Heather Wilson Shape shifts on Veterans

WILSON CHOSE LOYALTY TO THE GOP OVER HEALTH CARE FOR VETERANS

Wilson Claims She "Goes to Bat for Veterans." A 2004 Wilson press release entitled, "Wilson goes to bat for veterans," said, "Congresswoman Heather Wilson is working to make sure that a promise made is a promise kept for America's veterans." [Wilson Press Release. "Wilson Goes to Bat for Veterans," 2/13/04]

• Wilson Voted with the Republican Party and the Leadership for a Budget That Cut Veterans Programs. In 2005, Wilson voted for final passage of the $2.6 trillion budget conference report for 2006. The report cut Medicaid spending by $10 billion, spent every penny of the Social Security surplus, increased the nation deficit by $167.5 billion over 5 years and paved the way for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Furthermore, the conference report cut funding for veterans' health care by $13.5 billion over five years. Yet the budget still found room for $106 billion in tax cuts for those who need it the least. [HR 95, Vote #149, 4/28/05; House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, "Summary and Analysis of FY 2006 Budget Resolution Conference Report," 4/28/05]
  
• Wilson Voted with the Republican Party and the Leadership and Against Fully Funding 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. [H. Res. 338, Vote #450, 7/25/03; CQ Daily Monitor, 7/25/03]
  
• Wilson Voted Against Granting a Bonus to U.S. Troops. In 2005, Wilson opposed an amendment that would provide service members a salary bonus in recognition of their service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure would have taken $265 million out of an account paying for Iraqi petroleum imports and put it into a military personnel fund to pay for the bonuses. According to the Congressional Research Service, the energy firm Halliburton could be overcharging the U.S. as much as $249 million for importing fuel into Iraq. The amendment would have provided funding to grant a $1,500 bonus to every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including National Guard and reserve forces. It was defeated, 213-213. [HR 3289, Vote #554, 10/17/03; New York Times, 10/22/03; Las Vegas Review Journal, 10/18/03]