Franken is Dishonest and Wrong about Senator Coleman’s Record on Vets

Franken’s Dishonest Claim:

“…He voted nine times against increasing healthcare funds to veterans, and he did it because it would have involved rescinding a very small part of the tax cuts the people in the top one and a half percent, and we have seen that the VA wasn’t really fully funded until this past year, until the Democratic congress came in.” (“Midday,” MPR, January 23, 2008)

The Truth: Franken is dishonest and wrong about Senator Coleman’s record on veterans funding.

The very first piece of legislation authored by Senator Coleman in the Senate and signed into law was a bill requiring the Pentagon to pay our troops’ travel expenses when they head home from abroad for rest and relaxation. That bill set the stage for Senator Coleman’s strong work honoring the sacrifices of our soldiers and veterans throughout his time on the Senate floor.

Since Senator Coleman took office in 2003, federal funding for veterans programs has increased 67%. That’s an increase of over $25 billion, from $52.38 billion in FY 2002, to $87.5 billion in FY 2008.

Senator Coleman has voted 29 times[i] to increase funding for veterans programs, but has rejected legislative add-ons like tax increases and deficit expanding measures that will only increase the burden on America’s taxpayers, including our veterans.

Of the votes Franken can claim were ‘against’ veterans funding, 7 included hefty tax increases[ii], and 5 included massive spending hikes that would have added billions to the national deficit[iii].

[i] Senate vote 28, January 23, 2003; Senate vote 34, February 13, 2003; Senate vote 108, March 26, 2003; Senate vote 400, October 17, 2003; Senate vote 1, January 20, 2004; Senate vote 2, January 22, 2004; Senate vote 3, January 22, 2004; Senate vote 134, April 11, 2003; Senate vote 58, March 12, 2004; Senate vote 215, November 20, 2004; Senate vote 40, March 10, 2005; Senate vote 55, March 16, 2005; Senate vote 81, March 17, 2005; Senate vote 114, April 28, 2005; Senate vote 165, June 29, 2005; Senate vote 166, June 29, 2005; Senate vote 168, June 29, 2005; Senate vote 174, July 12, 2005; Senate vote 210, July 29, 2005; Senate vote 243, September 22,2005; Senate vote 359, October 19, 2005; Senate vote 364, December 21, 2005; Senate vote 366, December 21, 2005; Senate vote 14, February 13, 2006; Senate vote 40, March 14, 2006; Senate vote 98, April 26, 2006; Senate vote 48, February 14, 2007; Senate vote 246, July 12, 2007; Senate vote 316, September 6, 2007

[ii] Senate vote 74, March 21, 2003; Senate vote 34, March 8, 2004; Senate vote 343, November 17, 2005; Senate vote 7, February 2, 2006; Senate vote 15, February 13, 2006; Senate vote 41, March 14, 2006; Senate vote 63, March 16, 2006

[iii] Senate vote 40, March 10, 2004; Senate vote 145, June 23, 2004; Senate vote 89, April 12, 2005; Senate vote 90, April 12, 2005; Senate vote 63, March 16, 2006