Joe Wilson talks about supporting our troops. The truth is that Joe Wilson has repeatedly voted against the troops when they've needed him most.
Joe Wilson voted eleven times against health care for veterans
Wilson Voted To Cut $14 Million from Veterans' Health Care: In 2003, Wilson voted for a budget resolution containing deep cuts in basic domestic programs over the next decade, including $14 billion from veterans' health care programs, to make room for almost all of President Bush's tax cuts totaling $1.4 trillion through 2013. The non-binding resolution passed the House 215-212. (House Vote 82, H Con Res 95, March 21, 2003; Center for Budget & Policy Priorities, March 28, 2003, March 24, 2003; House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, March 20, 2003)
Wilson Voted Against $1.6 Billion for Veterans' Health Care: In March 2005, Wilson voted against an amendment that would have provided $1.6 billion in funding for veterans to the Fiscal 2006 budget resolution. (House Vote 87, HAMDT 68 to H Con Res 95, March 17, 2005)
Wilson Opposed Funding Health Care and Jobs Programs for Veterans: In 2005, Wilson voted against an amendment that would have added "$150 million to HR 1268 for health care and jobs programs for service personnel leaving active duty. A yes vote was to increase spending for veterans returning from theaters such as Iraq and Afghanistan." (House Vote 76, HR 1268, March 16, 2005)
Wilson Voted Against $2.9 Billion for Veterans' Health Care: In March 2005, Wilson voted against an amendment to add $2.9 billion for veterans' health care programs to the Fiscal 2006 budget resolution. (House Vote 82, HAMDT 66 to H Con Res 95, March 17, 2005)
Wilson Voted For Budget Resolution That Cut $13.5 Billion In Veterans Funding. In 2005, Wilson voted for final passage of the $2.6 trillion budget conference report for 2006. The conference report cut funding for veterans' health care by $13.5 billion over five years. The measure passed 214-211. (House Vote 149, H Con Res 95, April 28, 2005; House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, April 28, 2005)
Wilson Voted Against $1.8 Billion for Veterans' Health Care: In 2003, Wilson voted against providing an additional $1.8 billion for veteran health care programs, the amount prescribed in the fiscal 2004 budget resolution. Veteran's advocates strongly supported the additional funds. A motion to block the increase passed 229-196. (House Vote 450, HR 338, July 25, 2003; CQ Daily Monitor, July 25, 2003)
Wilson Voted Against $1.3 Billion for Veterans' Health Care: In 2003, Wilson voted against a Democratic proposal to increase federal funding for veterans' health care by $1.3 billion, to be offset by reducing Iraq reconstruction funding or transferring part of the reconstruction grants into loans. (House Vote 600, HR 3289, October 31, 2003)
Wilson Opposed Expanding TRICARE to Thousands of National Guard & Reserve Volunteers: In 2005, Wilson voted against expanding access to the military's TRICARE health insurance program to thousands of reservist and National Guard members. Despite the fact that more than 433,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves had been called up for active from 2003-2005, not all Guardsmen and Reservists had access to TRICARE.
A 2003 report by the General Accounting Office showed that 20 percent of all Reservists did not have health insurance, and 40 percent of Reservists aged 19 to 35 lacked health coverage. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Taylor of Mississippi, would have expanded program to provide access to TRICARE to most members of the Guard and Reserve and their families for a low fee. The motion failed 211-218. (House Vote 221, HR 1815, May 25, 2005; Leadership Document, "DOD Authorization Previous Question on Rule")
Wilson Voted Against Extending Health Care for Reservists: In 2003, Wilson voted against a Democratic proposal to extend transitional health care for military reservists from 60 to 180 days, to be offset by transferring part of the Iraq reconstruction grants into loans. (House Vote 567, HR 3289, October 21, 2003)
Wilson Voted Against Veterans Health Care Funds That Included Money For Walter Reed: In 2007, Wilson voted against legislation that provided critical funding for veterans health care, including funds to enhance medical services for active duty forces, mobilized personnel and their family members and $1.7 billion for veterans' health care priorities including maintenance at VA health care facilities like Walter Reed. The measure included: $550 million to address the maintenance backlog at VA health care facilities to prevent situations similar to those at Walter Reed;
$250 million for medical administration to ensure sufficient personnel to address the rising number of veterans and to maintain a high level of service;
$229 million for treating the growing number of veterans;
$100 million to allow the VA to contract with private mental healthcare providers to offer veterans, including Guard and reserve members, quality and timely care; and;
$62 million to speed claims processing for returning veterans.
The measure passed 218-212. (CQ House Action Reports, No. 110-3, 3/20/07; HR 1591, Vote #186, 3/23/07)
Opposed $1.9 Billion For Military Medical Care, Including Funds For Walter Reed: In 2007, Wilson voted against an emergency appropriations bill that included $1.9 billion for military medical care. The measure appropriated $22.2 billion in fiscal 2007 emergency spending, including $7.7 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The measure provided $1.9 billion more for military health care, including $900 million for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury care and research, $500 million for upgrading military health care facilities, $410 million to prevent health care fee increases for our troops and $20 million to address the problems at Walter Reed.
The measure also included a provision for $1.8 billion in veteran's medical care. The measure passed 348-73. [House Appropriations Committee; HR 2206, Vote #424, 5/24/07)
Joe Wilson even voted against a combat bonus for our troops.
Wilson Voted Against Using $265 Million In Reconstruction Funds For Troop Bonuses For Service members Serving In Iraq And Afghanistan: On October 17, 2003, Wilson voted against giving active duty troops a pay bonus by voting against an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that would shift $265 million out of reconstruction funding, to cover $1,500 bonuses for each service member in Iraq and Afghanistan in FY 2004.
The $265 million would have been shifted from the $900 million in the bill slated for importing petroleum products in Iraq. The amendment failed 213 to 213. If Wilson had voted differently, the service members would have gotten their bonuses. (CQ.com; House Vote 554, HR 3289, October 17, 2003; CQ Today, October 17, 2003)
Rob Miller, a decorated Iraq veteran,
will fight for those who've fought for us.
