Votes on New GI Bill, Veterans’ Benefits Dominate Discussion of Kline’s Record; Sarvi Talks About His Priorities for Those Who Have Served

June 6, 2008

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Today, prior to the commencement of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) State Convention in Rochester and surrounded by veterans, Democratic congressional candidate Steve Sarvi (MN-02) met with media and others about the record of his opponent, Rep. John Kline (R-Lakeville), on veterans’ issues.

Donna Cassutt, associate chair of the Minnesota DFL, opened the press conference, highlighting the 64th anniversary of D-Day. Cassutt noted that “during World War II, we asked millions to sacrifice, on the battlefield and off. Then, when our veterans returned after World War II, Americans made one more sacrifice: They supported the GI bill that ensured that veterans went to college and joined the middle class for the first time.” She pointed out that the GI Bill played a critical role in creating 20th-century economic prosperity.

Cassutt contrasted this history with today, when President Bush and supporters like Rep. John Kline have “asked only servicemembers and their families to sacrifice – and then made sure that a select few feel no pain at all,” reflecting on the first-ever American tax cuts during a time of war, which heavily favored the very wealthiest Americans, were enacted by the Bush Administration and have been supported by John Kline.

Cassutt then pointed to John Kline’s lack of support for the new GI Bill, which has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate with bipartisan support and is awaiting President Bush’s signature. GI Bill benefits have failed to keep pace with inflation and the rising costs of college tuition; the new bill is an attempt to raise benefits closer to the level (in today’s dollars) provided to recipients in the 1940s and 1950s. “If we’ve sent them to war,” she asked, “can’t we send them to college?”

Before concluding, Cassutt talked about the George Bush-John Kline record on veterans’ healthcare, noting that people should be “shocked, but not surprised” by situations such as those discovered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center last year because George Bush and John Kline aren’t serious about veterans’ healthcare.

Cassutt then introduced Carver County Commissioner Randy Maluchnik, who is a disabled veteran, a former employee of the Veterans’ Administration and was the veterans’ outreach coordinator for former Congressman David Minge of Minnesota. In comments during the question and answer portion of the conference, Maluchnik talked about his relationship with a veteran afflicted by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), concerns about which Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs James Peake recently said had been “overblown.” Maluchnik stated the disorder is both very real and very serious.

Maluchnik then introduced Sarvi, who discussed his experiences in the U.S. military: joining at age 17, applying his skills to assisting the people of Kosovo and Iraq in rebuilding their communities, and learning a critical lesson about teamwork and commitment to country. “One thing we learn in the military is that we don’t leave soldiers behind,” Sarvi said. “Soldiers in World War II went to war, saw death and destruction, and came home determined to make a better world. Today’s soldiers want to do the same. We need to make sure they have that opportunity.”

Steve Sarvi
Steve Sarvi, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard who served in both Kosovo and Iraq. He’s a former three-term mayor of Watertown, Minn., who worked in local government for more than 13 years. For more about Sarvi and his vision for changing our country’s course, visit www.stevesarvi.org.

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Attachments:

• Sarvi on Veterans' Issues - No Veteran Left Behind – An outline of Steve Sarvi’s priorities for veterans
• Kline on Veterans-6.6.08 – a look at Rep. John Kline’s record on veterans’ issues