It's official, Lee Terry's hypocrisy has no end.
From Congressman Terry's website:
"I am so proud of the brave efforts of our men and women in the United States' military... I am steadfast in my resolve to do all that is necessary to provide them with the tools and resources they need to finish the job and return home safely when their mission is complete. However, I feel efforts must be made to shorten the length of their deployments."
That's very admirable of Congressman Terry to support the troops and pledge a verbal willingness to reduce the length of deployment. However, I was surprised to learn about his vote against H.R. 3158; Ensuring Military Readiness Through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act. The House passed H.R. 3159, to mandate minimum periods of rest and recuperation for units and members of the regular and reserve components of the Armed Forces between deployments for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, by a recorded vote of 229 ayes to 194 noes with 3 voting "present", Roll No. 796.
"One month in, one month out. Sounds exactly what the doctor ordered for our troops.
This bill would give our brave men and women just a few more months at home to rest, and (God forbid...or in this case Terry forbid) see their loved ones. This vote by Terry is not only hypocritical, it's disrespectful, and unconscionable.
Ah, but it doesn't stop there...
From Congressman Terry's website:
"I believe Congress must adopt policies that help, not hurt, the ability of all Americans to access health care and make it more affordable."
Oh good to know considering (guess where I'm going on this one) you voted against giving poor children healthcare twice this year!
Any advid reader knows by now that Congressman Terry has voted against expanding the State Child Health Insurance Program which passed in both Chambers and was vetoed today by President Bush. (Expect Terry to vote against the override)
This is a widely effective, and popular bill. For instance, did you know that nearly 90% of voters want SCHIP Reauthorized.
But why did Congressman Terry vote against it? Well, the Washington Post did a lovely fact check just the other day: (props to the World Herald for publishing it in the editorial section yesterday)
"Claim: "Their proposal would result in taking a program meant to help poor children and turning it into one that covers children in households with incomes of up to $83,000 a year." -- <font>President Bush</font>"
Terry told me the same thing at the town hall meeting a little while back. And the response from the Post is...
"Actually, the measure would limit enrollment in the program to children in families making up to three times the poverty level -- about $64,000 for a family of four."
Ah, but that's not all. Here is another gem from the administration which Terry relayed in his Herald editorial a few months ago:
"Claim: The bill is aimed at "taking children who are currently insured by private insurance and moving them to government insurance." -- <font>Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt</font>
This "crowd-out" risk is real and inevitable in a public insurance program. The CBO estimates that of 5.8 million children who gain public coverage, 2 million -- 35 percent -- would otherwise have had private insurance. The effect is higher, 50 percent, for the 1.2 million newly eligible enrollees. The question is whether, given the growing ranks of uninsured children -- almost 1 million in the past two years -- this unavoidable result is worth the increase in coverage. We believe it is.
As do and I, and as stated earlier so do 90% of voters.
Don't count on it, but we can only hope that Terry chooses to vote for what is best for America's children.
Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director Matt Connealy said it best, ""Allowing President Bush’s reckless and irresponsible veto to stand means denying thousands of Nebraskan children the opportunity to see a doctor, receive preventative care and live healthier and happier lives."
And that is why Congressman Terry is our local hypocrite.
Check out our website TerryWatch.com and let us know what you think we can do to defeat Terry.