Hopes fade for vote to help veterans

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Hopes faded late Wednesday that key senators could quickly craft a compromise bill that would help veterans facing long appointment waits at veterans hospitals and make it easier to fire administrators who covered up the delays.

Senators had hoped to vote as soon as today on a measure to address an uproar over veterans’ health care after allegations that veterans have died while waiting to see a Veterans Affairs doctor. Senators wanted to pass the bill before Friday’s 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II. Up to a dozen senators were expected to attend the D-Day ceremonies in France.

Leading the negotiations were Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican presidential candidate in 2008, and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.