How Does McCain Fair With Veterans' Groups?
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a grade of D for his record of voting against veterans. (By contrast, Obama got a B+.)
[http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list]
Disabled Veterans of America noted McCain's dismal 20 percent voting record on veterans' issues. (Obama had an 80 percent.)
[http://capwiz.com/dav/scorecard.xc]
In a list of "Key Votes," Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) notes McCain "Voted Against Us" 15 times and "Voted For Us" only 8. (Obama voted for VVA 12 times, and against only once.)
[http://capwiz.com/vva/e4/cinfo/?id=157301] and [http://capwiz.com/vva/e4/cinfo/?id=157311]
McCain Receives $58,358 In Tax-Free Military Disability Benefit At Rate Of 100%
When he released his tax return for 2007, McCain separately disclosed that he received a pension of $58,358 that was not listed as income on his return. His campaign identified the tax-free income as a "disability pension" for injuries he sustained as a POW. John and Cindy McCain's combined income is over $6 million per year. Cindy McCain's net worth is estimated to be between $45-$100 million.
[http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-pension22apr22,1,6562984.story]
McCain Skips Vote On New GI Bill
May 22, 2008: While the senate voted 75-22 in favor of the new GI Bill, John McCain was out in California, criticizing gay marriage on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and then going to raise money for his own campaign at an event held by the San Diego Chargers owner.
[http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1304]
McCain Votes Against Adequate Troop Rest Between Deployments
September 19, 2007: McCain voted against a bill mandating specifying minimum periods between deployment of units and members of the Armed Forces deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
[View Details]
McCain Votes Against Troop Drawdown
July 18, 2007: McCain voted against a bill providing for a reduction and transition of United States forces in Iraq.
[View Details]
McCain Supports War, But Skips 10 War Votes
May 17, 2007: "Sen. McCain has spent considerable time defending the president on Iraq and catering to the Republican base on immigration, but has only managed to show up for four of the last 14 Iraq votes..." Liz Oxhorn.
[View Details]
McCain Skips Vote Requiring Drawdown In Troop Levels Within 120 Days
March 15, 2007: McCain skipped a vote on a joint resolution to revise United States policy on Iraq. The details of the bill state the U.S. should not be policing a civil war in Iraq and require a drawdown in troop levels within 120 days.
[View Details]
McCain Votes Against Funding For VA Medical Facilities
May 4, 2006: McCain voted against providing, with an offset, $20,000,000 for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Medical Facilities.
[View Details]
McCain Votes Against VA Medical Services
April 26, 2006: McCain was one of only 13 senators who voted against providing an additional $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.
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McCain Votes Against VA Medical Care
March 14, 2006: As in March of 2004, McCain voted against a bill to increase Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
[View Details]
McCain's Record On Veterans
2005-2006: In 2006, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator McCain a failing grade of "D" based on his voting record. The same year, McCain supported the interests of the group Disabled American Veterans just 20 percent of the time. The main reason for the low scores is a consistent pattern by Senator McCain of voting against appropriating money for veterans' health care and disability payments. According to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), McCain voted almost a dozen separate times against spending additional money on veterans' health care in 2005 and 2006 -- even as hundreds of thousands of soldiers and Marines were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and filing disability claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
[View Article]
McCain Votes Against VA Medical Care
March 10, 2004: McCain voted against creating a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $1.8 billion by eliminating abusive tax loopholes.
[View Details]
McCain Votes Yea To Table A Vote Providing Troop Safety Equipment
October 2, 2003: McCain voted Yea on a motion to table a bill providing an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq and to reduce the amount provided for reconstruction in Iraq by $322,000,000.
[View Details]
McCain Votes Yea To Table A Vote Providing Equipment For National Guard and Reserves
April 2, 2003: McCain voted Yea on a motion to table a bill to appropriate $1, 047,000,000 for procurement for the National Guard and Reserves.
[View Details]
McCain's Healthcare Voting Record
Children's Health:
McCain Voted To Cut, Eliminate, Restrict Health Insurance Coverage for Low Income Children and Pregnant Mothers At Least SIX Times.
[SCR 27, Vote #76, 5/21/97; S 949, Vote #149, 6/27/97; HR 4810, Vote #204, 7/17/00; H.R. 976, Vote #307, 8/2/07; S 3, Vote #45, 3/11/03; H.R. 3963, Vote #401, 10/31/07]
McCain Opposed Extending Coverage To Uninsured Children.
On October 31, 2007, after President Bush vetoed the first SCHIP reauthorization, McCain again opposed expanding SCHIP to millions of additional children. He voted against a motion to invoke cloture and bring the reauthorization forward for a vote before the Senate. The motion passed 62-33.
[H.R. 3963, Vote #401, 10/31/07]
McCain Opposed Reauthorizing SCHIP And Providing Insurance For Millions Of Uninsured Children.
In August 2007, McCain voted against passage of H.R. 976, which would have reauthorized the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). According to Knight Ridder, �The Senate proposal would provide coverage to 3.2 million� uninsured children and renew coverage for the 6 million children already covered by the program. The legislation passed 68-31.
[H.R. 976, Vote #307, 8/2/07; Knight Ridder, 8/2/07]
McCain Voted Against Allowing Uninsured Parents To Enroll In The Same Plans As Their Children.
In 2000, McCain voted against an amendment would allow states to expand coverage under the Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs (S-CHIP) to the parents of the children enrolled in the program. The amendment failed 51-47.
[HR 4810, Vote #204, 7/17/00]
Uninsured and Access to Care
McCain Opposed Expanding Health Care Coverage And Containing Rising Costs.
In 2004, McCain voted against an amendment that provided an additional $60 billion over five years to expand health care coverage. The amendment failed 43-53.
[SCR 95, Vote #47, 3/11/04]
McCain Voted To Allow Medical Savings Accounts.
In 1996, McCain voted in support of an amendment that established medical savings accounts, which allow individuals to make tax deductible contributions to special accounts set up to pay medical expenses. The Washington Post reported critics' attacks of MSA's: �Opponents call them a lavish tax break for the rich and a bad idea for the country as the healthy and wealthy choose them and leave the poor and sick in the traditional insurance pool.� The amendment was defeated 52-46.
[S 1028, Vote #72, 4/18/96; Washington Post, 4/19/96]
McCain Opposed Expanding COBRA Coverage to Retirees.
In 2000, McCain voted against an amendment that would have expanded COBRA coverage to include retirees whose employer-sponsored health care coverage was terminated and to provide a 25-percent tax credit for COBRA coverage. The amendment failed 30-68.
[HR 4810, Vote #202, 7/17/00]
McCain Voted Against Providing Tax Credits to Small Businesses That Offer Health Insurance To Employees.
In 2000, McCain voted against considering an amendment that would have provided a tax credit to small businesses that offered health insurance coverage to their employees. The amendment failed 49-49.
[HR 4810, Vote #205, 7/17/00]
McCain Opposed Requiring Health Plans To Pay For Post-Stabilization Services At Hospitals Under Certain Circumstances.
In 1999, McCain voted to require all group health plans to allow their participants to go to emergency rooms for treatment without prior authorization under the �prudent layperson� standard. McCain voted against requiring a health plan to pay for any post-stabilization services if a health plan could not be reached for instructions on further care within 1 hour after stabilization of a patient and if the care given met the regulatory definition for covered post-stabilization care currently used by Medicare and Medicaid for their health maintenance organization (HMO) participants (that definition is �medically necessary, non-emergency services furnished to an enrollee after he or she is stabilized following an emergency medical condition�). The amendment failed 47-53.
[S 1344, Vote #201, 7/13/99]
McCain Voted Against Increasing Benefits For Children With Special Needs In The Social Security Act.
In 1997, McCain voted to table an amendment that would revise the Social Security Act to include additional benefits for children with special needs, including physical, speech and language therapy, and mental health services. The motion to table passed 57-43.
[S 947, Vote #128, 6/25/97]
McCain Voted Against A $3,000 Tax Credit To Help Seniors Or Their Families Pay For Long-Term Care.
In 2000, McCain voted against an amendment that would increase the general estate tax exemption and provide seniors with long term care needs or their caregivers a $3000 tax credit phased beginning in 2001. The credit would be $1000 the first year and increase in $500 increments each year. Taxpayers with long term care needs, or with spouses or dependents with long term care need would be eligible for the tax credit. The amendment failed 46-51.
[HR 8, Vote #193, 7/14/00]
McCain Opposed Providing $20 Billion Over 10 Years To Home Health Care Providers.
In 1999, McCain voted against an amendment to reserve $20 billion over 10 years for relief from the unintended consequences of the Balanced Budget Act on teaching hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, home health care providers, rural and other community hospitals, and other health care providers, by reducing or deferring certain new tax breaks in the bill. The motion was rejected 50-50.
[S 1429, Vote #234, 7/30/99]
McCain Opposed a Measure to Create a New Program for Home and Community-Based Long-Term Care.
McCain voted against an amendment that would have created a new program to provide States with funds for home and community-based long-term care services for people with disabilities.
[Vote #533, Motion Rejected 45-54, 104th Congress, 1st Session, 10/27/95]
Medicaid:
McCain Has Voted To Cut, Restrict, And Underfund Medicaid At Least Seven Times.
[HJR 2, Vote #21, 1/23/03; HCR 178, Vote #159, 6/13/96; HCR 178, Vote #156, 5/23/96; SCR 57, Vote #117, 5/16/96; HCR 67, Vote #296, 6/29/95; SCR 13, Vote #173, 5/22/95; S. 947, Vote #124, 6/25/97; S. 947, Vote #111, 6/24/97; HCR 67, Vote #296, 6/29/95]
McCain Voted Not To Improve Health Care Under The Medicare And Medicaid Programs.
In 2003, McCain voted against a measure which would have increased funding for health care programs under Medicare and Medicaid by $4.1 billion. The motion was rejected 41-56.
[H.J.R. 2, Vote #21, 1/23/03]
McCain Voted To Cut Medicaid Funding By $182 Billion.
In 1995, McCain voted for adoption of the conference report on the fiscal 1996 budget resolution to put in place a seven-year plan to balance the budget by 2002 by cutting projected spending by $894 billion, including cuts of $270 billion from Medicare, $182 billion from Medicaid, $190 billion in non-defense spending, and $175 billion from various entitlement programs such as welfare. The conference report was agreed to 54-46.
[HCR 67, Vote #296, 6/29/95]
McCain Voted To Cut An Estimated $72 Billion From Medicaid As Part Of The FY 1997 Budget Resolution.
In 1996, McCain voted for adoption of the conference report on the concurrent resolution to establish a six-year plan to balance the federal budget by 2002. Projected spending cuts over six years include $158.1 billion in Medicare, $72 billion from Medicaid, $53 billion from welfare and $297.9 billion from discretionary spending. The conference report passed 53-46.
[HCR 178, Vote #159, 6/13/96]
Medicare and Prescription Drugs:
McCain Voted To Restrict Access To Medicare At Least Two Times.
McCain has voted to raise the eligibility age and add means testing for Medicare.
[S 947, Vote #112, 6/24/97; S 947, Vote #115, 6/25/97]
McCain Voted To Raise The Medicare Eligibility Age From 65 to 67.
In 1997, McCain voted in favor of raising the eligibility age for receiving Medicare from 65 to 67 with the change being phased in between 2003 and 2027. The motion passed 62-38.
[S 947, Vote #112, 6/24/97]
McCain Supported Increasing The Medicare Eligibility Age.
In 1997, McCain voted for an increase in the eligibility age of Medicare, creating a home health co-payment, and means testing Medicare part B. McCain voted to drive healthy people from the Medicare system. The motion failed 25-75.
[S 947, Vote #115, 6/25/97]
McCain Has Voted To Cut, Restrict, And Underfund Medicare At Least 18 Times.
[S. 1932, Vote #363, 12/21/05; S. 1932, Vote #303, 11/3/2005; S. 1, Vote #253, 6/26/03; S. 1, Vote #247, 6/26/03; SCR 23, Vote #89, 3/25/03; HJR 2, Vote #21, 1/23/03; H.C.R. 83, Vote #73, 4/5/01; S.C.R. 86, Vote #53, 4/1/98; H.C.R. 178, Vote #156, 5/23/96; H.C.R. 178, Vote #159, 6/13/96; H.R. 2491, Vote #584,11/17/95; H.R. 2491, Vote #556, 10/27/95; H.C.R. 67, Vote #296, 6/29/95; S.C.R. 13, Vote #232, 5/25/95; S. 1357, Vote #499, 10/26/95; 5/23/96; S 1357, Vote #524, 10/27/95; SCR 13, Vote #218, 5/25/95; S.C.R. 13, Vote #173]
McCain Voted to Cut $6.4 Billion from Medicare.
In 2005, McCain voted for the budget reconciliation bill that cut funding for Medicare by $6.4 billion by requiring that beneficiaries purchase medical equipment and cutting payments to home health care providers. The motion passed 50-50, with Vice President Cheney casting the deciding vote.
[S. 1932, Vote #363, 12/21/05]
McCain Voted Against Funding For Rural Medicare Health Care Providers.
In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would reduce the enormous tax cut given to the wealthiest American tax payers in order to give a fair reimbursement to rural health care providers under Medicare.
[SCR 23, Vote #89, 3/25/03]
McCain Voted Against Increasing Funding For Medicare and Medicaid Programs By $4.1 Billion.
In 2003, McCain voted against a measure which would have increased funding for health care programs under Medicare and Medicaid by $4.1 billion. The motion was rejected 41-56.
[HJR 2, Vote #21, 1/23/03]
McCain Voted to Cut an Estimated $158.1 Billion from Medicare.
In 1996, McCain voted in favor of cutting Medicare by $158.1 billion over six years. He first voted in favor of the Senate version of the Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Resolution that contained the cut and then voted for the same cut in the conference report. Both passed 53-46.
[H.C.R. 178, Vote #156, 5/23/1996; H.C.R. 178, Vote #159, 6/13/1996]
McCain Voted to Cut Medicare by $270 billion.
In 1995, McCain voted for budget that would cut Medicare by $270 billion.
[H.R. 2491, Vote #584, 11/17/1995; H.R. 2491, Vote #556, 10/27/1995; H.C.R. 67, Vote #296, 6/29/1995]
McCain Voted Against Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage At Least Twenty-Eight Times.
[S 1, Vote #262, 6/26/03; S1, Vote #259, 6/26/03; S 1, Vote #254, 6/26/03; S 1, Vote #253, 6/26/03; S1, Vote #250, 6/26/03; S 1, Vote #240, 6/24/03; S 1, Vote #239, 6/24/03; S 1, Vote #236, 6/24/03; S 1, Vote #234, 6/24/03; S 1, Vote #229, 6/19/03; S 1, Vote #227, 6/18/03; S. 1932, Vote #363, 12/21/05; S 1932, Vote #302, 11/3/05; S 1054, Vote #159, 5/15/03; SCR 23, Vote 389, 3/25/03; SCR 23, Vote #83, 3/25/03; SCR 23, Vote #63, 3/20/03; S 812, Vote #199, 7/31/02 ;S 812, Vote #187, 7/23/02; S 812, Vote #186, 7/23/02; S 812, Vote #182, 7/18/02; HCR 83, Vote #66, 4/3/01; HCR 83, Vote #65, 4/3/01; HR 4810, Vote #206, 7/17/00; HR 8, Vote #186, 7/13/00; HR 4577, Vote #144, 6/22/00; SCR 101, Vote #52, 4/5/00; S 1429, Vote #231, 7/29/99]
McCain Voted Against the Prescription Drug/Medicare Bill After Voting Down 12 Important Enhancements to the Legislation.
In 2003, McCain voted against a Medicare bill which did little to lower the costs of prescription drugs. Under the limited drug benefit, those with drug costs below $5,800 would still have to pay most of their drug costs, and premiums would vary across the country. The bill passed 76-21.
[S 1, Vote #262, 6/26/03]
McCain Voted Against an Amendment Closing the Medicare Prescription Drug Loophole.
In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment to ensure that current retirees who had prescription drug coverage but would lose their prescription drug coverage as a result of the enactment of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) would have the option of drug coverage under the Medicare fallback. This amendment was an attempt to give these seniors an option of prescription drug coverage under Medicare. The amendment failed 42-54.
[S 1, Vote #259, 6/26/03]
McCain Voted Against Lowering Prescription Premiums for Medicare Recipients.
In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would authorize $2.4 billion a year for four years to lower premiums for enrollees in a Medicare prescription drug benefit plan. The amendment failed 39-59.
[S 1, Vote #254, 6/26/03]
McCain Opposed Creating a Strong Prescription Drug Plan Under Medicare.
In 2003, McCain voted against an amendment that would have created a prescription drug benefit plan under the traditional Medicare program available to all eligible recipients. The program would be available every year in addition to any private plans offered. The amendment failed 37-58.
[S 1, Vote #227, 6/18/03]
McCain Voted Against A Prescription Drug Benefit To Medicare.
In 2000, McCain voted against an amendment that would have added a new prescription drug benefit to Medicare. The program would provide prescription drug benefits to Medicare recipients as an entitlement. Private sector contractors would be hired to provide the benefits. Most of the costs of the new program would be paid for by the taxpayers rather than by Medicare beneficiaries. The amendment failed 44-53.
[HR 4577, Vote #144, 6/22/00]
McCain Voted Against A Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program.
In 1999, McCain voted against a motion to recommit the Tax Reconciliation bill to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions that would direct the committee to add language that would reduce the bill's tax cuts by an amount sufficient to allow establishment of a Medicare prescription drug benefit program. The motion to recommit the bill failed 45-55.
[S 1429, Vote #231, 7/29/99]
McCain Has Voted Against Ensuring Medicare's Future By Opposing Efforts To Extend Its Solvency At Least Nine Times.
[H.R. 1836, Vote #137, 5/22/01; H.R. 4577, vote #162, 6/29/00; S. 1429, Vote #228, 7/29/99; H.C.R. 68, Vote #84, 4/13/99; S.C.R. 20, Vote #66, 3/25/99; S.C.R. 20, Vote #61, 3/24/99; S.C.R. 20, Vote #59, 3/24/99; S. 947, Vote #125, 6/25/97; S. 947, Vote #124, 6/25/97]
John McCain on Women's Issues