While not typically a column to go to for endorsement information, in light of the seriousness of this election I felt compelled to make sure we, and in particular, the veterans in Pennsylvania, understand just what is at stake in our local congressional race for the 8th Congressional District (Bucks County, a bit of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia).
When Republicans were in charge of Congress they rejected funds for veterans' health care,actually cutting veterans benefits in their budget resolution. The same majority of Republicans who had been 100% behind the administration's sending our young men and women into war, refused to give appropriate health services to our disabled veterans.
In his first term as representative for 8th District in Pennsylvania , Patrick Murphy (D, PA), an Iraqi war veteran and West Point law professor, voted for the largest funding increase in the history of the Veterans Administration.
When Republicans were in charge of Congress, the GOP budget resolution contained reconciliation orders requiring the House Veterans' Affairs (VA) Committee to cut benefits or to tax veterans by increasing their fees. Over five years, the Republican budget resolution would cut almost $16 billion from veterans' medical assistance. And they did this without fully explaining to the public and their veterans what they were losing.
Murphy voted to make sure the VA increase their benefits and always notifies veterans about benefits to which they are entitled.
When Republicans were in charge of Congress, they called for a new enrollment fee for veterans, READ ENTIRE ENDORSEMENT HERE.
Award-winning TV writer, Steve Young, is author of "Great Failures of the Extremely Successful" (www.greatfailure.com) blogs at the appropriately named steveyoungonpolitics.com and is a paid up member of Jewish War Veterans Post 697, Levittown, PA
