Empoweringveterans.org is a new website dedicated to exposing the hypocrisy of U.S. Senators who claim to support the troops but whose voting record loudly states otherwise.

The first profile is of Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander.

The Lives of Military Personnel OR Tax Cuts for the Rich Alexander voted “NO” to:

• $25.41 Billion for increased military procurement of equipment.
(S Roll Call 008, 02/02/2006)
• $16.9 Billion for increased Army maintenance funding.
(S Roll Call 008, 02/02/2006)
• $4.5 Billion for increased Marine Corps maintenance funding.
(S Roll Call 008, 02/02/2006)

Although Senator Alexander was not in the Senate when the tax cuts* for the wealthy were enacted his voting record is clear that he fully supports these tax cuts and has voted consistently to sustain them at the expense of members of the Armed Forces and their families and veterans and their families.* The top 1% of wage earners (Average $1,171,000) received 25% of the tax benefit according to [need source here].

• Depriving the Armed Forces of equipment and resources to stay safe and alive in War Time.
• Providing Tax Cuts for the wealthiest Americans in War Time.

Alexander consistently votes against needed improvements in Veterans’ Health CareAlexander voted:

• “NO” to authorize $21.9 billion for the VA for compensation and pensions; medical care and hospital improvements. (S Roll Call 007, 02/02/2006)
• “NO” to increase VA funding for the increased demand for VA services due to the Iraq War. (S Roll Call 251, 10/05/2005)

Alexander’s Voting Record Hurts Veterans & their Families 30% of returning veterans diagnosed with mental health problems and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

• 82% of New Patients need intensive PTSD treatment.
• 20% of VA PTSD treatment programs are full.
• 40% of VA PTSD treatment programs are near full capacity.
• 42% of VA primary care clinics have NO mental health staff.

There’s more.

This post was written by Mary Mancini