Maybe Return the Favor
This last year, one of the most important pieces of veterans’ legislation was passed into law and signed by President Biden. The Pact Act finally made it easier for veterans to get compensation and care for various diseases that resulted from their military service. The legislation also allowed family members to also seek compensation for their exposures as well. Yet some politicians felt the need to turn their backs on veterans and their families and vote against the bill. Maybe it’s time for veterans to return the favor.
For me, the most confusing part of this vote was that it was Republicans who chose to abandon veterans. With the narrative that Republicans take care of the military, I had become accustomed to the GOP at least pretending to care about veterans. Of course, as most analysts will tell you, the GOP cares more for the mechanisms of war than the people who fight them. Yet, we have always come to expect Republicans to be a solid base of support for veterans. In 2022, it just wasn’t so. In reality, it took vets protesting and the leadership of the “leftist” Jon Stewart. In fact, it took Stewart literally calling out the GOP’s “bullshit” to get the PACT bill passed.
So when you vote, consider the votes of those who voted against the vets. Consider especially those who couldn’t even be persuaded in the end.
In the Senate:
Mike Crapo (R, ID)
Rand Paul (R, KY)
James Lankford (R, OK)
Mike Lee (R, UT)
In the House:
Gary Palmer (R, AL)
Mike Rogers (R, AL)
Mo Brooks (R, AL)
Andy Biggs (R, AZ)
David Schweikert (R, AZ)
Debbie Lesko (R, AZ)
Connie Conway (R, CA)
Kevin McCarthy (R, CA)
Tom McClintock (R, CA)
Doug Lamborn (R, CO)
Ken Buck (R, CO)
Lauren Boebert (R, CO)
Daniel Webster (R, FL)
Drew Ferguson (R, GA)
Jody Hice (R, GA)
Rick Allen (R, GA)
Mike Simpson (R, ID)
Russ Fulcher (R, ID)
Darin LaHood (R, IL)
Mary Miller (R, IL)
Ron Estes (R, KS)
Tracey Mann (R, KS)
James Comer (R, KY)
Mike Johnson (R, LA)
Steve Scalise (R, LA)
Bill Huizenga (R, MI)
Lisa McClain (R, MI)
Tom Emmer (R, MN)
Michael Guest (R, MS)
Billy Long (R, MO)
Jason Smith (R, MO)
Sam Graves (R, MO)
Adrian Smith (R, NE)
Yvette Herrell (R, NM)
Claudia Tenney (R, NY)
Dan Bishop (R, NC)
David Rouzer (R, NC)
Virginia Foxx (R, NC)
Jim Jordan (R, OH)
Kevin Hern (R, OK)
Cliff Bentz (R, OR)
Lloyd Smucker (R, PA)
Jeff Duncan (R, SC)
Ralph Norman (R, SC)
Dusty Johnson (R, SD)
David Kustoff (R, TN)
John Rose (R, TN)
Tim Burchett (R, TN)
Chip Roy (R, TX)
Jodey Arrington (R, TX)
John Carter (R, TX)
Kay Granger (R, TX)
Lance Gooden (R, TX)
Pete Sessions (R, TX)
Randy Weber (R, TX)
Roger Williams (R, TX)
Blake Moore (R, UT)
Burgess Owens (R, UT)
John Curtis (R, UT)
Bob Good (R, VA)
Morgan Griffith (R, VA)
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA)
Alex Mooney (R, WV)
Tom Tiffany (R, WI)
House list forgives a few members who are veterans themselves, however, they should be also noted here:
Rick Crawford (R, AR)
Greg Steube (R, FL)
Neal Dunn (R, FL)
Scott Franklin (R, FL)
Vern Buchanan (R, FL)
Andrew Clyde (R, GA)
Barry Loudermilk (R, GA)
Greg Pence (R, IN)
Larry Bucshon (R, IN)
Clay Higgins (R, LA)
Andy Harris (R, MD)
Trent Kelly (R, MS)
Scott Perry (R, PA)
Joe Wilson (R, SC)
William Timmons (R, SC)
Mark Green (R, TN)
August Pfluger (R, TX)
Ronny Jackson (R, TX)
Troy Nehls (R, TX)
Van Taylor (R, TX)
Chris Stewart (R, UT)