When It Comes to Our Veterans - McCain Doesn't Get It!

Less there be some mistake as to whether Senator McCain told the truth when it came to our Veterans and his promise to “take care of them’ as he stated during the debates last night, here is his record. Senator McCain has a tendency to lie when it comes to his support of our servicemen. In fact, most of the lawmakers in Congress wearing the Republican Party badge have a shaky record when it comes to the welfare of our troops. Make no mistake, the Republicans don’t mind sending our relatives off to war, in some cases their own relatives, but when it comes to protecting them and providing for them – the answer is a resounding ‘NO’.

Most recently, May 22, 2008, Senator McCain had an opportunity to vote in support of legislation to appropriate funds for the war in Iraq and McCain did not vote. In that bill was an amendment that provided for the education of our veterans – McCain took care of our Veterans; the good Senator voted 'NO'. Senator Obama voted ‘Yes’ for HR 2642.

That entry in the Congressional record is available for you here:

HR 2642 GI Bill and Other Domestic Provisions
Sub Amend S Amendment 4803: GI Bill and Other Domestic Provisions
Issues: Budget, Spending and Taxes, Education, Foreign Aid and Policy Issues, Senior and Social Security Issues, Veterans Issues, Welfare and Poverty
Date: 05/22/2008
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry (D-NV)

In January of 2008 HR 4986, a bill that provides the following for veterans was on the floor for a vote. These provisions in that bill would affect veterans:

-Increases the basic monthly pay for members of the uniformed services by 3.5 percent starting January 1, 2008 (Sec. 601).

-Permits veterans who are 100 percent disabled to receive all of both their retirement pay and their disability pay (Sec. 642).

Senator McCain did not vote for this bill, nor did Senator Obama.

HR 4986:
Issues: Budget, Spending and Taxes, Defense, Foreign Aid and Policy Issues, Veterans Issues
Date: 01/22/2008
Sponsor: Rep. Skelton, Ike (D-MO)

The vote was taken for S 2020 the 17th of November, 2005. The bill, “To provide an additional $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to be used for readjustment counseling, related mental health services, and treatment and rehabilitative services for veterans with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder”, was not supported by Senator McCain. Senator McCain voted ‘no’. Senator Obama voted ‘yes’.

Bill Number: S 2020
Issue: Veterans Issues
Date: 11/17/2005
Sponsor: Amendment: Sen. Boxer, Barbara [CA]; Original Bill: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [IA]

S Amendment 1937 to HR 2863, a bill that provided for the future funding of health care for former members of the Armed Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation was introduced on November 5th of 2005. Senator McCain voted ‘no’. Senator Obama voted ‘yes’.

Health Care for Veterans Amendment
Bill Number: HR 2863
Date: 2005-10-05
Sponsor: Amendment: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [MI]; Original Bill: Rep Young, C. W. Bill [FL-10]

Senator McCain has consistently voted against, or ignored bills that had reference to our Armed Services. When the Senator from Arizona stands before the cameras and tells you that he will take care of our veterans, I am not sure that he will take care of them in a good way – do you?

Another disturbing trend in the vote for our servicemen is the tendency of Republicans to vote along party lines in non-support of Veterans Affairs and benefits.

Project Smart Vote, an independent organization that tracks the voting records of all of our Congressmen, has compiled a non-bias data base that reflects the tendencies of all elected officials in Washington. Familiarize yourself with this site!