Vying For The Veterans' Vote.

The article reports that as both U.S. chambers this week slog through the annual Defense authorization bill, members have praised a little-noted provision in the House version to fix a veterans' benefit that has long been criticized by military retirees and their allies on Capitol Hill. But behind the scenes, the effort to claim credit for that action has featured bitter partisan attacks in an area that traditionally has featured cooperation. Also taking credit is Representative Chet Edwards, Democrat-Texas, who has focused on defense issues from his seats on the Appropriations and Budget committees.