big sky democrats

As Senator Conrad Burns continues to tour the state trying to shore up support from Montana Veterans, many people ask if this is the same Senator who repeatedly has voted against the interests of veterans. The answer is, unfortunately yes. In this last Senate session, Burns voted against a $1.98 billion increase for veteran’s healthcare which would have included $1 billion for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. He voted against increasing the military death gratuity which would have given surviving families of those killed in action a $100,000 death gratuity. The current payment is a paltry $12,240. Burns also voted against an amendment which would have bolstered the pay of federal employees activated by the National Guard or Reserves. Montana has recently had over 1,500 Army Reserve and National Guard troops serving overseas with 44% of the Guard being called to active duty. Even after repeated warnings of budget shortfalls in the VA, on March 16 Burns failed to support an amendment which would have increased veterans’ medical care by $2.8 billion. According to the Disabled American Veterans, Conrad Burns had only a 33% positive voting record in 2005 on veteran’s related issues and a big fat goose egg (0%) in 2004.

Montanans have always sent their men and women into the armed forces in disproportionately high numbers. In fact, Montana now has the highest percentage of veterans in its population than any other state. Many of the veterans in Montana rely on the Veterans Administration as their sole source of medical care. As Conrad Burns touts his own military service, he continues to vote against the needs of those brave men and women who served honorably in our armed forces. The only thing worse then a Senator voting against the needs of our veterans and military is a Senator who is a veteran himself, slashing the care of our veterans and future vets.