Subject: [big campaign] Release: McCain Needs to Answer Questions He Dodged Monday
From: "Alan Franklin" <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:00:18 -0600
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

<http://www.progressnowaction.org/page/-/vfpban.gif> 

 

Call for McCain to Answer Questions He Dodged Monday

Veterans for Progress Call on Senator to Follow Through on Promise

For immediate release
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Contact: Jim Hudson
720-296-1936

 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGvxK660oFo>
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGvxK660oFo>
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGvxK660oFo> DENVER- Frustrated by Senator
John McCain's voting record on veterans' issues and his distortion of that
record at a Town Hall meeting in Denver on Monday, members of Veterans for
Progress today called on McCain to explain his record as the Senator
promised. 

A story covered by the national press, McCain promised Jim Hudson, a Vietnam
veteran who questioned McCain on his record, that he would be glad to
examine Hudson's "version" of McCain's record. And today Hudson is following
up on that offer. 

"I value and respect Senator McCain's service in Vietnam," Jim Hudson said.
"But as a Senator, he has repeatedly voted against health care spending for
veterans. In Monday's Town Hall meeting, I asked him to explain those votes
and he ducked the question." 

"Today, I'm giving him another chance to explain by inviting him onto a
conference call with me and other veterans," Hudson noted. 

In the Town Hall meeting, Hudson was recognized by McCain as a Vietnam
Veteran. Hudson then asked McCain to explain why he voted against his
colleagues' proposals to increase health care spending in 2004, '05, '06 and
'07 when troops were coming back from two wars. 

McCain dodged Hudson's question and gave a list of veterans' organization he
claims supported him. "The reason I have a perfect voting record from the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and all the other veterans
service organizations is because of my support of them," McCain said. 

The Senator was wrong and Hudson corrected him. 

"You do not have a perfect voting record by the DAV and the VFW. That's
where these votes are recorded," Hudson said, referring to McCain's votes
against veterans' funding over the past four years. "And I can give the
specific votes, the numbers of those Senate votes right now." 

Hudson said the conference call would give McCain an opportunity to either
dispute the record or explain it. 

"I hope Sen. McCain will honor a fellow Vietnam Veteran-and all American
veterans-by agreeing to this call," stated Leon Rodriguez, a Vietnam Veteran
and a member of Veterans for Progress who lives in Littleton, Colorado. 

###

Veterans Issues  (from www.ProjectVoteSmart.org
<http://www.projectvotesmart.org/> ):

2006  Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American
Veterans 20 percent in 2006.

2006  In 2006 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McCain a
grade of D.

2006  Senator McCain sponsored or co-sponsored 18 percent of the legislation
favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.

2005  Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American
Veterans 25 percent in 2005.

2004  Senator McCain supported the interests of the Disabled American
Veterans 50 percent in 2004.

2004  Senator McCain supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted
Association 0 percent in 2004.

From the Congressional Record: 

*	McCain Voted Against A $20 Million Increase In Healthcare For
Veterans. In 2006, McCain voted against an amendment that would add $20
million for veterans' health care facilities. It would offset the additional
spending by striking $20 million in the underlying bill for AmeriCorps.
Amendment failed 39-59. [HR 4939, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00111>  #111, 5/4/06] 

*	McCain Was One of 13 Senators To Vote Against Increase In Veterans'
Healthcare. In 2006, McCain was one of 13 senators to vote against an
amendment to add $430 million for outpatient and inpatient health care and
treatment for veterans. Amendment passed 84-16. [HR 4939, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00098>  #98, 4/26/06] 

*	McCain Voted To Cut Funding For Veterans' Healthcare. In 2006,
McCain voted against an amendment to strike a provision in the 2007 Budget
that will hold farm programs, veterans, Social Security, and Medicaid
hostage to rising health care costs by creating automatic cuts once an
arbitrary level of spending is reached in the Medicare program. The
amendment failed 50-50. [SCR 83, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00070>  #70, 3/16/06] 

*	McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans' Funding By $10 Billion. In
2006, McCain voted against an amendment to eliminate a tripling of fees for
veterans in the TRICARE health care program by raising the discretionary
spending limit by approximately $10 billion. The provisions would have been
fully offset by eliminating certain corporate tax breaks. The amendment
failed 46-53. [SCR 83, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00067>  #67, 3/16/06] 

*	McCain Voted Against Veteran's Healthcare Program. In 2006, McCain
voted against an amendment to make veterans' health benefits a mandatory
program, spending $104 billion over five years. The funding would have been
offset by closing corporate tax loopholes and rolling back the Bush tax cuts
for millionaires. Amendment rejected 46-54. [SCR 83, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00063>  #63, 3/16/06] 

*	McCain Voted Against A $1.5 Billion Increase In Healthcare For
Veterans. In 2006, McCain voted against an amendment that increased the
discretionary spending limit by $1.5 billion to $874.5 billion to provide an
increase in funding for veterans' medical services. It would be offset by
ending certain corporate tax breaks. Amendment rejected 46-54. [SCR 83, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00083>  #41, 3/14/06] 

*	McCain Failed To Vote To Support Healthcare For Veterans In Lieu of
Tax Breaks For Millionaires. In 2006, McCain failed to vote on a motion to
instruct conferees to insist that the tax reconciliation conference report
includes funding to support health needs of veterans and military personnel
in lieu of an extension of capital gains or dividends tax breaks for
individuals with incomes of more than $1 million. Motion failed 40-53. [HR
4297, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00006>  #15, 2/13/06] 

*	McCain Voted Against $19 billion For Military And Veterans'
Hospitals. In 2006, McCain voted against an amendment that provided $19
billion for military and veterans' hospitals, offset by limiting the
dividend and capital-gains tax rates to individuals earning less than $1
million. Amendment failed 44-53. [HR 4297, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00007>  #7, 2/2/06] 

*	McCain Voted Against Mental Healthcare For Veterans. In 2005, McCain
Voted against an amendment that provided an additional $500 million per year
for the next five years for mental health services for veterans. The funding
would be offset by deferring tax cuts for those making $1 million per year.
Amendment rejected 43-55. [S 2020, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00343>  #343, 11/17/05] 

*	McCain Voted Against Considering Inflation In Veterans Funding
Formula. In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that would establish a
future funding formula for health care for former members of the Armed
Forces takes into account changes in population and inflation. Amendment
failed 48-51. [HR 2863, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00251>  #251, 10/5/05] 

*	McCain Voted Against A $10 Million Increase In Readjustment
Counseling for Veterans. In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that
would provide an additional $10 million for the Readjustment Counseling
Service, offset with a $10 million reduction in the HealthVet account. The
amendment failed 48-50. [HR 2528, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00242>  #242, 9/22/05]

*	McCain Failed To Vote For A $1.5 Billion Increase In Veterans'
Healthcare. In 2005, McCain failed to vote for an amendment that would add
$1.5 billion of funding to the Department of Veterans' Affairs for medical
services provided by the Veterans Health Administration. Amendment passed
96-0. [HR 2361, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00165>  # 165, 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00166>  # 166, 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00168>  # 168, 6/29/05]

*	McCain Voted Against $1.9 Billion In Emergency Funding For Veterans'
Hospitals. In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that designated $1.9
billion in emergency funding for veterans' hospitals. The $1.9 billion
provided for the VA by the underlying amendment will help the VA to cover
the costs of caring for these new veterans, and ensure that the VA is able
to provide them with the care they deserve. The amendment failed 46-54. [HR
1268, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00090>  #90, 4/12/05]

*	McCain Voted Against A $2 Billion Increase In Veterans' Funding. In
2005, McCain voted against an amendment that would increase funding for the
Veterans Affairs Department by $1.98 billion and designate it as emergency
spending. It would stipulate that $840 million be used for veterans'
regional health networks; $610 million be used to address the needs of
service members deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan; and $525 million be used
to provide mental health care and treatment. Amendment failed 46-54. [HR
1268, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00089>  #89, 4/12/05]

*	McCain Voted Against Creating A Reserve Fund For Veterans' Health
Care. In 2004, McCain voted against an amendment that would create a reserve
fund to allow for an increase in veterans medical care by $1.8 billion, the
amount determined by Veterans' Affairs Committee to meet existing needs; and
is fully offset by closing tax loopholes. Amendment rejected 46-51.
[SCR95,Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=108&session=2&vote=00040>  #40,3/10/04]

*	McCain Voted Against A $1.3 billion Increase In Veterans' Health
Benefits. In 2003, McCain voted to table an amendment that included a $1.
Billion increase in funding for health benefits. The amendment would reduce
the amount provided for Iraqi reconstruction by $5.03 billion, and redirect
that funding for domestic programs, including $1.8 billion for veterans'
health benefits, $1 billion for school reconstruction, renovation and repair
and class size reduction, and $1.5 billion for capital improvements for
federal highways. It also would express the sense of the Senate that
Congress should consider an additional $5.03 billion in funding for Iraqi
reconstruction during the fiscal 2005 budget and appropriations process. The
motion to table passed 59-35. [S 1689, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=108&session=1&vote=00379>  #379, 10/14/03]

*	McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans' Health Care Program. In
2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would increase spending on the
TRICARE program by $20.3 billion over 10 years to give members of the
National Guard and Reserves and their families greater access to the health
care program. The increase would be offset by a reduction in tax cuts.
Amendment rejected 46-51. [SCR23,Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=108&session=1&vote=00081>  #81,3/25/03]

*	McCain Failed To Vote For A $1.3 Billion Increase In Funding For
Veterans' Healthcare. In 1999, McCain failed to vote for an amendment that
increased the funding provided to Veterans' Health Administration by $1.3
billion. The amendment failed 36-63. [HR 2684, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=106&session=1&vote=00285>  #285, 9/22/99]

*	McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans' Health Administration By
$1 Billion. In 1998, McCain voted against an amendment that would add $1
billion for Veterans' Health Administration Medical Care. The funding would
budget neutral and would come from the termination of the space station
program. The amendment failed 33-66. [S 2168, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=105&session=2&vote=00185>  #185, 7/7/98]

*	McCain Voted Against $400 Million In Veterans' Funding. In 1997,
McCain voted to table an amendment that would permit $400 million in DOD
funds to be transferred to Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide health
benefits under laws administered by Secretary. Motion to table agreed to
58-41. [S936,Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=105&session=1&vote=00168>  #168,7/10/97]

*	McCain Voted Against Covering Spina Bifida For The Children of
Veterans. In 1996, McCain voted against the germaneness of an amendment that
would extend veterans health care and related benefits to the children of
Vietnam Veterans suffering from spina bifida, a spinal cord birth defect
that causes neurological damage. The amendment was judged germane 62-35. [HR
3666, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=104&session=2&vote=00276>  #276, 9/5/96]

*	McCain Voted Against Preventing Cuts In Veterans' Healthcare
Funding. In 1996, McCain voted to table an amendment that would prohibit the
Department of Veterans' Affairs from reducing funds to any state for health
care facilities in fiscal 1997 below the fiscal 1996 funding level. Motion
to table passed. [HR 3666, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=104&session=2&vote=00275>  # 275, 9/5/96]

*	McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans' Healthcare Funding By $511
Million. In 1995, McCain voted against an amendment which would increase the
funding for veterans' medical care by $511 million; and offsets the cost of
this amendment by limiting any tax cut to families with incomes of less than
$100,000. Amendment failed 51-49. [HR 2099, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=104&session=1&vote=00466>  #466, 9/27/95]

*	McCain Voted To Restrict Funding For Veterans' Care Facilities. In
1994, McCain voted against tabling an amendment that the amendment would
prohibit the construction of three inpatient facilities, located in Hawaii,
California, and Tennessee. The projects in Hawaii and California will
provide access to acute care for large numbers of veterans in the areas to
be served, without which they would not have access to VA inpatient
services. The project in Tennessee involves the correction of serious
seismic deficiencies in the Memphis VA facility, which is located in a
dangerous earthquake area. Motion to table passed 62-36. [HR 4624, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=103&session=2&vote=00256>  #256, 8/4/94]

*	McCain Voted To Cut $25 Million From Veterans' Health Programs. In
1993, McCain not to table an amendment that transferred $25 million of
veterans' health funding to programs for the Veterans Department to
occupation conversion and employment training programs for veterans. Motion
to table passed 57-43. [HR 1335, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=103&session=1&vote=00097>  #97, 4/1/93]

*	McCain Voted Against Increasing Veterans' Healthcare & Research
Funding By $431 Million. In 1991, McCain voted against an amendment to
increase veterans' program funding by $378 million for medical care and $53
million for medical and prosthetic research. Amendment failed 35-64. [HR
2519, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=102&session=1&vote=00132>  #132, 7/17/91]

*	McCain Voted Against $200 Million For Veterans' Healthcare. In 1990,
McCain voted to table an amendment that transferred $200 million to the
Department of Veterans' Affairs medical account. The money would be
transferred from the Strategic Defense Initiative. Motion to table passed
54-43. [S 2884, Vote
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=101&session=2&vote=00226>  #226, 8/4/90]

McCain Has Voted To Cut, Eliminate, or Gut Veterans Health Care Funding At
Least 29 Times. [HR 4939, Vote #111
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00111> , 5/4/06][HR 4939, Vote #98
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00098> , 4/26/06][SCR 83, Vote #70
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00070> , 3/16/06][SCR 83, Vote #67
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00067> , 3/16/06][SCR 83, Vote #63
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00063> , 3/16/06][SCR 83, Vote #41
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00083> , 3/14/06][HR 4297, Vote #15
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00006> , 2/13/06][HR 4297, Vote #7
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=2&vote=00007> , 2/2/06][S 2020, Vote #343
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00343> , 11/17/05][HR 2863, Vote #251
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00251> , 10/5/05][HR 2528, Vote #242
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00242> , 9/22/05][HR 2361, Vote # 165
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00165> , 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote # 166
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00166> , 6/29/05; HR 2361, Vote # 168
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00168> , 6/29/05][HR 1268, Vote #90
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00090> , 4/12/05][HR 1268, Vote #89
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=109&session=1&vote=00089> , 4/12/05][SCR 95, Vote #40
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=108&session=2&vote=00040> , 3/10/04][S 1689, Vote #379
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=108&session=1&vote=00379> , 10/14/03][SCR 23, Vote #81
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=108&session=1&vote=00081> , 3/25/03][S 2168, Vote #185
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=105&session=2&vote=00185> , 7/7/98][S 936, Vote #168
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=105&session=1&vote=00168> , 7/10/97][HR 3666, Vote #276
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=104&session=2&vote=00276> , 9/5/96][HR 3666, Vote # 275
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=104&session=2&vote=00275> , 9/5/96][HR 2099, Vote #466
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=104&session=1&vote=00466> , 9/27/95[HR 4624, Vote #256
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=103&session=2&vote=00256> , 8/4/94][HR 1335, Vote #97
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=103&session=1&vote=00097> , 4/1/93][S 2884, Vote #226
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=101&session=2&vote=00226> , 8/4/90][HR 2519, Vote #132
<http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cf
m?congress=102&session=1&vote=00132> , 7/17/91]

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