Connecticut Congress Members Ranked by Veterans Group
IAVA
The New Britain Herald
Tia Albright
Boston University Washington News Service
October 26, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 – A non-partisan advocacy organization representing American veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan praised Connecticut’s senators last week for their continued support of the military, but said Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson has some work to do.
“I think by far Connecticut’s delegation is better than most states,” said Paul Rieckhoff , the founder and executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
Last week the group issued a report card grading the members of Congress on how they voted on issues the organization identified as affecting troops and veterans and their families. The grades were based on 155 votes in the Senate and 164 in the House.
Issues the ratings were based on ranged from health care and military death gratuities to emergency supplemental appropriations.
Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd, who ranked highest among his Connecticut colleagues with an “A-”, voted with the organization on 132 votes. Sen. Joseph Lieberman received a “B+”, voting with the organization on 94 votes.
“I have great respect for the men and women of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the work they have done to advocate on behalf of our troops deployed in harm’s way,” Dodd said.
The families and troops need the government’s support now more than ever, he added.
Lieberman said that as a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services he has supported legislation to help military personnel and their families.
“I believe we owe our veterans a special debt, and I have worked hard to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve, and the support and healthcare they have been promised,” Lieberman said.
Rieckhoff said that the senators’ grades put them among the highest on the list.
The ratings, announced Friday, represented an effort to create transparency and distinguish the members of Congress who truly support the troops from those who “wrap themselves in the flag” without actually voting in the military’s best interest, Rieckhoff said.
Johnson tied for the lowest grade in Connecticut, a “C+.” She voted with the organization on 115 votes. Rep. Rob Simmons also received a “C+.”
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“Anything below an ‘A’ or a high ‘B’ is unacceptable,” Rieckhoff said.
He said Johnson’s vote against expanding the military health care system for members of the National Guard and Reserves is an example of a lack of support for the troops.
Johnson’s campaign spokesperson, Brain Schubert, did not respond to questions about the ranking, but did say that the Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee endorsed Johnson for Congress.
Of the 1,500 veterans who are members of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, 350 are from Connecticut, according to Rieckhoff.
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