Richmond, VA - Today, the Kaine for Virginia campaign released “Priorities,” a web video that highlights George Allen’s career in the U.S. Senate of voting for trillions in new spending that ballooned deficits, including more than 52,000 earmarks, yet voting against funding for military and defense resources.
Over the past week, George Allen and his allies have misrepresented Tim Kaine's position and alleged that he favors harmful cuts to our military and our defense despite multiple media reports calling these charges hypocritical and false.
“Only one candidate has voted to create a massive deficit while voting against our troops, George Allen,” states the video, noting that Allen’s six years in the Senate contained votes against funding for the National Guard and Reserves, safety equipment, and even tax relief for combat troops.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
“It speaks volumes about George Allen’s priorities that in a term where he voted for more than 52,000 earmarks and four times to raise his own pay, he also voted against resources and tax credits for the men and women fighting in wars he authorized,” said Kaine for Virginia Press Secretary Lily Adams. “Virginians can’t afford six more years of George Allen’s misplaced priorities that put tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and subsidies for oil companies ahead of necessary funding for our men and women in uniform.”
The video echoes sentiments voiced during a media conference call yesterday with veteran of the U.S. Army, Delegate Bob Brink (D-Arlington) and Veterans for Kaine, Courtney Lynch (U.S. Marine Corps) and Terron Sims (U.S. Army).
Background:
ALLEN VOTED AGAINST $322 MILLION FOR BATTLEFIELD CLEARANCE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR OUR TROOPS
2003: Allen Voted Against Adding $322 Million For Battlefield Clearance And Safety Equipment For Our Troops. Allen voted for the “Stevens, R-Alaska, motion to table (kill) the Dodd, D-Conn., amendment no. 1817 that would add $322 million to the bill's spending on battlefied clearance and safety equipment for U.S. troops in Iraq.” [Vote 376, 10/2/03; CQ Floor Votes]
• Dodd Said His Amendment Was Meant To Alleviate A Shortfall Of “$200 Million For Critical Gear For Our Soldiers” That The Army Cited. In a floor statement, Chris Dodd said the following about his proposed Amendment 1817, “I rise to propose this amendment to the emergency supplemental spending bill to ensure that Congress and the administration keep sight of what I believe must remain our number one priority for the conduct of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the protection of our American troops. According to the U.S. Army, the President's supplemental bill falls short of over $200 million for critical gear for our soldiers slated to rotate in Iraq and Afghanistan in the months ahead. This amendment was designed specifically to see to it that those U.S. troops coming into Iraq, into a theater of war, would receive important equipment they need to perform their missions effectively. This equipment includes important high-tech body armor, bullet-proof helmets, special water packs to keep soldiers hydrated, and other survival gear.” [Congressional Record, 10/2/03]
ALLEN VOTED AGAINST $1 BILLION FOR EQUIPMENT FOR NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES
2003: Allen Voted Against “Approximately $1 Billion For Equipment For National Guard And Reserves.” Allen voted in favor of the “Cochran, R-Miss., motion to table (kill) the Landrieu, D-La., amendment that would appropriate approximately $1 billion for equipment for the National Guard and Reserves.” [Vote 116, 4/2/03; CQ Floor Votes]
• Landrieu Press Release Cited Need For “Helmets, Tents, Bullet-Proof Inserts, And Tactical Vests.” A press release from Senator Landrieu’s office said, “The Marine Corps Reserve reports that before they could deploy a second wave of troops a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests must be fulfilled. Likewise, the Army Reserve reports a shortage of rifles - both the M4 and M16 – would have to be replenished before deploying a second wave of troops. Landrieu's amendment would increase funding for the Reserves and Guard by $1 billion.” [Senator Mary Landrieu Press Release, 3/26/03]
ALLEN VOTED AGAINST TAX RELIEF FOR COMBAT TROOPS
2005: Allen Voted Against Extending Earned Income Tax Relief For Combat Troops. Allen voted against “Kerry, D-Mass., motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Grassley, R-Iowa, point of order against the Kerry amendment no. 2616. The Kerry amendment would extend through 2007 the inclusion of combat pay in earned income. It also would accelerate so-called marriage penalty tax relief for the earned income tax credit and extend the effective dates of leasing provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act.” The Motion failed 55-43, though a three-fifths majority was required to waive the budget act, thus the amendment fell. Forty-three Democrats and 11 Republicans voted in favor of the Kerry amendment. [Vote 344, 11/17/05; CQ Floor Votes]
• Reagan Called The EITC “The Best Anti-Poverty, The Best Pro-Family, The Best Job Creation Measure To Come Out Of Congress.” The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that President Reagan said “The Earned Income Tax Credit is the best anti-poverty, the best pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress.” [Topeka Capital-Journal, 1/21/12]
• New York Times Editorial Called The EITC “The Pride Of Ronald Reagan.” [The New York Times, 8/30/11]
Obama On Tax Relief Amendment: “Our Troops Not Only Earn Their Combat Pay, But They Have Also Earned Our Respect.” In a floor statement, Senator Obama said, “I rise to speak in favor of the amendment I am offering with Senator Kerry to make two simple yet critical improvements to the earned income credit and to reduce the Federal deficit. Our amendment provides relief from the marriage penalty and from the military service penalty faced by many low-income taxpayers. . . . The second fix proposed by this amendment is to ensure that the families of our men and women in combat are not deprived of their tax benefits. In the midst of war, are we really going to tell our troops that their combat pay doesn't count as earned income for purposes of calculating tax credits? That is hard to image. Our amendment extends the tax protection for combat pay through 2007. Our troops not only earn their combat pay, but they have also earned our respect. They deserve our commitment of support.” [Congressional Record, 11/17/05]
ALLEN VOTED AGAINST $47 BILLION TO “RECONDITION AND REPAIR EQUIPMENT” FOR THE MILITARY
Allen Voted Against $47 Billion To “Recondition And Repair Equipment” For Military, Which Would Be Paid For By Repealing Certain Tax Cuts. Allen voted against the Reed amendment, which according to Congressional Quarterly “would provide $47 billion to recondition and repair equipment for the military.” [Vote 8, 2/2/06; CQ Floor Votes]
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