Veterans
As Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, the Real Arlen Specter underfunded the VA to a level where it had to return to Congress to request an additional $2 billion in back-to-back years (2003/2004). The Real Arlen Specter underfunded the VA a total of $8.3 billion in FY03-07.
In 2003, the Real Arlen Specter allowed over a million “Priority 8” Veterans making as little as $29,000 a year to be excluded from VA health coverage, while the VA’s casework backlog grew, reaching nearly 600,000 in 2006.
The Real Arlen Specter has even voted against legislation protecting the disability and death benefits of veterans [S Amdt 306, 2/22/1995].
The Real Arlen Specter’s positions on Veterans issues has earned him: a 12% rating from the Retired Enlisted Association; 61% by the Disabled American Veterans; and 65% by the Vietnam Veterans of America.
The Real Arlen Specter voted against Veterans’ interests:
The Real Arlen Specter voted against providing the Department of Veterans Affairs $20 million for new medical facilities [2006 Senate Vote #111, 05/04/2006]
The Real Arlen Specter voted against $7.9 billion of medical funding for Veterans, weakening care for the 1.1 million Veterans who live in Pennsylvania [S Amdt 2735, 2/2/2006]
The Real Arlen Specter voted against providing $2.5 billion to treat Veterans with mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, or substance abuse issues [S Amdt 2634, 11/17/2005]
The Real Arlen Specter voted against granting full access to TRICARE, the military’s health plan, for National Guard and Reservists and their families on a continual basis [S Amdt 324 3/25/2003]
The Real Arlen Specter voted against preventing excessive TRICARE fees and co-pays on military retirees [S Amdt 3143, 3/16/2006]
The Real Arlen Specter voted against $2 million for research and development of technology improving the imaging for traumatic brain injuries. [S Amdt 4781, 8/2/2006]
The Real Arlen Specter voted against increasing spending on veterans programs by $13 billion [S.C.R 57, #115, 5/16/1996] and $122.7 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs and other related agencies [HR 2861, #449, 11/12/2003]
The Real Arlen Specter voted against providing our Veterans billions by closing tax loopholes, including those for big corporations [2006 Senate Vote #41, 03/14/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #55, 03/16/2005; 2004 Senate Vote #40, 03/10/2004]
The Real Arlen Specter voted for limiting compensation for mentally disabled veterans. [S Amdt 2784, 9/27/1995]
The Real Arlen Specter voted for keeping Bush tax breaks for people making more than $1 million a year instead of increasing Veterans medical care by $2.7 billion [2004 Senate Vote #34, 03/09/2004]
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