McCain Can't Buy His Way Out of Votes Against Funding for Veterans

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

DNC Press

Washington, DC - John McCain heads to South Carolina today amid reports that his primary constituency -- the national media -- "has fallen out of love with" him, and that his high profile effort to re-launch his crumbling presidential campaign has been "a complete and utter bust." [NewYorkSunPolitics.com, 4/16/07] McCain's response, according to a report yesterday in The State, has apparently been to try to buy support in the Palmetto State. Yesterday's report revealed that McCain has paid "more than $30,000 in 2007 to a South Carolina senator and the sons of two other prominent elected officials, all of whom have endorsed" him. [The State, 04/17/2007]

McCain's campaign strategy may include buying endorsements, but no speeches or campaign cash can hide the fact that McCain voted six times in the last Congress to deny critical funding for our veterans. Starting today, the Arizona Republican will hold a series of town hall meetings with South Carolina veterans. Perhaps he'll explain why, when he had the opportunity to vote to increase funds for veterans health care and military health care facilities such as Walter Reed, McCain decided tax cuts for the wealthy were more important to his campaign strategy.

"McCain's desperate, do-anything-to-win campaign may include buying support in the Palmetto State, but he can't buy an excuse for his votes against additional funding for military and veterans health care," said Democratic National Committee Spokesman Luis Miranda. "When McCain talks to veterans and military families today, he should explain why he chose tax cuts for the wealthiest one percent over much needed funds for our veterans and military families' health care."

McCain Chose Tax Cuts for the Wealthy Over Funding Military Health Care Facilities SIX TIMES in the Last Congress

* McCain Voted Against $19 Billion for Military Hospitals. In February 2006, McCain voted against a Senate amendment that would have provided for at least $19 billion for these military health facilities, paid for by eliminating tax cuts for the wealthiest earners. [Senate Roll Call Vote 7, 2/2/06].

* McCain Voted Against Amendment to Provide $2.8 Billion For Veterans' Medical Care. McCain joined his Republican colleagues in voting against a 2006 Democratic amendment that would have provided $2.8 billion to increase veterans' medical care. [S.Amdt. 149 to S.Con.Res. 18]

* McCain Voted Against 2005 Amendment to Provide Guaranteed Funding Stream for Veterans' Health Care. McCain joined other Republicans in voting against a Democratic amendment that would have guaranteed funding for Veterans' health care from both discretionary and mandatory funding sources; provided an annual discretionary amount that is locked in for future years at the FY 2005 funding level; and stated that the Department of Veterans Affairs shall receive mandatory funding that is adjusted year-to-year based on changes in demand from the VA health care system and the rate of health care inflation. [S.Amdt. 1937 to H.R. 2863]

* McCain Voted Against Establishing $1 Billion Trust Fund to Provide Improvements to Military and Veterans' Health Facilities. McCain voted against an Amendment to establish a $1 billion trust fund to provide improvements to health facilities that treat military personnel and veterans by allowing dividends and capital gains tax breaks, for those with incomes greater than $1 million to lapse on December 31, 2006. [S.Amdt. 2735 to S.Amdt. 2707 to H.R. 4297]

* McCain Voted Against Adding $1.5 billion to Veterans' Medical Services in FY 2007 by Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes. McCain Voted Against a Democratic Amendment to increase Veterans' medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes. [S.Amdt. 3007 to S.Con.Res. 83]

* McCain Voted Against Mandatory Funding of $6.9 Billion in FY 2007 and $104 Billion Over Five Years for Veterans' Health Care. McCain voted against a Democratic amendment to provide a mandatory stream of funding of $6.9 billion in FY 2007 and $104 billion over five years for veterans' health care; and offsets by restoring the pre-2001 top rate for incomes over $1 million and closing various corporate tax loopholes. [S.Amdt. 3141 to S.Con.Res. 83]

Technorati Tags: Alerts John McCain 2008 presidential primary Palmetto State South Carolina veterans health care