Green voted for vets' health care -- after he voted against it

Is there anyone who doesn't remember the famous John Kerry line, "I voted for the war before I voted against it?"

John Kerry, meet Mark Green, Republican Congressman, candidate for governor, and big-time flip-flopper on veterans issues.

Last week, the House voted to correct a $1 billion shortfall in veterans' health care funding -- a shortfall the White House and House Republicans had insisted didn't exist.

Even then, Rep. Ron Kind pointed out, the amount offered by House Republicans did not match that passed in the Senate, meaning that funds will not get to VA medical facilities and veterans will continue to wait in lines for health care.

VA Secretary Jim Nicholson admitted that the department will need another $1.5 billion to meet health care needs for the next fiscal year, bringing the total shortfall to $2.5 billion.

This comes after repeated attempts by Democrats to take action to solve the problem, while the Republicans played ostrich.

Mark Green voted twice, in roll calls on June 24 and again on June 28, against amendments to provide the needed money for veterans health care. Both were defeated by the GOP majority.

After the Bush Administration acknowledged that it is short $1 billion for covering current needs at the Department of Veterans Affairs this year, the Senate voted unanimously to give the VA an extra $1.5 billion this year to cover the shortfall. But House Republicans offered just $975 million, meaning additional work will have to be done to correct this serious problem.

Over the past two years, Democrats have been standing with America's veterans fighting to increase support for veterans' health care. House Republicans consistently chose other priorities and voted no on veterans' healthcare, leading to a shortfall that did not have to happen.

"The fact that the House is standing here today, debating a fix to a problem that should have never happened, is a real disgrace," said Kind. "At a time of war, the American people want leaders who offer support and services for our veterans and their families, not partisan games and preventable mistakes."

When the House finally woke up and passed the $975-million appropriation, Mark Green voted yes. So did all 418 other members recorded as voting.

So, as he hits the campaign trail for governor, Green will be able to say, while proudly declaring that he supports Victory in Iraq, that "I voted for health care benefits for Iraq veterans -- after I voted against them twice."

Here's a story from the Washington Times, which is not a part of the liberal media conspiracy, on the subject.

And another from The Washington Post, which is.