CONTRADICTING HIMSELF, COLEMAN REJECTS FIRST RESPONSIBLE BUDGET IN YEARS

05/18/2007

Despite Rhetoric, Coleman Votes Against Middle-Class Tax Cuts, Veterans, Children’s Health Care


Contradicting repeated public statements pledging support for veterans’ benefits and children’s health care, Norm Coleman voted against a responsible budget today that increases funding for those services and cuts taxes for the middle class. The fiscally-sound plan Coleman voted against today will balance the budget and create a surplus without raising taxes.

“Norm Coleman keeps saying one thing and doing another. Even as he talks about helping Minnesotans, Norm Coleman votes against a responsible budget that cuts taxes on middle class families and improves health care for veterans and children,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. “Talk is cheap, and Minnesotans deserve a Senator who will keep his word.”

Coleman Spoke of Need to Provide for Minnesota’s Veterans, But Today He Voted Against $43.1 Billion for Veterans’ Programs. While applauding the development of a new VA hospital in Minnesota, Coleman said, “Those who have served our country in the armed forces need and deserve the best access to health care.” But the budget resolution Coleman voted against today provided $43.1 billion for our nation’s veterans, including medical care. This is $30 billion more than the President requested. [Coleman Press Release, 6/23/06; FY08 Budget Conference Agreement Overview, 5/16/07]

Coleman Lauded Middle-Class Tax Relief Under the GOP Congress, But Today He Voted Against The Same Tax Cuts. As recently as last year, Coleman spoke on the importance of protecting middle-class families from the Alternative Minimum Tax. But the budget resolution Coleman voted against today provides a wide array of tax relief targeted towards middle-class families, including an extension of AMT relief, marriage penalty relief and the child tax credit. [Coleman Press Release, 5/11/06; 11/18/05; FY08 Budget Conference Agreement Overview, 5/16/07]

Coleman Used Deficit Rhetoric Touting Bush’s Budget Proposal, But Today He Voted Against Balancing the Budget. While arguing in support of Bush’s FY07 budget proposal, Coleman said, “If we fail to address this problem, the deficit will saddle future generations - our children and grandchildren - with our unpaid debts and threaten their economic security.” But the budget resolution Coleman voted against today will return the U.S. to a budget surplus in 2012, reversing the years of deficits under the Bush administration. [Coleman Press Release, 2/6/06; FY08 Budget Conference Agreement Overview, 5/16/07]

Coleman Said Children’s Health Care Was Under Threat, But Today He Voted Against $50 Billion for SCHIP. Earlier this year, Coleman said he was working with Democratic senators to protect existing coverage for those currently enrolled in the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Coleman said, “As we move forward, I will fight to ensure that Minnesota is not penalized for its effective and efficient use of federal funding.” But the budget resolution Coleman voted against today included up to $50 billion to expand coverage and improve children’s health care through SCHIP. [Feingold Press Release, 2/9/07; FY08 Budget Conference Agreement Overview, 5/16/07]