Despite clear calls for VA resignations, voting records for vets still cloudy
Source: Aurora Sentinel
As criticism of Department of Veterans Affairs officials spreads to both parties in Washington, outspoken local lawmakers are confronted with their own complicated history with the VA.
Aurora U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, a Republican, as recently as January voted against a spending bill that would have set aside as much as $100 million for overtime and additional training for claims processors to reduce the growing backlog of veterans waiting for care. Coffman joined 66 other Republicans in the House, including Colorado congressmen Doug Lamborn, Cory Gardner and Scott Tipton, in voting against that appropriations bill. VA officials and the Obama Administration are embroiled in a nationwide controversy over shoddy medical care for veterans.Eric Shinseki
The complete spending bill included more than $1 billion in spending for health care programs related to Obamacare, which Coffman has consistently opposed. Coffman has repeatedly called for VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign, primarily because of the recent scandal involving delays for medical services for thousands of veterans across the country and especially in Arizona.
Coffman did not comment on his vote after repeated requests. The Marines veteran and longtime Colorado politician is running for a fourth term to his 6th Congressional District against former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a Democrat. The race is predicted to be one of the most expensive and competitive during the 2014 midterm election. Both sides are now targeting VA issues as election fodder.
Read more: http://www.aurorasentinel.com/news/despite-clear-calls-va-resignations-voting-records-vets-still-cloudy/
Read more: Aurora Sentinel Finds Coffman Votes Dont Match VA Rhetoric
Andy823
(11,495 posts)How can this republican, or any republican, use VA issues as election fodder when they voted against a bill that would have helped fix the problems that are coming to light? Are republicans really that stupid to think they can vote against bill that help vets, and still think they can try and lay the blame on the democrats?
atreides1
(16,079 posts)The lame stream media has said very little about the voting records of Republicans regarding funding Veterans programs.