Coleman Votes for Blank Check in Iraq

11/19/2007

Despite Claiming to Want a Change in Course, Coleman Votes for Funding Without Strings, Against Timeline for Bringing Troops Home


St. Paul, MN (November 16, 2007) Despite repeatedly telling Minnesotans that he wants to change course in Iraq, Senator Norm Coleman today voted in favor a blank $70 billion check for the war in Iraq, then voted against a measure that included a timeline to bring our troops home.

“With yet another opportunity to actually put his money where his mouth is, Coleman today took a pass and voted against change in Iraq, instead siding again with this failed President and his failed war strategy,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez.

“It’s time to start bringing our troops home, and Minnesota needs someone trustworthy to represent us in Washington,” continued Melendez. “But time and time again, Coleman says one thing and does another. We cannot trust him to do the right things for our troops or for the people of Minnesota.”

Coleman Votes for Blank Check, Against Changing Course in Iraq:

Coleman Votes for $70 Billion Blank Check for Iraq. Senator Norm Coleman today voted in favor of $70 billion for the war in Iraq “without strings attached.” “…the Senate rejected a Republican proposal to pay for the Iraq war without strings attached. The Republican measure failed 45-53, 15 short of the number of votes needed to go forward.” [Vote #410, 11/16/07; Star Tribune, 11/16/07]

Coleman Voted Against Changing Course in Iraq on the Same Day. Coleman today also voted against a measure to change course in Iraq, requiring troop withdrawals from Iraq begin within 30 days, with a goal of withdrawal by December 15, 2008, making it his tenth vote this year against changing course or setting a timeline for bringing our troops home. [Vote #411, 11/16/07; CRS Summary, H.R. 4156]

Coleman Voted Ten Times This Year Against Changing Course in Iraq. Senator Norm Coleman has voted ten times this year alone against changing course in Iraq. [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]

Coleman Also Says Americans Want a Way Out. “‘Americans want to see a light at the end of the tunnel,’ said the Minnesota Republican, who is walking a tightrope to the 2008 election. ‘We need to see some plan out there.’” [Star Tribune, 9/11/07]

Coleman Has Supported Bush on Key Votes 90.5% of Tenure in Senate. This figure represents the four-year average of Coleman’s Congressional Quarterly presidential support index. In his first year in the Senate, Coleman backed Bush a whopping 98% of the time. [Star Tribune, Big Question, 5/14/07]

Price Tag for War is already $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]

CNN/Opinion Research: More Than 2/3 Oppose the War in Iraq, a Record High. According to the latest CNN/Opinion Research poll, 68% of Americans now oppose the war in Iraq, up from 65% last month. This is the highest opposition to the war recorded in a CNN survey. [CNN/Opinion Research, 11/8/07]