🚀 go-pugleaf

Being objective would require one to look past the initial, obviously 
emtional content of these 'screws' and look at what the Dems put into the 
bills as riders/amendments.  I'm not going to waste the time...again a Dem 
lover is willing to show you the hype...

Don't take this wrong, I'm not a huge fan of the Repugs, they have their 
fair share of problems.  These are just blatant emotional things that weak 
minded Americans are so susceptable to.  It goes on both sides of the aisle.

<DemocratsLoveAmerica@usa.usa> wrote in message 
news:mmmup29itcnfuusta729q8fpacgd3uqile@4ax.com...
> Republicans Voted to Block an Attempt to Increase Veterans' Health
> Care and Prevent Increased Veterans' Health Care Fees. In May,
> Republicans Voted for a motion to kill a Democratic effort to offer
> three amendments to the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs
> Appropriations bill. One amendment would provide the $507 million
> stripped out of the bill by conservatives, not by categorizing them as
> emergency funds, but by reducing the tax cuts for people making more
> than $1 million a year by $1,400 or one percent. The second amendment
> would increase veterans' health care by $1.82 billion and pay for it
> by reducing the average tax cut for those with incomes above $1
> million a year by about $5,000, leaving them with $109,025. The third
> amendment would provide an additional $735 million for the Defense
> Health Program to make unnecessary an increase in veterans' health
> fees. The bill currently comes up with the $735 million in funding
> through an increase in health care user fees.
> [Leadership Document, "Better and More Affordable Health Care for
> Veterans and Military Families," 5/19/06; HR 5385, Vote #173,
> 5/19/2006; Passed 211-186; R 211-0; D 0-186; I 0-0]
>
> Republicans Voted to Allow $507 Million to Be Stripped from Military
> Construction and Veterans Programs. In May, Republicans Voted for the
> rule governing debate of the Military Quality of Life and Veterans
> Affairs Appropriations bill The rule left $507 million worth of
> projects unprotected from points of order. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a
> member of the ultra-conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC),
> lodged points of order against $507 million worth of projects in the
> bill, thus stripping them out of the legislation. The points of order
> were only allowed because the rule governing debate of the bill put
> forward by the GOP leadership did not protect the funds from points of
> order.
> [CQ Today, 5/19/06; HR 5385, Vote #174, 5/19/2006; Passed 216-187; R
> 215-0; D 1-187; I 0-0]
>
> Republicans Voted for Fiscal Year 2007 Budget That Hurts America's
> Veterans. In May, Republicans Voted for a $2.8 trillion budget that is
> fiscally reckless and harmful for America's working families. The
> budget adds hundred of billions to the already record budget deficit
> and includes a provision to increase the debt limit by $653 billion to
> $9.6 trillion. It cuts key programs like education, health and
> veterans programs. The budget cuts veterans' healthcare beyond 2007.
> Despite an initial boost in veterans' health spending for 2007, over
> five years (from 2007-2011), the Republican budget resolution actually
> cuts funding for veterans' appropriated programs by $6 billion below
> the level that CBO estimates is needed to maintain current services.
> Additionally, the Republican budget resolution includes significant
> increases in TRICARE costs for military retirees under 65. In fact,
> healthcare fees will triple for retired officers, double for retired
> senior enlisted personnel, and increase by 40 percent for junior
> enlisted retirees.
> [House Budget Committee, Minority Staff Analysis of the FY 07 Budget;
> HCR 376, Vote #158, 5/18/2006; Passed 218-210; R 218-12; D 0-197; I
> 0-1]
>
> Republicans Voted Against Ending the Military Families Tax. In May,
> Republicans Voted against a Democratic motion to the FY 07 Department
> of Defense Authorization bill that would have ended the Military
> Families Tax. The Military Families Tax penalizes more than 50,000
> survivors in military families, most of whom are widows. These widows
> lose their military survivor benefits under the Survivor Benefit Plan
> (SBP) if they receive VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
> benefits because their spouse has died of a service-connected injury.
> Specifically, the spouse's SBP benefit is reduced dollar for dollar by
> the amount of the DIC benefit - a $993 deduction per month. This harms
> the 53,000 survivors who continue to pay this unfair tax.
> [HR 5122, vote #144, 5/11/06; Leadership document, "Democrats Are
> Fighting to End the Military Families Tax," 5/11/06; HR 5122, Vote
> #144, 5/11/2006; Failed 202-220; R 6-220; D 195-0; I 1-0]
>
> Republicans Voted Against $53 Million Boost for Veterans Health Care &
> Benefits. In 2005, Republicans Voted against an amendment to the
> Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs funding bill to add $53
> million for veterans health care and other benefits, offset by a 9
> percent cut to BRAC. The amendment would add $8 million for
> combat-related trauma care, $6 million for poly-trauma centers to
> support wounded troops once they return to their homes, $9 million for
> VA medical and prosthetic research and $7 million for 100 additional
> staff who process claims for compensation and pension benefits.
> Finally, the amendment would provide $23 million to help approximately
> 4,100 spouses of service members with children whose spouse died
> during the War on Terrorism between September 11, 2001 and November
> 30, 2004 by making them eligible for Dependency and Indemnity
> Compensation. The amendment failed, 213-214.
> [Leadership Document, "Medical Quality Democratic Amendment Final.";
> HR 2528, Vote #224, 5/26/2005; Failed 213-214; R 19-210; D 193-4; I
> 1-0]
>
> Republicans Opposed Expanding TRICARE to Thousands of National Guard &
> Reserve Volunteers. In 2005, Republicans Voted against a motion to
> expand 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 have
> been called up for active duty over the last two and one-half years,
> not all Guardsmen and Reservists have access to TRICARE. A 2003 report
> by the General Accounting Office showed that 20 percent of all
> Reservists do not have health insurance, and 40 percent of Reservists
> aged 19 to 35 lack health coverage. According to the latest Defense
> Department data, 18 percent of activated Reservists have no medical
> coverage. Currently, only those called up for active duty are eligible
> for the program. The proposal would have expanded military health care
> 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.
> [Leadership Document, "DOD Authorization Previous Question on Rule";
> HR 1815, Vote #221, 5/25/2005; Failed 211-218; R 9-218; D 201-0; I
> 1-0]
>
> Republicans Voted For Budget That Cut Veterans Programs. In 2005,
> Republicans 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.
> [House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, "Summary and Analysis of FY
> 2006 Budget Resolution Conference Report." 4/28/05; HCR 95, Vote #149,
> 4/28/2005; Passed 214-211; R 214-15; D 0-195; I 0-1]
>
> Republicans Voted Against Debt Assistance for Returning Guard and
> Reservists. In 2005, Republicans Voted against a motion to the 2005
> bankruptcy reform bill to exempt members of the National Guard and
> Reserve from the means test in the bill if their debt was a result of
> active duty or was incurred within two years of returning home from
> their service. The overall bill imposed a new means test on Americans
> who filed for bankruptcy protection. Those with incomes above the
> median for their state, and who could pay at least $6,000 over five
> years, would have to develop a plan to repay creditors. Previously,
> debtors had the option of asking a bankruptcy judge to erase their
> debts in return for forfeiting some of their assets. Four out of 10
> members of the Guard and Reserve forces lose income when they leave
> their civilian jobs for active duty. Many left for the war thinking
> they would be deployed for 6 months and have ended up staying for a
> year or even longer and may be shipped out again. Additionally, many
> Guard and Reservists are self-employed or run small businesses and
> face the daunting task of reestablishing their businesses after their
> release from active duties. The 2 years after they return from service
> are the most difficult. The motion to protect Guard and Reserve
> volunteers failed, 200-229.
> [Los Angeles Times, 4/15/05; Statement by Rep. Schakowsky, 109th
> Congressional Record, pg. H2074, 4/14/05; S 256, Vote #107, 4/14/2005;
> Failed 200-229; R 1-228; D 198-1; I 1-0]
>
> Republicans Opposed Increased Spending On Veterans And Homeland
> Security. In 2005, Republicans Voted against an amendment to the 2006
> budget resolution to increase spending levels by $15.8 billion. The
> proposal boosted education, training and social services programs by
> $8 billion, provided $2.9 billion more veteran's health care and $1.7
> billion more for homeland security than the GOP resolution.
> Furthermore, the amendment would have reduced the deficit by $10
> billion and raised $25.8 billion by reducing tax cuts for those
> earning more than $1 million. The amendment was rejected, 180-242.
> [HRS 95, Vote #82, 3/17/2005; Failed 180-242; R 3-218; D 176-24; I
> 1-0]
>
> Republicans Opposed $100 Million Increase for Military Personnel. In
> 2005, Republicans Voted against a proposal to the budget to increase
> funding for military health care by $100 million and transitional job
> training for military personnel by $50 million. The proposed increase
> failed, 200-229.
> [HR 1268, Vote #76, 3/16/2005; Failed 200-229; R 2-226; D 197-3; I
> 1-0]
>
> Republicans Voted Against Additional Job Assistance to Veterans
> Returning from Overseas. In 2005, Republicans opposed a motion to a
> job training reauthorization bill to provide extra assistance to
> veterans who are returning from conflicts overseas. Many veterans
> returning from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq may need skills
> and training to obtain or retain their jobs while Reservists who have
> spent a year or more overseas have put their careers on hold to serve
> our country. Four out of 10 members of the Guard and Reserve forces
> lose income when they leave their civilian jobs for active duty. Many
> left for the war thinking they would be deployed for 6 months and have
> ended up staying for a year or even longer and may be shipped out
> again. Additionally, many Guard and Reservists are self-employed or
> run small businesses and face the daunting task of reestablishing
> their businesses after their release from active duties. The 2 years
> after they return from service are the most difficult. The motion
> failed, 197-228.
> [Statements by Rep. Kildee, 109th Congressional Record, pg. H915,
> 3/2/05; Statement by Rep. Schakowsky, 109th Congressional Record, pg.
> H2074, 4/14/05; HR 27, Vote #47, 3/2/2005; Failed 197-228; R 0-228; D
> 196-0; I 1-0]
> 

Since these bills were voted on while Republicans totally controlled
the Congress and shut out the Democrats, your "the Repugs rejected the
bad Dems riders" makes no sense at all.


On Sat, 6 Jan 2007 09:38:24 -0600, "md" <md@sawn.net> wrote:

>Being objective would require one to look past the initial, obviously 
>emtional content of these 'screws' and look at what the Dems put into the 
>bills as riders/amendments.  I'm not going to waste the time...again a Dem 
>lover is willing to show you the hype...
>
>Don't take this wrong, I'm not a huge fan of the Repugs, they have their 
>fair share of problems.  These are just blatant emotional things that weak 
>minded Americans are so susceptable to.  It goes on both sides of the aisle.
>
><DemocratsLoveAmerica@usa.usa> wrote in message 
>news:mmmup29itcnfuusta729q8fpacgd3uqile@4ax.com...
>> Republicans Voted to Block an Attempt to Increase Veterans' Health
>> Care and Prevent Increased Veterans' Health Care Fees. In May,
>> Republicans Voted for a motion to kill a Democratic effort to offer
>> three amendments to the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs
>> Appropriations bill. One amendment would provide the $507 million
>> stripped out of the bill by conservatives, not by categorizing them as
>> emergency funds, but by reducing the tax cuts for people making more
>> than $1 million a year by $1,400 or one percent. The second amendment
>> would increase veterans' health care by $1.82 billion and pay for it
>> by reducing the average tax cut for those with incomes above $1
>> million a year by about $5,000, leaving them with $109,025. The third
>> amendment would provide an additional $735 million for the Defense
>> Health Program to make unnecessary an increase in veterans' health
>> fees. The bill currently comes up with the $735 million in funding
>> through an increase in health care user fees.
>> [Leadership Document, "Better and More Affordable Health Care for
>> Veterans and Military Families," 5/19/06; HR 5385, Vote #173,
>> 5/19/2006; Passed 211-186; R 211-0; D 0-186; I 0-0]
>>
>> Republicans Voted to Allow $507 Million to Be Stripped from Military
>> Construction and Veterans Programs. In May, Republicans Voted for the
>> rule governing debate of the Military Quality of Life and Veterans
>> Affairs Appropriations bill The rule left $507 million worth of
>> projects unprotected from points of order. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a
>> member of the ultra-conservative Republican Study Committee (RSC),
>> lodged points of order against $507 million worth of projects in the
>> bill, thus stripping them out of the legislation. The points of order
>> were only allowed because the rule governing debate of the bill put
>> forward by the GOP leadership did not protect the funds from points of
>> order.
>> [CQ Today, 5/19/06; HR 5385, Vote #174, 5/19/2006; Passed 216-187; R
>> 215-0; D 1-187; I 0-0]
>>
>> Republicans Voted for Fiscal Year 2007 Budget That Hurts America's
>> Veterans. In May, Republicans Voted for a $2.8 trillion budget that is
>> fiscally reckless and harmful for America's working families. The
>> budget adds hundred of billions to the already record budget deficit
>> and includes a provision to increase the debt limit by $653 billion to
>> $9.6 trillion. It cuts key programs like education, health and
>> veterans programs. The budget cuts veterans' healthcare beyond 2007.
>> Despite an initial boost in veterans' health spending for 2007, over
>> five years (from 2007-2011), the Republican budget resolution actually
>> cuts funding for veterans' appropriated programs by $6 billion below
>> the level that CBO estimates is needed to maintain current services.
>> Additionally, the Republican budget resolution includes significant
>> increases in TRICARE costs for military retirees under 65. In fact,
>> healthcare fees will triple for retired officers, double for retired
>> senior enlisted personnel, and increase by 40 percent for junior
>> enlisted retirees.
>> [House Budget Committee, Minority Staff Analysis of the FY 07 Budget;
>> HCR 376, Vote #158, 5/18/2006; Passed 218-210; R 218-12; D 0-197; I
>> 0-1]
>>
>> Republicans Voted Against Ending the Military Families Tax. In May,
>> Republicans Voted against a Democratic motion to the FY 07 Department
>> of Defense Authorization bill that would have ended the Military
>> Families Tax. The Military Families Tax penalizes more than 50,000
>> survivors in military families, most of whom are widows. These widows
>> lose their military survivor benefits under the Survivor Benefit Plan
>> (SBP) if they receive VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
>> benefits because their spouse has died of a service-connected injury.
>> Specifically, the spouse's SBP benefit is reduced dollar for dollar by
>> the amount of the DIC benefit - a $993 deduction per month. This harms
>> the 53,000 survivors who continue to pay this unfair tax.
>> [HR 5122, vote #144, 5/11/06; Leadership document, "Democrats Are
>> Fighting to End the Military Families Tax," 5/11/06; HR 5122, Vote
>> #144, 5/11/2006; Failed 202-220; R 6-220; D 195-0; I 1-0]
>>
>> Republicans Voted Against $53 Million Boost for Veterans Health Care &
>> Benefits. In 2005, Republicans Voted against an amendment to the
>> Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs funding bill to add $53
>> million for veterans health care and other benefits, offset by a 9
>> percent cut to BRAC. The amendment would add $8 million for
>> combat-related trauma care, $6 million for poly-trauma centers to
>> support wounded troops once they return to their homes, $9 million for
>> VA medical and prosthetic research and $7 million for 100 additional
>> staff who process claims for compensation and pension benefits.
>> Finally, the amendment would provide $23 million to help approximately
>> 4,100 spouses of service members with children whose spouse died
>> during the War on Terrorism between September 11, 2001 and November
>> 30, 2004 by making them eligible for Dependency and Indemnity
>> Compensation. The amendment failed, 213-214.
>> [Leadership Document, "Medical Quality Democratic Amendment Final.";
>> HR 2528, Vote #224, 5/26/2005; Failed 213-214; R 19-210; D 193-4; I
>> 1-0]
>>
>> Republicans Opposed Expanding TRICARE to Thousands of National Guard &
>> Reserve Volunteers. In 2005, Republicans Voted against a motion to
>> expand 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 have
>> been called up for active duty over the last two and one-half years,
>> not all Guardsmen and Reservists have access to TRICARE. A 2003 report
>> by the General Accounting Office showed that 20 percent of all
>> Reservists do not have health insurance, and 40 percent of Reservists
>> aged 19 to 35 lack health coverage. According to the latest Defense
>> Department data, 18 percent of activated Reservists have no medical
>> coverage. Currently, only those called up for active duty are eligible
>> for the program. The proposal would have expanded military health care
>> 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.
>> [Leadership Document, "DOD Authorization Previous Question on Rule";
>> HR 1815, Vote #221, 5/25/2005; Failed 211-218; R 9-218; D 201-0; I
>> 1-0]
>>
>> Republicans Voted For Budget That Cut Veterans Programs. In 2005,
>> Republicans 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.
>> [House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, "Summary and Analysis of FY
>> 2006 Budget Resolution Conference Report." 4/28/05; HCR 95, Vote #149,
>> 4/28/2005; Passed 214-211; R 214-15; D 0-195; I 0-1]
>>
>> Republicans Voted Against Debt Assistance for Returning Guard and
>> Reservists. In 2005, Republicans Voted against a motion to the 2005
>> bankruptcy reform bill to exempt members of the National Guard and
>> Reserve from the means test in the bill if their debt was a result of
>> active duty or was incurred within two years of returning home from
>> their service. The overall bill imposed a new means test on Americans
>> who filed for bankruptcy protection. Those with incomes above the
>> median for their state, and who could pay at least $6,000 over five
>> years, would have to develop a plan to repay creditors. Previously,
>> debtors had the option of asking a bankruptcy judge to erase their
>> debts in return for forfeiting some of their assets. Four out of 10
>> members of the Guard and Reserve forces lose income when they leave
>> their civilian jobs for active duty. Many left for the war thinking
>> they would be deployed for 6 months and have ended up staying for a
>> year or even longer and may be shipped out again. Additionally, many
>> Guard and Reservists are self-employed or run small businesses and
>> face the daunting task of reestablishing their businesses after their
>> release from active duties. The 2 years after they return from service
>> are the most difficult. The motion to protect Guard and Reserve
>> volunteers failed, 200-229.
>> [Los Angeles Times, 4/15/05; Statement by Rep. Schakowsky, 109th
>> Congressional Record, pg. H2074, 4/14/05; S 256, Vote #107, 4/14/2005;
>> Failed 200-229; R 1-228; D 198-1; I 1-0]
>>
>> Republicans Opposed Increased Spending On Veterans And Homeland
>> Security. In 2005, Republicans Voted against an amendment to the 2006
>> budget resolution to increase spending levels by $15.8 billion. The
>> proposal boosted education, training and social services programs by
>> $8 billion, provided $2.9 billion more veteran's health care and $1.7
>> billion more for homeland security than the GOP resolution.
>> Furthermore, the amendment would have reduced the deficit by $10
>> billion and raised $25.8 billion by reducing tax cuts for those
>> earning more than $1 million. The amendment was rejected, 180-242.
>> [HRS 95, Vote #82, 3/17/2005; Failed 180-242; R 3-218; D 176-24; I
>> 1-0]
>>
>> Republicans Opposed $100 Million Increase for Military Personnel. In
>> 2005, Republicans Voted against a proposal to the budget to increase
>> funding for military health care by $100 million and transitional job
>> training for military personnel by $50 million. The proposed increase
>> failed, 200-229.
>> [HR 1268, Vote #76, 3/16/2005; Failed 200-229; R 2-226; D 197-3; I
>> 1-0]
>>
>> Republicans Voted Against Additional Job Assistance to Veterans
>> Returning from Overseas. In 2005, Republicans opposed a motion to a
>> job training reauthorization bill to provide extra assistance to
>> veterans who are returning from conflicts overseas. Many veterans
>> returning from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq may need skills
>> and training to obtain or retain their jobs while Reservists who have
>> spent a year or more overseas have put their careers on hold to serve
>> our country. Four out of 10 members of the Guard and Reserve forces
>> lose income when they leave their civilian jobs for active duty. Many
>> left for the war thinking they would be deployed for 6 months and have
>> ended up staying for a year or even longer and may be shipped out
>> again. Additionally, many Guard and Reservists are self-employed or
>> run small businesses and face the daunting task of reestablishing
>> their businesses after their release from active duties. The 2 years
>> after they return from service are the most difficult. The motion
>> failed, 197-228.
>> [Statements by Rep. Kildee, 109th Congressional Record, pg. H915,
>> 3/2/05; Statement by Rep. Schakowsky, 109th Congressional Record, pg.
>> H2074, 4/14/05; HR 27, Vote #47, 3/2/2005; Failed 197-228; R 0-228; D
>> 196-0; I 1-0]
>> 
>