Senator Burr Tapped to Replace Minority Leader on Veterans Committee

In a decision by the Republicans to replace Senator Craig as the minority leader of the Veterans Committee, Senator Burr will fill the role. This is currently temporary due to Craig's resignation not being final. This decision is a persistence of the status quo for veteran issues and a poignant statement by Paul Rieckhoff sums up this by saying he is, "not thrilled." According to information obtained on Vote Smart, Burr has continually voted against veterans on many issues and has received failing grades from many veteran organizations.

Some of his voting has shown him to be on the opposing side of veteran advocacy as seen on the Disabled American Veterans website. In one issue, he voted against, Stabenow Amendment No. 3141, which would have provided a secure flow of funding for veteran's health care. To pay for this funding the suggestion to close corporate loopholes and delay tax cuts for the rich. In another similar type of measure, which was also voted against by Burr was the Akaka Amendment No. 3007, which would have provided veteran's with $1.5 billion worth of funding in 2007.

It is important to note that the Department of Veterans Affairs was $4 billion in the red in 2006 due to discretionary funding not being approved. It seems that Burr votes along partisan lines and not for the veteran. Our nation's heroes have sacrificed life and limb for our country and now deserve the best representation available. This opposition to veteran's advocacy is nothing new and goes across both party lines. With a glimmer of hope, the elections of 2008 will bring about the mavericks needed to support our nation's veterans.