Tiahrt against Expanding Educational Benefits for Iraq War Veterans

From Democratic Headquarters I got this press release:
CONTACT: Jenny Davidson
May 20, 2008

Tiahrt, Moran Vote against Expanding Educational Benefits for Iraq War Veterans

Roberts and Brownback expected to vote on 21st Century G.I. Bill this week

Topeka – On Wednesday, Congressmen Todd Tiahrt and Jerry Moran voted against updating the 21st Century G.I. Bill which would expand educational benefits for returning Iraq war veterans. [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll330.xml]

“By voting against the 21st Century G.I. Bill, Reps. Tiahrt and Moran joined House Republicans in favoring millionaires over veterans returning from Iraq ,” said Kansas Democratic Party Executive Director Mike Gaughan .

House Republicans have argued against the use of a Patriot Premium to provide much-needed funding for our returning veterans’ education, calling it a “small business tax.” In truth, the premium would increase an individual’s taxes by a half-percent on income above $500,000 and would generate an estimated $56 billion over ten years to cover the cost of expanding veterans’ benefits. [http://www.dailypress.com/news/nationworld/dp-local_gibill_0515may15,0,2593010.story]

“Every day, our brave Kansas military men and women are fighting to defend our rights and freedoms,” Gaughan said. “It is unacceptable for Reps. Tiahrt and Moran to shortchange our veterans when they return home from active duty. It is time for Tiahrt, Moran and Republicans in Congress to stop worrying about their next election flier, and start taking care of our soldiers and veterans.”

The 21st Century GI Bill is scheduled to go in front of the U.S. Senate this week. Already, Sen. John McCain has supported President Bush’s veto threat, saying the bill is “too expensive and could encourage service members to leave the military.” [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90483777]

“Although both Sen. McCain and President Bush have spoken out against expanding education benefits for our military service men and women, we hope Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback will support the 21st Century G.I. Bill,” Gaughan said.

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Paid for by the Kansas Democratic Party, http://www.ksdp.org/, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

He's not the only one who is tight with taxpayers pennies while he rakes in the donations. Our Republican, who we can assume Tiahrt will support, is doing the same thing.

Move on Targets Tiahrt

Dear MoveOn member,
Can you call Rep. Tiahrt right now and tell him that voters are tired of dumping billions into the unwinnable war in Iraq? Tell Rep. Tiahrt that voters are looking for accountability from President Bush on the war and we want our troops home quickly. (We've included more details below.)
Here's where to call:
Representative Todd TiahrtPhone: 202-225-6216
Then, please report your call by clicking here:
http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FHKS_04&cp_id=750&id=12592-3189845-LEVscn&t=3
According to news reports, Congress will have a series of separate votes. There'll be one vote on whether to give the president $162 billion to fund the war through next year—with no strings attached. That's a huge amount to spend on keeping troops in Iraq, especially at a time when peoples' houses are being foreclosed and unemployment is going up at home.
Then, there will be separate votes on measures to redeploy our troops and hold the Bush administration accountable for their actions during the war—measures that could ban torture, hold contractors accountable, and prevent President Bush from committing our troops to a permanent presence in Iraq.1

It's important that all members of Congress hear that voters do not want the president to get another $162 billion blank check for the war. Can you call Rep. Tiahrt and ask him to reject a blank check for the president and to support proposals to bring our troops home and hold Bush accountable instead?
Thanks for all you do.
–-Nita, Michael, Daniel, Joan, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team Wednesday, May 7th, 2008
P.S. Here's an excerpt from a Washington Post article explaining Thursday's votes:
"Setting up their last major battle over war policy with President Bush, House Democrats yesterday unveiled a plan to link their favored domestic spending projects and a troop-withdrawal timeline to additional funds for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan requested by the White House.
The $195 billion spending measure would pay for the wars well into next year while tacking on $11 billion to extend unemployment benefits and nearly $1 billion to offer expanded higher education benefits for war veterans. Democrats said they hope that the spending provisions, particularly the education measure, will prove politically difficult for Bush to veto in an election year.
"If he wants to make a federal case out of the fact that we feel the need to do something major to reward the troops, that's his prerogative. But I don't think the country will agree with him. And I certainly don't think the country would agree with any effort to deny the extension of unemployment benefits," said House Appropriations Chairman David R. Obey (D-Wis.).
The White House remained opposed to the additional spending, demanding a "clean" bill to fund the wars by the symbolically important date of Memorial Day.
"We feel strongly that the Iraq war supplemental should remain for national security needs. We understand that there could be debates on other issues, such as unemployment benefits and food stamps, other issues that are important to a lot of people. But those issues can be taken up separate from our national security needs," said Dana Perino, White House press secretary.
House Republicans also denounced the Democrats' plan.
"It is unacceptable and, indeed, unimaginable for Congress to continue to hold our troops hostage for political leverage. If House Democrats want to ramp up spending on other government programs, those items should be considered separately," said House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio).
The House's emergency supplemental funding measure is broken into three pieces, including $162.6 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, of which $66 billion is designed to cover war costs for several months after the next administration takes over. The second portion includes language mandating immediate troop withdrawals with a goal of having most all troops out by the end of 2009. The third part includes the domestic spending."
Click here to read the whole thing:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3633&id=12592-3189845-LEVscn&t=4
Source:
1. "Leader Reid gets pushback on Iraq war bill," The Hill, May 6, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3634&id=12592-3189845-LEVscn&t=5
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PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Debate? Where’s Tiahrt?

If anyone is waiting for a debate between Todd Tiahrt and his opponent, Kansas Sen. Donald Betts Jr.; They should not hold their breath. Tiahrt has taken part in only one debate since he won that office from Dan Glickman, years ago. Tiahrt always has an excuse….I’m too busy doing my job… it just gives my opponent too much publicity…or he sends a flunky in his place.
The fact is he can’t win a debate, because his record on corruption is so bad there is no way he can defend it. So he keeps avoiding debates and counting on the foolish churches that believe he stands for their religious principals. He never has to answer even to them as to what he has done for them.

It’s Betts Vs. the empty chair.