The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) released their 2008 Report Card.
IAVA Action has selected 22 key votes on veterans’ issues in the 110th Congress (9 votes in the Senate and 13 votes in the House). The votes cover the entire range of issues facing new veterans, including veterans’ health care, the new GI Bill, mental health, and support for homeless veterans.
Here’s how they score Georgia’s Congressmen:
Saxby “Mr. Bum Knee, ooh, I can’t go to Vietnam and fight for my country” Chambliss – B – (7 out of 9 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* Johnny Isakson – B – (7 out of 9 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* Jack Kingston (1st CD) – C – (9 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* Sanford Bishop (2nd CD) – A+ – (13 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, plus 2 points for Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsorship)
* Lynn Westmoreland (3rd CD) – C – (9 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* Hank Johnson (4th CD) – A+ – (13 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, plus 2 points for Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsorship)
* John Lewis (5th CD) – A – (12 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, plus 2 points for Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsorship)
* Tom Price (6th CD) – B – (10 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* John Linder (7th CD) – C – (9 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* Jim Marshall (8th CD) – B – (12 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* Nathan Deal (9th CD) – C – (8 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* Paul Broun (10th CD) – INC – (lawmaker medically unable or ineligible to vote during a significant portion of IAVA Action,votes during the 110th Congress)
* Phil Gingrey (11th CD) – C – (9 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, not a Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsor)
* John Barrow (12th CD) – A+ – (13 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, plus 2 points for Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsorship)
* David Scott (13th CD) – A+ – (13 out of 13 votes with IAVA Action, plus 2 points for Post-9/11 GI Bill cosponsorship)
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So let’s summarize the IAVA report card by partisanship:
# of Republicans – 9
# of Democrats – 6
# of Republicans with a A+ score = 0
# of Democrats with a A+ score = 4 (66%)
# of Republicans with a A score = 0
# of Democrats with a A score = 1
# of Republicans with a B score = 3
# of Democrats with a B score = 1
# of Republicans with a C score = 5 (56%)
# of Democrats with a C score = 0
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If you’re a Georgia Veteran, it’s pretty easy to see which Party has been looking after your best interests, your fellow comrades, and your families – Georgia Democrats. The sad thing is that Republican Phil Gingrey is on the Armed Services committee and he has a “C” score. Gingrey gets to tout that he is on the committee that helps our veterans, but he can’t walk the walk and stand up for our veterans. Even Saxby “Mr. Bum Knee” claims that he’s a full supporter of veterans – that’s about as true as Saxby’s teh awesome farm bill that is helping Georgia farmers.
Fortunately this year, Georgia veterans have better choices than the slacker Republicans who are not supporting them. There are 5 veterans running on the Democratic ticket:
* Jim Martin (US Senate)
* Bill Gillespie (1st CD)
* Bill Jones (6th CD)
* Doug Heckman (7th CD)
* Bobby Saxon (10th CD)
* Bud Gammon (11th CD)
If you are a veteran or know a veteran, please support these fellow veterans and vote for candidates that will vote for your interests. To volunteer contact Kelli or Martha at the DPG – 678-278-2008
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