McConnell Votes Against Troops

The DSCC issued this press release today:

McConnell Votes Against Troops
Blocks Defense Authorization Bill in the name of partisan politics

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell last night voted against the Defense Authorization bill which included a pay raise for servicemembers and improvements in healthcare for troops and their families. The bill McConnell opposed authorizes weapons systems, including $3 billion to defeat IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Mitch McConnell took political games to a dangerous new level last night when he voted against our troops,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. “Mitch McConnell’s vote against equipment for the brave men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe, a pay raise for our troops, and healthcare for our servicemembers and their families is inexcusable. If Mitch McConnell is so fixated on scoring political points that he’ll vote against our troops then he’s been in Washington too long.”

McConnell Votes Against Defense Authorization Bill. Mitch McConnell voted against the National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2009. [Vote 195, 7/31/08]

McConnell Voted Against 3.9 Percent Pay Raise for Military Personnel. The bill McConnell voted against authorizes a 3.9 percent across-the-board pay raise for military personnel. [Senate Armed Services Committee Press Release, 5/1/08]

McConnell Voted Against Healthcare for Troops. The bill McConnell voted against authorizes $26.1 billion for the Defense Health Program, which includes $1.2 billion to reverse the Bush administration’s proposal to raise fees on troops and their families. [Senate Armed Services Committee Press Release, 5/1/08]

McConnell Voted Against $3 Billion to Protect Troops from IEDs. The bill McConnell voted against authorizes $3 billion in funding to protect troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from improvised explosive devices, which have killed 1,713 American service members in Iraq. [Senate Armed Services Committee Press Release, 5/1/08; iCasualties, accessed 8/1/08]