This posting is another in the series of Empowering Veterans, Inc.'s "Worst 10" list of incumbent Senators up for reelection in 2008. We need veterans from Minnesota to volunteer to help us beat this guy
Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota Another Profile in Hypocrisy
Senator Coleman's Votes and Lack of Senate Oversight Has Consequences
Young Marine Dies of PTSD - and Neglect
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Headline from Winona Daily News - Fool us Once, Senator Coleman
http://www.winonadailynews.com/...
Headline - Soldiers Face Neglect, Frustration At Army's Top Medical Facility
See for yourself the results of the Administration's and this fellow traveler's "Support the Troop" Hypocrisy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
NEVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY AND IS NOT SERVING THEM NOW
Awarded a Grade of D by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Awarded a Rating of 0%in 2004 by the Disabled American Veterans
Awarded a Rating of 50% in 2005 by the Disabled American Veterans
Awarded a Rating of 40% in 2006 by the Disabled American Veterans
The Lives of Military Personnel OR Tax Cuts for the Rich Coleman voted "NO" to:
$25.41 Billion for increased military procurement of equipment.
(S Roll Call 008, 02/02/2006)
$16.9 Billion for increased Army maintenance funding.
(S Roll Call 008, 02/02/2006)
$4.5 Billion for increased Marine Corps maintenance funding.
(S Roll Call 008, 02/02/2006)
Please visit us at http://www.empoweringveterans.org/...
and volunteer to help beat Norm Coleman.
Although Senator Coleman was not in the Senate when the tax cuts* for the wealthy were enacted his voting record is clear that he fully supports these tax cuts and has voted consistently to sustain them at the expense of members of the Armed Forces and their families and veterans and their families.* The top 1% of wage earners (Average $1,171,000) received 25% of the tax benefit according to [need source here].
Depriving the Armed Forces of equipment and resources to stay safe and alive in War Time. Providing Tax Cuts for the wealthiest Americans in War Time.
Coleman Votes AGAINST Working Families, FOR Corporate Welfare
"NO" to allowing the government to negotiate fair prices for prescription drugs under the Social Security Drug benefit. (S Roll Call 302, 11/03/2005)
"NO" to prosecuting corporations for dealing with sponsors of TERRORISM. (S Roll Call 203, 07/26/2005)
Coleman votes FOR the Wealthiest, AGAINST Working Families "YES" to the Wealthy
$39.7 Billion in Reductions to MEDICARE to sustain war time TAX CUTS for the wealthy (S Roll Call 0363, 12/21/2005)
"NO" to Working Families
Increased Katrina relief for food assistance, bankruptcy relief, and tax help. Many of the Katrina families are veterans. (S Roll Call 234, 09/15/2005)
$5 Billion to increase funding for Elementary and Secondary Education (S Roll Call 269, 10/26/2005)
$4 Billion to increase funding for educational services for children with Disabilities (S Roll Call 273, 10/26/2005)
Norm Coleman’s Pandering to Corporate America Endangers Military Personnel
Voted "NO" to creating special committee to investigate the awarding of contracts in war zone, looking at:
Bidding, methods of contracting, subcontracting, oversight procedures, allegations of wasteful practices. (S Roll Call 316, 11/10/2005)
"PROFITEERING in WAR TIME is tantamount to TREASON." Harry S. Truman
Please visit us at http://www.empoweringveterans.org/...
and volunteer to help beat Norm Coleman.
Coleman consistently votes against needed improvements in Veterans’ Health CareColeman voted:
"NO" to authorize $21.9 billion for the VA for compensation and pensions; medical care and hospital improvements. (S Roll Call 007, 02/02/2006)
"NO" to increase VA funding for the increased demand for VA services due to the Iraq War. (S Roll Call 251, 10/05/2005)
Coleman’s Voting Record Hurts Veterans & their Families
30% of returning veterans diagnosed with mental health problems and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
82% of New Patients need intensive PTSD treatment.
20% of VA PTSD treatment programs are full.
40% of VA PTSD treatment programs are near full capacity.
42% of VA primary care clinics have NO mental health staff.
VA Advisory Board (Feb. 2006) stated: "VA cannot meet the ongoing needs of veterans of past deployments while also reaching out to new combat veterans (Iraq / Afghanistan) ... within current resources." Increasing Demand for VA Services:
Enrollment since 2002- UP 48% due to Iraq War
VA patient load since 2002 – UP 28% due to Iraq War
Veterans are experiencing increasing delays for earned services:
Veterans waiting for their first appointment for VA services doubled for the second year in a row.
500,000 Veterans awaiting decisions granting benefits since Jan 2006.
368,000 of these Veterans are awaiting disability determinations.
151,000 appeals are backlogged.
Our Veterans and their families ask,
Our Military and their families ask,
Our National Guard and their families ask,
"Senator Coleman, Where is the Shared Sacrifice?"
Here are two more votes by Norm Coleman that harm national security.
Voted against increasing funding for interoperable communications equipment for first responders by $5 billion
-Motion to Waive Budget Act Re: Stabenow Amdt. No. 1687 to H.R.2862
(Science/State/Justice/Commerce Appropriations, 2006) Vote #227 9/14/05
-Voted against prohibitinh federal employees who leak classified information from holding a security clearance Reid Amdt. No. 1222 to H.R.2360 (DHS Appropriations, 2006) Vote #188 7/14/05
Please visit us at http://www.empoweringveterans.org/...
and volunteer to help beat Norm Coleman.