WE RESPECT JOHN McCAIN'S SERVICE. WILL HE RESPECT OURS?

Underfunding and understaffing have created a crisis in veterans’ health care. More than 400,000 veterans are awaiting decisions on disability claims. Tens of thousands of veterans are waiting months to see a doctor. We respect John McCain’s service to our country, but when given the opportunity to address this crisis, he has failed America’s veterans—past, present and future. (FederalTimes.com, 3/26/08)

Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain voted against increasing funding for veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. (Senate Vote 40, 3/10/04; Senate Vote 55, 3/16/05; Senate Vote 41, 3/14/06; Senate Vote 126, 3/29/07)

Supported Outsourcing at Walter Reed. McCain opposed an amendment to the FY 2007 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill that would have prevented the outsourcing of 350 federal employees’ jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center—outsourcing that contributed to scandalous treatment of veterans at Walter Reed. (Senate Vote 234, 9/6/06)

Opposed an Assured Funding Stream for Veterans’ Health Care. McCain opposed an amendment to provide an assured funding stream for veterans’ health care, taking into account annual changes in veterans’ population and infl ation. (Senate Vote 63, 3/16/06)

Supported Outsourcing VA Jobs. McCain opposed an amendment that would have prevented the Department of Veterans Affairs from outsourcing jobs, many held by blue-collar veterans, without fi rst giving the workers a chance to compete. (Senate Vote 315, 9/6/07)