Final Count: Coleman Votes 12 Times in 2007 Against Changing Course in Iraq
"B-log"12/20/2007
Coleman Continues to Support War in Iraq While Minnesotans Facing Economic Uncertainty at Home
St. Paul, MN (December 19, 2007) Senator Norm Coleman solidified his staunchly pro-war record when he voted for the twelfth time this year alone against changing course in Iraq. The DFL Party said today that Coleman’s record does not reflect the values of Minnesotans who want an end to the war in Iraq and a focus on taking care of things at home.
“The final count is in: Senator Coleman voted for the twelfth time this year alone against changing course in Iraq and a new direction for America,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez. “Unfortunately, because of Republicans’ long failure to take care of things here at home, Minnesotans are facing the new year with growing worries about the economy. We need leadership in Washington to change the direction of our state and our country and to look out for Minnesotans first, but Senator Coleman continues put President Bush and his war in Iraq first.”
Coleman Voted 12 Times in 2007 Against Changing Course in Iraq:
Coleman Voted 12 Times in 2007 Against Changing Course in Iraq. Senator Norm Coleman voted twelve times in 2007 against changing course in Iraq. [Vote #438, 12/18/07; Vote #437, 12/18/07; Vote #411, 11/16/07; Vote #362; 10/3/07; Vote #346, 9/21/07; Vote #345, 9/20/07; Vote #252, 7/18/07; Vote #167, 5/16/07; Vote #147, 4/26/07; Vote #126, 3/29/07, Vote #116, 3/27/07; Vote #75, 3/15/07]
Coleman Acknowledged Minnesotans Want Withdrawal from Iraq. In July, Coleman himself acknowledged that Minnesotans do not support continuing the war in Iraq. Coleman said, “If I took a poll in my state right now, Minnesotans would say, ‘Get out of Iraq right now.’” And in April, Coleman said, “I believe the people of Minnesota have had enough of this war.” [USA Today, 7/12/07; Albert Lea Tribune, 4/27/07]
Price Tag for War is $16,500 per Family and Climbing. While many military families have paid prices far exceeding monetary costs for the war in Iraq, the average American family has already paid $16,500 in taxes, higher gas prices, and other economic costs. Through 2017, the war in Iraq is projected to cost $2.8 trillion, or nearly $36,900 for the average American family. [Los Angeles Times, 11/14/07; Joint Economic Committee, 11/13/07]
While Minnesotans Face Economic Uncertainty at Home:
More than One in Three Americans Were Uninsured During 2006-2007. According to a report by Families USA, approximately 89.6 million Americans—more than one out of three people (34.7 percent) under 65 years of age—were uninsured at some point of time during 2006-2007. The report showed that most of these uninsured individuals lacked coverage for lengthy periods of time: nearly two-thirds (63.9 percent) were uninsured for six months or more; and more than half (50.2 percent) were uninsured for nine months or more. [Families USA, 9/20/07]
Americans Face Lower Wages and Higher Prices. Ninety-five percent of Americans -- those making less than $166,000 per year – have seen their incomes fall along with skyrocketing energy prices, a mortgage crisis, and the usual upward march of health care and education costs. [Economic Policy Institute, 12/13/07; Brookings-Urban Institute Tax Policy Center, 10/10/06]
Household Income Down in Bush-Republican Economy. Real median household income is down $962 in the Bush-Republican economy. The average family has less money in its pocket than it did seven years ago, while median income rose by $6,028 in the Democratic economy of the ‘90s. There are 1.2 million more unemployed workers than when Bush took office. [Census Bureau, August 2007; Joint Economic Committee, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, The Bush Economy]
Housing Market Slows Down Dramatically. The National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday that sales of existing homes dropped by 1.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.97 million units, 20.7 percent below activity a year ago. [Star Tribune, 11/29/07]
Economy, Mortgage Crisis Worries Minnesotans. “According to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll, 70 percent of Minnesotans are either “very” or “somewhat” worried about the fallout from the mortgage lending woes on the nation’s economy.” [Star Tribune, 10/6/07]