A review has found that six additional veterans received incorrect doses of radiation during prostate cancer treatment at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, raising questions about whether still more cases are yet to be discovered.
The VA tried to downplay the additional mistakes, but Congressman Adler and Senator Spector weren't having any of it:
The Department of Veterans Affairs, which has two weeks to file a full report, told the NRC that it was "reporting these six additional events to meet a regulatory requirement, not because of any anticipated harm to these patients."
Still, the finding of new cases now raised concerns for some members of Congress.
"Why didn't they discover it sooner?" Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.), said in an interview yesterday. "Did they deliberately withhold the information?"
U.S. Rep. John Adler (D., N.J.) said he was frustrated that the VA was still finding additional errors.
"These kind of mistakes are unacceptable, and it's time for the VA to conduct a systemwide review of its practices and programs," Adler said.
That's a pretty serious allegation from Specter that they are deliberately withholding information as the investigation is ongoing. With the newly reported cases, that means that 98 men - 86 percent of the total 114 patients - got too much or too little radiation. Congressman Adler has been all over this issue since the news surfaced, participating in hearings and calling for a further look into how these problems could have been allowed to continue. He's also been questioning the explanations the VA has given.
This story isn't going away. Congressman Adler has been trying to get answers to what happened that caused apparent medical misconduct at the VA hospital in Philadelphia resulting in mistakes regarding cancer procedures and treatments. We're now starting to hear about the veterans who received the mistaken treatment and how the VA is trying to explain it away:
Armstrong's doctors, led by University of Pennsylvania radiation oncologist Gary Kao, didn't recognize their error because they hadn't done the crucial last step of the brachytherapy procedure - calculating the actual radiation dosage administered to their patient - investigators found.
For a year, starting in November 2006, the computer workstation with the software used to calculate the post-implant dosages was unplugged from the hospital's network.
All that time, no one took steps to plug it back in, work around it, or tell patient-safety officials, investigators found.
As a result, post-implant calculations weren't performed during that period for Armstrong and 15 other patients, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which oversees medical use of radiation.
Even after the computer was finally reconnected to the network, investigators discovered, post-implant calculations continued to be omitted for an additional seven patients.
So the VA would like people to just accept their explanation that it's the computer's fault because it wasn't plugged in, but then when they plugged in the computer, the work still wasn't done to do the post calculations? It sounds more like the fault of the people who were supposed to be using the computer. Congressman Adler isn't satisfied with the explanations he has been receiving:
"The VA abdicated its responsibility . . . by allowing this program to operate without adequate safeguards or supervision," said U.S. Rep. John Adler (D., N.J.), who has pushed for a congressional investigation.
He'll will try to get some more answers this week when another congressional panel holds a hearing in Washington to question representatives and doctors from the VA, Penn and the NRC. Follow me below the fold for more of the story.
With more veterans returning from service, legislation that has already been approved by the Assembly and Senate unamiously is awaiting the Governor's signature:
The bill (A-3360) would require the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Veterans' and Military Affairs, to establish the Troops to College Program.
The program would assist New Jersey's public institutions of higher education in coordinating a comprehensive array of services to help veterans make the transition into the college classroom.
The bill also would require an online resource to consolidate pertinent information specifically for veterans attending that institution.
The bill sets certain criteria to assist veterans looking to return to school:
Under the program the commission would be required to include certain information on its Internet site that would be designed to assist veterans in accessing the higher education opportunities that exist in the state. The information must include, but need not be limited to:
Contact information for the campus veterans? assistance officer at each of the public institutions of higher education; and
Information on the array of programs and services available to veterans at each of the public institutions of higher education.
It's good to put all the information in one place, but the heavier lift is making sure our veterans can afford the cost of getting that education. Fulfilling that commitment will be much more difficult, but no less important to helping our veterans gain the necessary skills to succeed. This issue is sure to be front and center when Christie and Corzine get together with the Veterans for Education. Kudos to the efforts of the group for making their needs a more prominent issue in the campaign for Governor.
Veterans for Education, which shows 524 supporters on its facebook organizing page, is announcing that both Gov. Jon Corzine and Chris Christie have agreed to participate in a panel discussion on vets issues.
Vets for Education, started by Iraq and Afghanistan War vets, is the first campus-based veterans organization in the state. Its president is 24-year-old Bryan Adams, Purple Heart recipient and a man who knows first-hand the effects of PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - on many returning vets. He is also the face of an Addy Award-winning tv spot for IAVA - Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Veterans for Education has a history sponsoring face-to-face events; they hosted the first debate between John Adler and Chris Myers last year.
I'm glad to see this organization feel its power. They understand that educational opportunity is a key right that we owe our vets, and they advocate with institutions of higher learning to make it as easy as possible for soldiers to participate in distance learning like college correspondence courses, and online coursework in degree fields related to their occupational specialty.
Corzine agreed to the panel discussion at a ceremony this weekend where he signed into law that state and official US flags be made in America. Christie had already agreed.
Date and location are still TBA for the Corzine/Christie matchup. But Veterans for Education says questions will center on issues important to Iraq and Afghanistan vets, including a 14% unemployment rate, and the fact that vets of those wars are becoming homeless at a much faster rate than any other conflict.
You can join Veterans for Education here. They are non-partisan. But any group that advocates for opportunity for veterans, and their education, is progressive, the way I see it.
UPDATE: The hearing has just been rescheduled to Wednesday, July 22, at 10am. - - Rosi
For the second time, Rep. John Adler is turning the harsh light of investigation onto the workings of the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, the hospital many veterans in his constituency turn to for medical help. Tthe House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations meets tomorrow at 1pm. The hearing will be streamed live.
The subcommittee's first hearing focused its attention on Dr. Gary D. Kao, who admitted mistakes in dozens of botched prostate surgeries on veterans, but refuses to take responsibility for what Adler calls the medical mistreatment of almost 100 veterans.
Adler, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, expressed astonishment that Kao was even allowed to keep his medical license. But Adler's also interested in tackling the apparent failings of the systems put in place to protect veterans. From his statement:
We do not yet have satisfactory answers about the lack of oversight that allowed our veterans to be treated so badly. We must get at the supervisory failures in the system, and hold those responsible for these errors accountable.
There are few more important things my tax dollars should pay for than top-quality medical care for the men and women who risk their lives in our service. I'm sure we all feel that way. And if the stories coming out of these hearings are correct - radiation where there was no cancer at all, 92 of 116 radiation treatments by Kao botched, radiation surgeries performed for nearly a year with equipment the hospital knew was broken - then the Philadelphia VA Medical Center's prostate cancer unit was a horror for those veterans who came seeking relief from a terrifying disease.
Expected at the hearing is a return by Dr. Kao, as well as representatives of Philadelphia VA Medical Center, the University of Pennsylvania, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Department of Veterans Affairs.
Congressmen John Adler and Pat Murphy are teaming up on legislation to help our returning veterans find jobs and education. First they outlined the problem:
Outside the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, Adler and Murphy released startling statistics, highlighting the rising number of unemployed veterans:
Young veterans - between the ages of 18 and 24 - face an unemployment rate of 14.1 percent. That is 50 percent higher than the national unemployment rate.
In 2001, 176,000 service members were discharged from the military. This year, that number is expected to skyrocket to 278,100. That means in 2009 alone, there will be 100,000 more veterans entering civilian life.
Those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces since 2001 suffer an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent, meaning they are almost twice as other veterans to face unemployment.
Nationwide, the unemployment rate for veterans is 4.6 percent. In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the unemployment rate reflects the national numbers holding at 4.3 percent and 4.4 percent respectively.
Then they talked about some of their proposed solutions to help deal with those growing numbers:
Tax Credit for Small Business
A provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expanded the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to cover recent veterans who have become unemployed. In return for hiring unemployed veterans that separated from the military in the past five years, businesses receive a $2,400 tax credit.
Federal Contract for Veteran Owned Small Business
Legislation introduced by Rep. Adler, and supported by Rep. Murphy would increase opportunities available to veteran owned small businesses. The bill would help veterans obtain contracts and subcontracts from the Department of Veterans Affairs and all federal agencies.
Education Opportunities for Veterans
On May 21, the groundbreaking G.I. Bill made a new generation of veterans eligible for increased education benefits. Military men and women can now apply for a significantly increased level of benefits to pay for the full cost of education at any publicly supported college or university.
These look like some great initiatives to help our returning veterans. Congressman Adler has been all over veterans issues, which makes sense given the sizeable military segment of his district. I'll put two video segments from the local news below the fold so you can see more of what was said.
Now this is pretty cool. The Yellow Ribbon Club is a non-partisan organization that was started in South Jersey and works to support our armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan through shipping care packages, promoting and fostering welcome home events for local veterans and providing monetary assistance to us military hospitals and care facilities. Here is an audio interview with the founder of the organization Leslie Drummond from WPHT, who explained how she started the club in September of 2005 when her son was in Iraq and she began organizing the delivery of care packages. The group has grown from Leslie's efforts.
At one point during the encore, Vedder mentioned a letter he got from a fan that really moved him, in which the writer of the letter talked about the impact Pearl Jam's music had on his life and how he was inspired by Eddie Vedder to begin volunteering for an organization called the Yellow Ribbon Club that raises money to support US troops. As he told the story, he noticed a visibly emotional couple in the front row and discovered that it was the same couple that had written the letter. It was a very touching moment as he hugged them and thanked them for the letter, and announced that he and Pearl Jam would be contributing to the organization. It is moments like this that make you realize the ability music has to bring people together and impact their lives in a powerful way.
The organization has received over 60,000 hits on their website since the concert and article. In full disclosure, I have volunteered with the club for many events including their recent car washes, which were organized by David J. Sliver, the writer of the letter which inspired Vedder's support. They are a fantastic organization that does wondeful work and the families are so dedicated to supporting their own. Below the fold, i'll put a video of a recent welcome home they organized for a soldier coming home from his fifth tour of duty in Iraq. You can learn more about their efforts.
UPDATE: Asm. Conners made for an enlightening interview, with a thorough knowledge of and genuine commitment to the veterans issue in particular. I was very impressed. Have a listen. - JG
Each week, Blue Jersey Radio streams LIVE with New Jersey's latest political buzz, interviews with newsmakers, and your stimulating calls.
This week: Our guest is Assemblyman Jack Conners of Pennsauken. Conners is a Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly, as well as Chairman of the Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, a role much in the news following this weekend's Ft. Dix Homecoming. He'll be talking about vets, and much more, so join us!
So, what do you want us to ask the good Assemblyman? Put your ideas in the comments, and we'll choose our favorites to ask him. We really could use your help - who knows, maybe you could be our next new co-host.
Or, you can always give us a call during the show and ask the question yourself. Remember, it's all LIVE. That number again is: 646-652-2773.
There have been plenty of events this long holiday weekend to honor the service of our military. Elected officials and candidates have and will participate in ceremonies, events and parades to commemorate the service, but perhaps the most significant occurs today when our National Guard troops begin to return home from Iraq.
Thousands gathered at the state Memorial Day ceremony at Brig. Gen. W illiam C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Provinceline Road in North Hanover on Saturday to remember the sacrifices made.Towns throughout Salem County planned to hold observances to mark Memorial Day. Along with individual events in municipalities, they had a countywide remembrance ceremony at the Salem County Veterans Cemetery in Pilesgrove Township. At the cemetery, following the memorial service, officials dedicated the new committal shelter there.
Governor Corzine and Major General Glenn Rieth attended the Department of Military & Veteran's Affairs Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, N.J. (Thank you to Tim Larsen in the Governor's office for some great photos)
On Saturday in Newark, we saw Mayor Cory A. Booker, Congressman Payne, Assemblywoman Tucker, G.I. Go Fund Executive Director Jack Fanous, other City dignitaries, and Newark veterans observe Memorial Day and honor the City's fallen warriors with a flag raising at City Hill:
"We will welcome our brothers and sisters home with more than hugs and pats on the back. We will welcome them home with actions and deeds," Mayor Booker said. "The men and women from Newark who have worn our country's uniform and sacrificed their lives paid the highest price for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy. We must remember their sacrifice and the values they manifested in their lives - courage, honor, and commitment to country,"
The Go fund sounds like a pretty good initiative as the partnership connects Newark veterans of all generations to health care, job training, career development, and benefits programs. The Courier Post has created an interactive map of South Jersey War Memorials. The Daily Record has a listing of events and parades in Morris County. Senator Menendez in his statement honored the veterans but focused on what is being done by Congress to assist:
In Congress, we are working to reverse shortcomings in our Veterans Affairs system that became painfully evident since the beginning of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are also working to implement responsible foreign policy. We have passed into law a GI Bill for the 21st Century that allows our servicemen and women to get quality educations. As part of the economic recovery package this year, we made investments in VA medical facilities and cemeteries, in a more efficient Veterans benefits and services system and in supporting Veterans and their survivors during this economic crisis. Personally, I have championed investments in State Veterans Cemeteries to ensure that the Greatest Generation has respectable final resting places. These are just some of the actions we are taking and will continue to take to support our troops and veterans. They deserve nothing less.
While that all sounds great and I appreciate his efforts, everyone acknowledges that much more has to be done. There are numerous challenges facing our returning veterans that make it home safely. I'm sure there are plenty more events and ceremonies going on in the state that I wasn't able to mention, but are no less significant. Thank you to our military members, their family and friends for their sacrifices on this Memorial Day.
From an email to Rutgers University Veterans Affairs members:
Following our April 13 meeting, I shared with Executive Vice President Philip Furmanski and President McCormick our recommendation that Rutgers join the "Yellow Ribbon" Federal program. Dr. Furmanski concurred with our recommendation and President McCormick immediately approved it.
The email says that the University Registrar is currently in the process of completing the necessary paperwork to apply for the program. Here's what the program means:
As a "Yellow Ribbon" university, out-of-State veterans will be able to attend all campuses of Rutgers University without paying the additional out-of-State tuition charges. Under the program, the Federal government pays up to 50% of the cost of the out-of-State tuition differential and Rutgers waves the remaining 50%. This allows veterans from out-of State to apply their military tuition benefits at Rutgers in the same way as an in-State veteran would.
Should they get approval, Rutgers would join schools like Columbia, George Washington and University of Michigan as members of the program. This could open the Rutgers educational opportunity up to a whole new group of Veterans that previously would not have considered the school because of financial constraints. Congrats to the Rutgers Veterans that pushed for this move. They continue to look out for their brothers and sisters.
The Asbury Park Press examined some of the challenges facing veterans as they return from active duty home to civilian life. One of the disturbing pieces of information however is this comment about the lack of knowledge to just how big the problem is:
"Nobody has a handle on who's coming back, or how many, or how it's going to impact on the job market in New Jersey,"
We don't even know what help they will need when they return home. Not to mention they're returning home to a much more difficult job market than when they left. The article says that states across the country are facing this problem. 200 Marine reservists returned from Iraq just last week and some 3,000 National Guardsmen from New Jersey are scheduled to come home in July. The state needs to get a handle on this situation so that they can provide the necessary care and training to facilitate a smooth transition back to civilian life. We don't want to see our returning veterans fall through the cracks.
The race for Assembly in the 8th district is already seems up to full speed. Republican Incumbent Scott Rudder and challenging Democrat Bill Brown have been going back and forth over veteran's issues this week.
Yesterday, Brown called on Rudder to sign his petition and condemn the comments made by Laura Ingraham about the Navy Seal Snipers. Rather than answer Brown's call, Rudder tried to tout his work for veterans citing past efforts with Brown as an example. That prompted Brown to put out a release giving examples of how Rudders efforts were for show including this tidbit:
Scott Rudder has introduced more legislation pertaining to feral cats than veteran's causes.
Ouch. Brown then responded that Rudder had time to put out a press release, but not sign his Ingraham petition. Fasten your seat belts, it's only April.
The Veterans History Project (VHP) collects and preserves the remembrances of American war veterans and civilian workers who supported them. These collections of first-hand accounts are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for use by researchers and to serve as an inspiration for generations to come. The Project collects remembrances of veterans who served in World War I, World War II, the Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War (1990-1995), or Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts (2001-present). U.S. citizen civilians who actively supported war efforts (such as war industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers, defense contractors, etc.) are also invited to share their valuable stories. VHP relies on volunteers throughout the nation to collect veterans? stories on behalf of the Library of Congress. These stories are made available to researchers and the general public, both at the Library in Washington, D.C., and via the VHP website.
You can watch some of hte amazing stories and work they've done through the Veterans History Project Website. Here's a little more about how the program was started:
The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000. The authorizing legislation (Public Law 106-380), sponsored by Representatives Ron Kind, Amo Houghton, and Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Max Cleland and Chuck Hagel in the U.S. Senate, received unanimous support and was signed into law by President William Jefferson Clinton on October 27, 2000.
I'm participating in the training through Congressman John Adler's office. I'm posting this from the Evesham library in Marlton and we have a representative from D.C. here with us. She is explaining the history of the program, how we go about the process of finding Veterans to speak with, and how to go about conducting the interview itself. I think the project is a fantastic idea and am really excited to be participating. I'll have more from the training later along with some photos.
A tract of land on Eagle Avenue in New Milford was found to be unusable last year after the organization had paid $255,000 for the property and broke ground. John Gonsalves, founder and president of the Massachusetts-based nonprofit that constructs specially adapted homes for severely wounded soldiers, said debris was found buried in the dirt — making it impossible to build at that site.
"Somebody dumped fill in there," he said. "There was asphalt and debris in the ground and nothing can be built there. That set us back quite a bit."
It's a story that is all too familiar if you follow construction stories. Not wanting to pay for proper disposal of debris, people find creative ways to get rid of it. Like burying it.
Ordinarily, it would be an expensive problem for a contractor to deal with. One of the things that makes building in Jersey so expensive. But this land was bought by a non-profit that doesn't have the money to "remediate" the land. It's heartbreaking to see who the house was meant for:
A quiet boy who loved sports and computers, Gonzalez grew up in the Dominican Republic hearing stories about his grandfather and uncles who served in the military. He dreamed of serving in the U.S. Army. After graduating from high school with honors in 2001, he enlisted in the U.S. Marines because, he said, "They are the most elite."
He signed up on Sept. 10, 2001. A day later, the Twin Towers fell. Gonzalez was in the first unit sent to Iraq. After what happened on Sept. 11, he wanted to do something, he said.
In April 2004, his unit was clearing out homes in battle-torn Fallujah when snipers attacked. Gonzalez was shot in the neck, severing his spinal cord. His recovery, including three years of rehab and treatment in a VA hospital was difficult. He remained paralyzed from the chest down.
With most of his relatives living in New Jersey, Gonzalez decided he wanted to live close to family and near high-quality medical care. Baez contacted various organizations to obtain help for her son. Finally, Homes for Our Troops offered to build a home for him at no cost.
On this Veteran's day, offering thanks is important but we have to remember that they need more than our words. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and the Ad Council have started running a new PSA to let returning veterans know that they are not alone as they re-adjust into society:According to the Courier Post, NJ has over 500,000 Veterans. If you know any in need, they can find out more about what IAVA is trying to do by checking out their website, www.communityofveterans.org. Here's why they say it's needed:
Comprising less than 1 percent of the population, Veterans face a myriad of challenges while feeling isolated and cut off from those to whom they can best relate - other Veterans. While addressing a range of topics, this site is ultimately a point of connection where Veterans are helping Veterans.
I heard Paul Reikoff refer to it as facebook for Veterans, creating a community of people living similar experiences and giving them many resources to assist in the transition to civilian life. It's great to see efforts like this, but we have to remember that paying back our Veterans involves more than just honoring their efforts with kind words on one particular day. Many are struggling even when we don't recognize their efforts and they could use our actions to show support on a more regular basis.
Parsippany, October 29--Even though Frelinghuysen has raised far more money than Wyka in this election cycle, Wyka has by far the stronger presence on the video-hosting Web sites such as www.YouTube.com, largely because of videos produced by volunteers and by members of the public with no connection to his campaign.
Wyka says, "Frelinghuysen's campaign is money-powered, mine is people-powered. His supporters tend to be corporate interests who cut big checks. My supporters are middle-class people who make smaller donations but roll up their sleeves and work for the campaign. They've been making phone calls and knocking on doors. Some of them have made videos."
Some of the videos on YouTube were produced for the 2006 campaign but are still timely. Others were produced for this election. Still others are clips from public forums and debates.
An independent journalist with no connection to the Wyka campaign made a videorecording of the entire October 26 debate and made it available via the Internet (http://blip.tv/file/1400777). A videorecording of part of a debate from 2006 is also available via the Internet (http://blip.tv/file/9321).
In the videos, Wyka speaks about issues such as campaign finance reform, healthcare reform, support for U.S. troops and veterans, and support for the middle class. Other videos cover Frelinghuysen's record on veterans and the environment, among other issues.
Wyka says, "I have always believed in what Thomas Jefferson said, that an informed democracy will behave responsibly. So it's good that private citizens are videotaping public debates and making them available to everyone with Internet access. It's what the First Amendment is all about."
Parsippany, October 22-Veterans of the U.S. armed forces will be rallying at Fort Nonsense, in Morristown, New Jersey, on Saturday, October 25, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to protest the voting record of Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R, NJ-11) in the United States House of Representatives.
According to a recent scorecard issued by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Frelinghuysen scored only 10 out of a possible 15 points, whereas most of New Jersey's Representatives scored 14 or 15. Frelinghuysen lost crucial points when he voted against healthcare funding and educational benefits for the veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
According to Ed McLaughlin, 59, a Vietnam Veteran from Butler, "Frelinghuysen slaps the troops on the back and says 'I'm right behind you guys.' Then he votes against us every chance he gets. The only time he votes for veterans is when it's practically unanimous." McLaughlin served with the First Marines from 1967 to 1969 and has a 100% service-connected disability.
Tom Wyka, D-Parsippany, who is challenging Frelinghuysen for his Congressional seat, says, "If you look at Frelinghuysen's voting record, you find a disturbing pattern. He voted against most of the items on the Disabled American Veterans' agenda. The things he voted for passed unanimously, or nearly so. But when disabled veterans needed him to stand up for them, when the vote was close, he voted the wrong way. You see a similar pattern in the IAVA scorecard. So when he says that he supports veterans, that's nonsense!"
Votes in Congress can have serious consequences. Wyka says, "In 2005, Frelinghuysen voted against the Melancon of Louisiana Amendment. Melancon's amendment would have increased funding for various veterans' health care and other benefits programs by $53 million. The additional $53 million would have been used to speed up processing of claims for veterans' healthcare and other benefits. Unfortunately, the amendment failed by one vote. It's not unusual for a soldier coming home from Iraq to wait 6 to 9 months to have a claim processed. Maybe this is why."
"Local veterans are also angry over Frelinghuysen's position on the New GI Bill. Not only did Frelinghuysen fail to cosponsor this bill (thus missing the opportunity to add 2 points to his IAVA score), he voted against it, and instead voted for an inferior bill that the IAVA called 'A Second-Rate GI Bill.' When the better bill passed, Frelinghuysen praised it in his newsletter, claiming that it was a great victory for military families. Yet he failed to mention that he neither cosponsored it nor voted for it."
Parsippany, October 21-The Council for a Livable World's Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy ("CLW-VETPAC") has endorsed Tom Wyka (D, Parsippany) to represent New Jersey's 11th district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
From VETPAC's Web site: "VETPAC is a political action committee formed by American Veterans to promote the principles and values for which members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserved Forces have served our country, fought and died. Working together with the American People, through VETPAC we are embarked on a new operation, a 'search and rescue' mission. We are searching for national leadership that will help us rescue America's future from policies that threaten our national security, our civil liberties, and our country's economy. We are committed to working for a better future for our Nation and its citizens."
As of October 21, Wyka was one of six non-veterans endorsed by the group for the 2008 election cycle. "We owe our military veterans a debt of service, and my opponent has been trying to renege on that debt," says Wyka. "My opponent got a low score, only 10 out of 15 points, from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Congressional Report Card in 2008. Nobody in the New Jersey delegation scored lower. He scored far lower than the average Democrat and even worse than the average Republican. He scored low because he voted against healthcare and educational benefits for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In particular, he voted against the New GI Bill."
Wyka said, "Frelinghuysen's performance on the Disabled American Veterans' agenda was particularly bad. If you look at his voting record, he voted against everything that didn't pass unanimously or nearly so. Our veterans don't need someone who will stand up for them only when everyone else does. They need someone who will stand up when it counts!"
"I'm honored and grateful that VETPAC has endorsed me. When I look at their Web site, I see that we are concerned about the same issues, such as the great strain on our National Guard. VETPAC argues that 'the Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans' planning for the care of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has been as poor as the planning and execution of the wars themselves.' VETPAC feels that services to veterans have been unfairly delayed or denied as a result. This has to change. If I am elected, I will work hard to solve these problems."
Disabled American Veterans' scorecard (notice that the items for which Frelinghuysen voted correctly passed unanimously, or nearly so): http://capwiz.com/dav/bio/keyv...
Parsippany, October 21-Although New Jersey's 11th Congressional district has long been considered a Republican stronghold, unaffiliated voters will determine the outcome of the 2008 race, and those who are aware of Democratic challenger Tom Wyka strongly support him.
The 11th Congressional district consists of all of Morris County, plus parts of Somerset, Essex, Sussex and Passaic Counties. Although the 11th is believed to be a Republican majority district, the largest group of registered voters within the district are "unaffiliated," and the percentage of registered Democrats is growing, particularly in the eastern portion of the district. As of September 2008, there were 150,000 unaffiliated voters, 135,000 Republicans, and 95,000 Democrats.
"We calculate that Tom needs 65% of the unaffiliated vote in order to win the seat," says Milin Shah, Campaign Coordinator of Wyka for Congress. "Our current polling indicates that 26% of the unaffiliated voters are undecided, with 49% leaning Democratic and 25% leaning Republican. If we can get our message out to those undecided unaffiliated voters, we will win."
"Both candidates had surprisingly low name recognition among unaffiliated voters. Only 9% of the unaffiliated voters could name their current Congressman, as opposed to 2% who could name Wyka. But only 11% of the unaffiliateds who could name Frelinghuysen supported him. That's compared to 100% support for Wyka among the unaffiliated voters who could name him," said Shah.
Wyka's campaign message focuses heavily on the incumbent's voting record. Shah said, "Since 2006, more and more people have been paying attention to how Frelinghuysen has been voting. For years, he's sent out newsletters that talk about how he 'works with' various groups and 'supports' their causes. So people are really stunned to discover that he doesn't necessarily vote for the things he claims to work for and support. Voters deserve to know that their Congressman has voted against the best interest of homeowners, women, children, vets, and seniors. Rodney has voted against equal pay for men and women, voted against reforming the mortgage industry and against consumer protection in the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights; voted against children's healthcare, voted against expanding Medicare. Environment New Jersey says that Frelinghuysen's environmental voting record is 'dismal.' Frelinghuysen is one of the lowest-rated members of Congress in the entire country in the eyes of Disabled Veterans of America and continues to vote in lockstep with the Bush administration on the war in Iraq but often failed to vote to support the troops when they come home. In contrast, Tom Wyka has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women, the New Jersey Education Association, and the Council for a Livable World's Veterans' Alliance for Security and Democracy. Our campaign will continue to inform the electorate about Rodney's voting record, and we are optimistic that on election day New Jersey's District 11 will send Tom Wyka to Congress."
CONTACT:
Wyka for Congress
P.O. Box 350
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
973.215.2082
www.tomwyka.com
tomwyka@yahoo.com
Frelinghuysen No Champion of Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans
Parsippany, October 7-Representative Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, and Scott Garrett, R-Wantage, were tied for the lowest score in the New Jersey Congressional delegation in a scorecard issued by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Action Fund, an organization representing veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
In the 2008 IAVA Congressional scorecard, four of New Jersey's members of the House of Representatives scored an A+ (a perfect score of 15): Bill Pascrell, (D-8) Steve Rothman (D-9), Rush Holt (D-12), and Albio Sires (D-13). Six others scored an A, which represented a score of 13 or 14: Robert Andrews (D-1), Frank LoBiondo (R-2), Chris Smith (R-4), Frank Pallone (D-6), Michael Ferguson (R-7), and Donald Payne (D-10). Jim Saxton (R-3) got a B for scoring 11 out of 15, and Scott Garrett (R-5) and Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11) each got a B for scoring only 10 out of 15.
Tom Wyka (D, Parsippany), who is running against Rodney Frelinghuysen in the 11th district, explains:
"You might think that a B is good, but it means that Frelinghuysen voted against healthcare and education for veterans."
"The IAVA's grades are generous. Ron Paul got the only F. Only four members got a D, and only 34 members got a C. All of those who got a C, D, or F were Republicans. In contrast, all of the 122 members who got an A+ were Democrats."
"Only one Democrat in the entire House of Representatives scored as low as Frelinghuysen did, but it was because of absences, not hostile votes. In contrast, 100 Republicans scored better than Frelinghuysen did."
"Frelinghuysen and Garrett's scores of 10 out of 15 are an embarrassment for the New Jersey delegation, most of whom got A+ or A. Both Frelinghuysen and Garrett have provided poor support to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The same can be said of the Republican Party as a whole."
"Not only does Frelinghuysen have a poor voting record on veterans' issues, he seldom introduces or cosponsors legislation endorsed by major veterans organizations."
"The IAVA is a nonpartisan organization, so we had to put the scores into a spreadsheet and add the data on party affiliation," explains Wyka.
According to the IAVA Action Fund's report, the scorecard for the House of Representatives is based on 13 key votes on veterans' issues. Each of these votes was an opportunity for the Representative to take a stand on behalf of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The Representative got one point for each vote that was in line with IAVA Action Fund's position. The Representative didn't get a point if he or she voted against the IAVA position or failed to vote on the issue. Because the fight for the new GI Bill was considered to be so important, Representatives who cosponsored the bill (H.B. 5740) got two additional points in the scorecard. The scorecard included a score for all of the Representatives except those who did not serve a complete term, such as Tom Lantos, who died in office. Nancy Pelosi was also excluded from the scoring, because as Speaker of the House, she votes only in the case of a tie.
WHY FRELINGHUYSEN SCORED POORLY
Cosponsorship of H.B. 5740 Frelinghuysen lost 2 points because he was not among the 302 cosponsors of this bill.
Funding Veterans' Health Care, 2007 January 31, 2007; Roll Call Vote No. 72 IAVA Action supported this legislation, which passed 286 to 140; Frelinghuysen voted against it.
The IAVA scorecard says, "More than five million American veterans rely on the Department of Veterans Affairs for their health care. Although veterans' hospitals provide some of the best health care in the country, the VA has been underfunded for years; for FY2007, the Bush Administration requested almost $4 billion less in VA funding than the amount suggested by major veterans' organizations. In early 2007, Congress made veterans' health care a priority, increasing the funding for veterans' health care by $3.6 billion. The budget passed by a vote of 286-140."
The Post-9/11 GI Bill: Fair Education Benefits for Veterans (first vote) May 15, 2008: Roll Call Vote No. 330 IAVA Action Fund supported this legislation, which passed 256 to 166; Frelinghuysen voted against it.
The IAVA scorecard says, "For the 1.7 million veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the transition to civilian life can be challenging. Veterans of World War II were aided in their reintegration by the "GI Bill," which paid for the education of eight million combat veterans. The GI Bill changed the lives of millions of American veterans and their families. Sadly, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, still covered by the peacetime Montgomery GI Bill from 1984, received a far smaller benefit. Many new combat veterans were struggling with student loans or dropping out of school altogether. A new GI Bill was the number one priority for IAVA and IAVA Action in 2008.
"The popular and bipartisan 'Post- 9/11 GI Bill,' introduced on the House side by Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ-5), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA-3), Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL-5), and Rep. Peter King (R-NY-3), offered a new future to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The new GI Bill dramatically increases education benefits by providing tuition payments up to the cost of the most expensive public university in the state, a monthly living allowance, and a book stipend. It also creates a new 'Yellow Ribbon' program that matches any scholarship given to a veteran by a school more expensive than the tuition cap. In spring 2008, the new GI Bill was included as part of the domestic spending amendment to the Iraq war funding bill. Because of the concerns of some fiscally conservative 'Blue Dog' Democrats in the House, the cost of the GI Bill was given a budget offset (although the cost of the war funding as a whole was not). The offset chosen was a tax increase on individuals making over $500,000 a year, or couples making over $1 million annually. The offset lead many Republicans to vote against the measure despite their support for the GI Bill. "
A Second-Rate GI Bill May 23, 2008; Roll Call Vote No. 364 IAVA Action opposed this legislation, which failed 186 to 223; Frelinghuysen voted for it.
The IAVA Scorecard says, "For over 18 months, IAVA and IAVA Action worked closely with a bipartisan coalition of Senators and Representatives on a new Post-9/11 GI Bill that would make college affordable to veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The model for the new legislation was the World War II GI Bill that paid for the education of eight million combat veterans, and helped rebuild America after a half-decade of war. The Post-9/11 GI Bill quickly gained the support of 300 cosponsors in the House, almost 60 cosponsors in the Senate, and all the leading Veterans Service Organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and of course IAVA.
"A small but vocal opposition in Congress argued that the benefit was too generous. In an effort to derail the popular and bipartisan Post-9/11 GI Bill already a part of the war supplemental funding, a motion was made to advance a meager and ill-conceived 'alternate' GI Bill before the Post-9/11 GI Bill had the opportunity to be passed and signed into law. This alternative GI Bill did not meet any of IAVA's requirements for a new GI Bill; it did not cover the cost of college, it did not create fairness for National Guardsmen and Reservists, and because it was not linked to the cost of college, it would lose value every year. It did include a 'transferability' benefit, which offered current service members who agree to remain in the military for ten years the opportunity to transfer their GI Bill benefit to their spouse or children. However, because 75% of those serving in the military get out after their first term of service, this benefit will apply to relatively few Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Moreover, transferability was already possible at the discretion of the Department of Defense service secretaries. The weak 'alternative' GI Bill received the support of no major veterans' service organizations."
OTHER VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS The IAVA Action Fund is not the first organization to point out Frelinghuysen's poor voting record with regard to veterans' issues:
Disabled American Veterans Frelinghuysen voted against everything on the Disabled American Veterans' agenda, except for items that passed unanimously or nearly so.
http://capwiz.com/dav/bio/keyv...
American Legion Frelinghuysen seldom introduces or cosponsors legislation endorsed by the American Legion:
http://legion.capwiz.com/bio/i...
Veterans of Foreign Wars Frelinghuysen seldom introduces or cosponsors legislation endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
http://vfw.capwiz.com/bio/id/3...
Vietnam Veterans of America Frelinghuysen seldom introduces or cosponsors legislation endorsed by the Vietnam Veterans of America.
http://vva.capwiz.com/bio/id/3...
