The
Beaver County Times tells us about Lloyd "Skip" Haswell, a Marine Corps veteran who was recently listed as a member of a group of "Veterans for Santorum." It seems that Rick's recent vote against an amendment to provide "an assured stream of funding for veterans health care," and his failure to respond to Mr. Haswell's inquiries about that vote, have caused Mr. Haswell to reconsider his support for Rick:
Haswell is also president of Beaver County's Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 862 and a district director for the Vietnam Veterans of America.
However, on March 16, Santorum voted against an amendment to a budget bill that would have provided steady funding for veterans health care, a move that did not sit well with Haswell.
According to a description on the U.S. Senate's Web site, the amendment - introduced by U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D. - would have provided "an assured stream of funding for veterans health care that will take into account the annual changes in the veterans population and inflation to be paid for by restoring the pre-2001 top rate for income over $1 million, closing corporate tax loopholes and delaying tax cuts for the wealthy."
U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Philadelphia, voted yes, but the amendment was defeated 54 to 46. It's probably a good guess that Santorum, a President Bush loyalist, had some issues with closing "tax loopholes" and "delaying tax cuts for the wealthy."
Haswell said he's been trying to get an answer from Santorum's people on why the senator rejected the amendment, but his calls have been ignored. Consequently, he pulled out of the Veterans for Santorum, saying he can't campaign for someone who "votes against veterans" then can't take the time to explain himself.
"The veterans deserve answers," Haswell said," and that's all I'm asking for."
We agree with Mr. Haswell, veterans do deserve answers from Rick Santorum to questions like this one: why do you vote to continue tax cuts for the rich at the expense of health care funding for veterans?Please call Rick's office or send him an email and see if he'll answer your questions.
Here's Rick's number: 202-224-6324
Click here to email Rick.
Let us know in the comments if you get any answers.