May 16, 2008
EAGAN, Minn. – Steve Sarvi, Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL)-endorsed candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, issued the following statement today regarding John Kline’s votes on the supplemental appropriations bill that the House of Representatives voted on yesterday:
“John Kline needs to remember that ‘supporting our troops’ must be more than a slogan to be meaningful: it has to be backed up by votes. Truly supporting our troops, both while they’re at war and when they come home, requires commitment. Unfortunately, Congressman Kline is not making that commitment. He’s letting our fighting men and women down, and he’s letting down all the Minnesota families who are demanding change.
“Congressman Kline had three chances to make a real change in direction: to start getting us out of Iraq, to begin protecting American taxpayers from the cost of the war, and to once again give our troops the benefits they deserve. Instead, he voted against all three.
“The Iraqi government needs to tap into their own oil revenues to pay for security forces and reconstruction efforts. This is not only fiscally fair to Americans who have paid so dearly in blood and treasure, but it also begins the process of the Iraqi government taking responsibility for their own future.
“Congressman Kline ought to know that the original GI Bill was one of the best investments our nation has ever made; it returned $7 to our economy for every $1 invested in it and helped build American prosperity. Updating it for the 21st Century was not only the smart thing to do; it was also the right thing to do – and on behalf of the men and women with whom I served, it’s something I would have supported, while my opponent, Rep. Kline, did not.
"I’m also proud that with their votes, most members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation said no to torture. While Rep. Kline did not, this vote sent a positive message that torture is not an American value.”
The supplemental spending bill was considered as three separate amendments:
Amendment #1 was to provide $162.5 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through the summer of 2009, while demanding a plan to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq. Rep. Kline voted “present” on this amendment, which failed by a small margin. The “present” votes of Kline and 131 other Republicans were a protest against Democrats’ insertion of a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq and, as opposed to a “no” vote, were an attempt to avoid the appearance of lack of support for our troops.
Amendment #2 included a number of important provisions including preventing construction of permanent military bases in Iraq, and tapping Iraq’s oil revenue to ease some of the costs to American consumers and taxpayers. Rep. Kline voted against this amendment, which passed.
Amendment #3 restores GI Bill benefits for veterans to intended levels, extends unemployment benefits for workers who have exhausted their benefits and funds efforts to strengthen New Orleans levees. Under the new GI bill, qualified service members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan who have served three years on active duty since September 11, 2001 – including National Guard and Reserve members – will receive benefits to cover the costs of a four-year education up to the level of the most expensive in-state public school along with a stipend for housing, books and other expenses. The bill will give 1.7 million men and women educational benefits on-par with those provided to veterans of the World War II era. Rep. Kline voted against the amendment, which passed.
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