should be ashamed of.

CBS News reported yesterday that the Department of Veterans Affairs has a backlog of 565,000 claims and it does not look like it’s going to get better anytime soon.

Instead of wasting time on repealing ObamaCare, maybe the U.S. House should devote time to ensuring the VA has the resources in place to take care of this backlog.  A veteran should never have to wait more than 60 days to receive a decision from the VA.  Never.

Yes.  No.  Maybe.

Today’s headline on the Helena Independent Record website was not too kind to Senator Jon Tester, “Taxing the wealthy: Baucus agrees; Rehberg opposes; Tester waffles.”  You can read the story HERE.

And with the line, “And Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, who’s being challenged by Rehberg in this year’s election, said Tuesday he’s still thinking about it, and will discuss the issue with fellow senators before making a decision,” I can see a campaign ad or two in the future.

The Tester folks can spin it saying that Tester is an independent thinker and does not always jump on the political party’s bandwagon…

Missing in America Project:

A big salute to the folks involved in the Missing in America Project.  According to the Associated Press, “volunteers in the state recently identified the remains after visiting funeral homes, taking inventory of unclaimed remains and authenticating death certificates with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs records.”  They identified seven Montana veterans.

On Friday these veterans will be buried in the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.  Salute.

Bullock/Hill Fundraising:

According to a story by the Associated Press, Republican Rick Hill and Democrat Steve Bullock “hauled in a little more than $50,000 in a short fundraising period that covered about two weeks.”

Bullock still has an enormous lead in the “cash on hand” category with about $800,000 in the bank.  Hill has about $150,000.

Montana HD 63:

Former Congressional candidate Franke Wilmer says she was selected by the local Democratic committee to replace the party’s candidate for the rural Bozeman House District 63 seat.  Read the story HERE.

My favorite part of the story was, “Wilmer says she hopes to win the swing district as Democrats try to even things with Republicans in the state House.  She says a more closely divided House forces good compromise.”

I’d really like to see some “good compromise” in Helena – instead of being left to think it’s a big circus with several clowns pulling stunts for attention…

Campaign Ad Poll:

Yesterday on The Western Word, I conducted a “nonscientific” poll regarding which campaign ad, Jon Tester’s Ad: “Fighting for Veterans: Jon & Tomy,” or the “Denny Rehberg Ad: “”Palden,” was liked the most.

The winner is Jon Tester’s Ad: “Fighting for Veterans: Jon & Tomy,” with 56% of the vote.

Follow Jack on Twitter @TheWesternWord.