Aug. 11, 2006
 
Callaghan Slams Capito, Bush Veterans Spending Pattern
 
From U.S. Rep. Candidate Mike Callaghan Release
 
Martinsburg, WV (HNN) – Mike Callaghan, Democratic Congressional Candidate (2nd District), released a statement on Aug. 10, 2006 to help veterans attending a forum in Braxton County. Released with the statement is a fact sheet on votes Callaghan’s incumbent opponent, Shelley Moore Capito, has made regarding veterans’ spending. “I want to help veterans hold the Bush administration and Shelley Moore Capito accountable for their cuts to veterans’ programs in the last six years,” Callaghan said.
 
“The Bush administration and Shelley Moore Capito are trying to pull wool over the eyes of veterans by misrepresenting their voting record on veterans’ spending,” Callaghan said. “My opponent has voted several times to decrease spending on programs for our soldiers, including recently blocking an amendment that would have provided $735 million that would have prevented an increase in veterans’ health care fees. That hurts veterans in our own communities. That is not fair to them.”
 
Callaghan has met with veterans all over the state, discussing issues important to them. These discussions have focused on issues such as veterans’ health care and benefits, employment and proper care after returning from duty, and creating a plan for a resolution to the War in Iraq.
 
“Shelley Moore Capito is a rubber stamp for President Bush and his failed agenda. She voted to cut veterans’ benefits to give tax breaks to the wealthy. There is something seriously wrong with that.” Callaghan continued, “When I am elected to Congress, I will work to get veterans what they deserve.”
 
Callaghan is preparing to embark on his “Drive to Take Back America” Mobile Office Tour, which begins Thursday, Aug. 10 in Berkeley County. Veterans’ Issues and the War in Iraq are slated to be among the many topics discussed as Callaghan crosses the Second Congressional District in coming weeks.
 
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO VETERANS FACT SHEET
 
• Voted to block attempts to increase veterans’ health care and blocked an amendment to provide $735 million for the Defense Health Program that would have prevented an increase in veterans’ health care fees. (HR 5385, Vote #173, 5/19/06)
 
• Voted to allow $507 million to be stripped from military construction and veterans programs. (HR 5385, Vote #174, 5/19/06)
 
• Voted for FY 07 budget that cut appropriations for veterans’ programs $6 billion below what the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) stated was needed to maintain current services. (HCR 376, Vote #158, 5/18/06)
 
• Voted for the FY 07 Budget Resolution that increases TRICARE costs for military retirees under 65 years of age--- health care fees will triple for retired officers, double for retired senior enlisted personnel and increase by 40% for junior enlisted personnel. (HCR 376, Vote #158, 5/18/06)
 
• Voted against ending the Military Families Tax. (HR 5122, Vote #144, 5/11/06)
 
• Opposed expanding TRICARE to thousands of National Guard and Reserve volunteers. Despite the fact that more than 433,000 National Guard members and Reservists have been called up for duty in the past two and a half years, not all of them have access to TRICARE health coverage. (HR 1815, Vote #221, 5/25/05)
 
• Voted against helping reservists and veterans with their debts by opposing a measure to exempt active duty reservists and veterans’ families from a means test added to the bankruptcy code in the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2005. (S 1920, Vote #9.1/28/04)
 
• Voted against full retirement and disability benefits for all veterans. (HR 1588, Vote #616, 11/7/03)
 
• Voted to cut veterans benefits and health care programs by $15 billion over ten years to make room for tax cuts favoring the wealthy (HCR 95, Vote #82, 3/21/03)
 
• Voted against providing the highest levels of funding for veterans’ medical care and President Bush’s full request for Homeland Security funding. (HJR 2, Vote #17, 1/29/03)
 
• Voted against a motion to a jobs-training reauthorization bill to provide extra assistance to veterans returning from conflicts overseas. (H 1915, 3/2/05)
 
• Voted to block an amendment to the FY 07 Department of Defense Authorizations Bill that would have removed the Bush Administration’s proposal to increase pharmacy co-pays for military families. (HR 5112, Vote #139, 5/11/06)
 
• Voted against a measure to provide a $500 million boost in a housing program that helps military families by letting the federal government enlist private contractors to renovate, build and maintain family housing for soldiers. (HRS 732. Vote #401, 7/21/04)
 
• Voted against an amendment that would provide a bonus to service personnel in recognition for their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. (HR 3289, Vote #546, 10/16/03)
 
• Voted against a proposal to shift $3.6 billion appropriated for Iraq reconstruction to funding for medical and dental screenings for military reservists, family assistance centers, pre-paid phone cards for troops in Iraq, transportation of troops on rest and relaxation leave, construction of water treatment centers and power plants for deployed troops and for the repair and replacement of damaged equipment. (HR 3289, Vote # 547, 10/16/03)
 
. Voted to deny an appropriation to increase military funding by 10% or $956 million by using money offset from scaling back by 5% the scheduled tax cuts for one year for those earning more than $1 million annually. The increased funding would have helped ensure that the military and their families would have adequate housing. (HRS 298, Vote #324, 6/26/03)