SUNUNU VOTES AGAINST TROOPS

For Immediate Release

August 1, 2008

Contact: Matthew Miller, 202-485-3123

Hannah August, 202-485-3129

SUNUNU VOTES AGAINST TROOPS

Blocks Defense Authorization Bill in the name of partisan politics

Republican Senator John Sununu last night voted against the Defense Authorization bill which included a pay raise for servicemembers and improvements in healthcare for troops and their families. The bill Sununu opposed authorizes weapons systems, including $3 billion to defeat IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“John Sununu took political games to a dangerous new level last night when he voted against our troops,” DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. “John Sununu’s vote against equipment for the brave men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe, a pay raise for our troops, and healthcare for our servicemembers and their families is inexcusable. If John Sununu is so fixated on scoring political points that he’ll vote against our troops then he’s been in Washington too long.”

Sununu Votes Against Defense Authorization Bill. John Sununu voted against the National Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2009. [Vote 195, 7/31/08]

Sununu Voted Against 3.9 Percent Pay Raise for Military Personnel. The bill Sununu voted against authorizes a 3.9 percent across-the-board pay raise for military personnel. [Senate Armed Services Committee Press Release, 5/1/08]

Sununu Voted Against Healthcare for Troops. The bill Sununu voted against authorizes $26.1 billion for the Defense Health Program, which includes $1.2 billion to reverse the Bush administration’s proposal to raise fees on troops and their families. [Senate Armed Services Committee Press Release, 5/1/08]

Sununu Voted Against $3 Billion to Protect Troops from IEDs. The bill Sununu voted against authorizes $3 billion in funding to protect troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from improvised explosive devices, which have killed 1,713 American service members in Iraq. [Senate Armed Services Committee Press Release, 5/1/08; iCasualties, accessed 8/1/08]