Democrats

President Bush/House Republican

End Tax on Disabled Veterans

Yes.  Initiated a discharge petition to end the tax now on all 560,000 disabled veterans who are military retirees.  Also succeeded in getting a provision to end the tax on military retirees who are 100 percent disabled in the Senate-passed Defense Authorization bill.

Not fully, not now.  House Republicans passed legislation that left out about 400,000 disabled military retirees, and makes the other one-third they wait 10 years for full benefits.

End Survivor Benefit Penalty or Military Widow's Tax

Yes.  Democratic budget restores full benefits to survivors of military retirees age 62 and older.  Democrats launched a discharge petition earlier this year to force the GOP leadership to allow a vote on ending the Widow's Tax.  Democrats sent a letter asking for it to be included in the Defense bill and this effort succeeded in getting the SBP provision included.

Johnny Come Latelies.  Both this year and last year, Republicans on the House Budget Committee rejected this provision, and the GOP budget allowed the cut in benefits to widows of military retirees to continue. Now, in response to Democratic pressure, Republicans have included it in the Defense Authorization bill, but the Bush Administration opposes it.

Protect Veterans' Benefits

Yes.  Fought and succeeded in defeating Republican-passed budget cuts in veterans' benefits, and are working to speed up the processing of disability claims.

No.  President's budget makes it harder for veterans to get their benefits by eliminating critically needed staff needed to process claims for and provide veterans' benefits.  A majority of House Republicans voted to cut veterans benefits by between $22 billion and $50 billion this summer (Kirk amendment Pay-go). Last year, House Republicans voted for $14 billion in cuts to veterans' pension, compensation, education and other benefits over 10 years. 

Improve Veterans' Health Care

Yes.  Democratic budget includes a $2.5 billion increase over Bush budget for veterans' health care to maintain the current level of VA health services. And Democrats offered another resolution to bring funding up to the level needed to maintain current services. Last year, Democrats fought to provide $10 billion over 10 years in veterans' health care - which would have resulted in a $1.1 billion* increase for VA medical.

No.  For the fourth straight year, the President's budget proposes new increases in veterans' cost sharing for health care, by doubling drug co-payments and imposing enrollment fees for certain veterans.  It also shortchanges VA healthcare by at least $2.5 billion. And hidden in the President's budget are cuts of $910 million next year which could mean disenrolling about 240,000 veterans from medical care services.  This year, Republicans rejected two Democratic attempts to bring funding up to the level needed to maintain current services, and this week they have approved in committee a bill that shortchanges veterans' health care by $1.3 billion. Last year, Republicans voted to cut veterans' health care by $14 billion over 10 years, and reneged on a promise to increase veterans' health care by $1.8 billion this year.

Extend Health Care for more Reservists though TRICARE

Yes.  The Democratic budget continues military health care (TRICARE) for reservists without health care. Last year, succeeded in providing TRICARE to unemployed and uninsured National Guard and reservists for one year.  This year, Democratic efforts led to permanent transitional health care for reservists in the House DOD bill and the Senate-passed Defense Authorization includes provisions to offer TRICARE to all reservists.

No.  The President's budget fails to extend military health care (TRICARE) for reservists without health care.  Last year and this year, the Administration opposes additional health care for reservists.

Increase Military End Strength

Yes.  Both the House and the Senate bills increase military end strength.  The House version allows 30,000 more soldiers and 9,000 more Marines over the next three years and authorizes the funds to pay for them.  The Senate adopted an amendment that calls for a mandatory increase of 20,000 Army troops in fiscal 2005. 

No.  Senate Republicans and the Bush Administration oppose these provisions, because the increases in the number of troops would be permanent.

Pay Increase for Soldiers in Imminent Danger & Away from their Families and Pay Raises for Sergeants and Warrant Officers

Yes.  Democratic budget provides targeted pay raises to critical senior enlisted personnel who are most involved in the fighting and most critical to retention so readiness does not suffer.  Last year, Democrats' effort succeeded in getting a one-year extension of imminent danger and family separation pay. Democratic efforts to make permanent increase in imminent danger and family separation pay for soldiers have succeeded in getting those provisions in the House DOD bill.

Not for the senior enlisteds.  Republicans once again rejected targeted pay raises to senior enlisted personnel in the defense authorization bill (H.R. 4200).  Democrats successfully fought to make the increased imminent danger and family separation pay permanent.  The GOP budget discontinued targeted pay raises, and the President's budget again failed to extend imminent danger pay and separation allowance. Last year, the Administration opposed the continued increase for imminent danger and family separation pay, but then reversed itself due to widespread opposition.

Improve Reservists Bonuses and Benefits 

Yes.  The House defense authorization bill provides up to $3,000 per month in income replacement payments for activated reservists who experience a cut in their income while away from their civilian jobs, and works to provide equity for deployed reservist in enlistment, reenlistment, and retention bonuses.

No.  These provisions are opposed by the Bush Administration.

Support for Troops in Iraq & Afghanistan, as well a Bonus

Yes.  Offered better pay and protection for troops on defense authorization bill, providing pay increases for senior enlisted personnel, free life insurance for soldiers in combat, and additional protection for our troops against short and theater-range ballistic missiles and friendly fire. Democratic budget provides $2.9 billion to support our troops, by restoring benefits to families of military retirees, providing new military housing for 50,000 families, and continuing TRICARE for reservists.  Last year, fought to provide a bonus to troops and to provide $4.6 billion more to improve the safety and quality of life for our troops than Republicans.

No.  This year, along with rejecting pay increases for senior enlisted personnel, they rejected free life insurance for soldiers in combat, and additional protection for our troops against short and theater-range ballistic missiles.  President's budget provides no funds for Iraq or Afghanistan, and GOP budget provides $189 million less than President's budget for national security. Last year, Republicans voted against a bonus for our troops, and rejected additional support for our troops including funds for repairing equipment, and ensuring availability of clean drinking water in Iraq. 

Improve Military Quality of Life

Yes.  Democratic budget includes new military housing for 50,000 families over the next two years.  This week, led the effort to increase a statutory spending cap to allow a highly successful housing program to continue, thereby ensuring 50,000 families getting adequate housing as promised over the next two years.  Last year, fought to increase President's budget by $1 billion for better housing for military personnel. 

No, playing politics with military housing.  Republican budget postponed new housing promised to 50,000 military families, but the DOD authorization bill provides for completion one year later than necessary.  Just this week, Republicans refused to protect this program in passing the military construction spending bill, and instead played politics with the much-needed military housing. Last year, House Republican bill cut military construction spending - much of which goes for military housing - by $1.5 billion. 

Tax Relief for Military Families

Yes.  Worked to increase the child tax credit that would help the military families of 1 million children.  After nearly a year and more than 20 votes against, Republicans accepted these Democratic provisions to provide the tax credit to families of those in combat.

After opposing for a year, now playing politics with the issue.  Voted against increasing the child tax credit to help families of 1 million children in military families more than 20 times, but just last month included this Democratic proposal in the child tax credit bill that is not paid for and will mortgage our children's future.

Improve Education

Yes.  Worked to protect Impact Aid, the education program for schools near military bases.

No.  President's budget cuts funding in real terms for schools near military bases (Impact Aid), and last year proposed to cut it by $206 million.