Can John E. Walker Handle the Truth?

by: Kathy Sullivan 2

Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 14:26:39 PM EDT

TRUTH TEAM: UPDATED SUNUNU WEBSITE DISTORTS SUNUNU RECORD ON ISSUES CRITICAL TO NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES, TRIES TO MASK LOYALTY TO FAILED BUSH AGENDA

Bipartisan group sheds light on Sununu's real record of voting with George W. Bush 90% of the time

(Manchester, NH) - Today, members of the bipartisan Truth Team exposed the distortion and misleading rhetoric John Sununu's campaign has posted on his website.  After months of sitting idle, John Sununu's campaign finally updated its website last week with new information for New Hampshire voters.  The problem is, Sununu's team has tried to mask his record of walking in lockstep with George Bush on a failed agenda by distorting his positions and omitting some of his most critical votes.

"George Bush and John Sununu have dug our economy into a hole," said State Senator Pete Burling.  "When Bush has needed John Sununu's vote, he's been right there beside him, standing up for the special interests and putting their corporate allies before New Hampshire families.  Now he's using his website to try to mislead New Hampshire voters about his real record, but it won't work.  New Hampshire families desperately need a new direction and that means we need a new Senator.

"On issues from housing to energy to health care to Iraq, Senator Sununu is talking out both sides of his mouth," said Republican former state Senator Rick Russman.  "Now that it's an election year, Sununu is trying to run from his own record and insist that he has been a leading voice on alternative and renewable energy development when in fact he has voted time and again to stand with Bush and protect billions in subsidies to Big Oil rather than invest that money in new energy development.  We need a Senator who will put progress before party and stand with the families of New Hampshire."

After the jump, see specifics of John E. Walker's rhetoric v. the reality.  

RHETORIC  VS.  REALITY.COM

ENERGY

Sununu Website Claim:

"Senator Sununu has advocated a national energy policy that... encourages alternative and renewable energy development..."

Sununu Record Reality

Sununu Cast Deciding Vote Against $13 Billion in Renewable Energy Tax Breaks Offset by Reducing Subsidies for Oil and Gas Companies.  [Senate Vote #425, 12/13/07]

Sununu Voted Against Cutting $17 Billion in Subsidies to Big Oil and Gas to Fund Renewable Energy Research.  [Senate Vote #146, 6/10/08]

Sununu Voted Against Extending Renewable Energy Tax Credit.  [Senate Vote #42, 3/14/06]

Sununu Voted Against $18 Billion in Energy Tax Incentives. [Senate Vote #89, 5/11/04]

Sununu Website Claim:

"John continues to fight to increase Low-Income Heating Assistance Program funding for our state."

Sununu Record Reality:

Sununu Voted 7 Times Against LIHEAP Funding.  [Senate Vote 336, 9/10/03;Senate Vote #250, 10/5/05; Senate Vote #357, 12/15/05; Senate Vote #57, 3/16/06; Senate Vote #126, 3/29/07; Senate Vote #390, 10/23/07; Senate Vote #8, 2/6/2008]

VETERANS

Sununu Website Claim:

"Senator Sununu has strongly supported efforts to improve the care and benefits that our nation's 65 million service members and 25 million veterans have earned and deserve."

Sununu Record Reality:

John Sununu Voted to Cut or Provide Insufficient Funding for Veterans' Healthcare 28 Times.  [House Vote #609, 11/18/99; House Appropriations Committee Markup of H.R.3908, 03/09/00; House Appropriations Committee Markup of H.R.2620, 7/17/01; House Vote #296, 7/30/2001; House Vote #473, 11/13/2002; Senate Vote #74, 3/21/2003; Senate Vote #81, 3/25/2003; Senate Vote #83, 3/25/2003; Senate Vote #379, 10/14/2003; Senate Vote #34, 3/9/2004; Senate Vote #40, 3/10/2004; Senate Vote #48, 3/11/2004; Senate Vote #55, 3/16/2005; Senate Vote #81, 3/17/2005; Senate Vote #89, 4/12/2005; Senate Vote #90, 4/12/05; Senate Vote #114, 4/28/2005; Senate Vote #242, 9/22/05; Senate Vote #251, 10/5/05; Senate Vote #343, 11/17/2005; Senate Vote #7, 2/2/2006; Senate Vote #15, 2/13/2006; Senate Vote #41, 3/14/2006; Senate Vote #63, 3/16/2006; Senate Vote #67, 3/16/2006; Senate Vote #98, 4/26/2006; Senate Vote #114, 3/23/2007; Senate Vote #172, 5/17/2007; Senate Vote #142, 6/4/08]

Sununu Voted to "Double or Triple Health Care Premiums for About 3 Million Military Retirees." [Senate Vote #67, 3/16/06; Washington Post, 3/16/06]

Sununu Website Claim:

"John supported legislation that modified and updated the education incentives in the GI Bill, increased the monthly benefit for college costs, and allows for the transfer of earned GI Bill educational assistance funds to a spouse or child."

Sununu Record Reality:

Sununu Voted Against Increasing the Education Benefits for Military Veterans From $1,100 to $1,500 a Month.  [Senate Vote #127, 5/14/08]

Sununu Website Claim:

"Recognizing the increased number of veterans returning from combat with "invisible injuries" such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injuries, John has cosponsored legislation designed to improve diagnostic and treatment services for such injuries in both active duty and reserve service members."

Sununu Record Reality:

Sununu Rejected $500 Million a Year for Veterans' Mental Health Care Over 5 Years.  [Senate Vote #343, 11/17/05]

Sununu Website Claim:

"John has worked tirelessly to improve the services offered to New Hampshire's veterans and to ensure they have access to those services close to home."

Sununu Record Reality:

Sununu Has Failed to Secure Full Service Veterans Hospital for New Hampshire.

HEALTH CARE

Sununu Website Claim:

"Senator Sununu has been a leader in improving the current health care system by making tangible, achievable changes. These efforts have centered on... lowering overall health care costs"

Sununu Record Reality:

Increase in cost of average family health insurance premium between 2001-2007: $5,305.  [Kaiser Family Foundation Snapshot and Annual Survey 2007]

HOMELAND SECURITY

Sununu Website Claim:

"John supported an effort to better protect the nation from terrorist attacks by voting in favor of bipartisan legislation influenced by the 9/11 Commission's recommendation to strengthen security measures throughout the country and reform the nation's intelligence gathering procedures"

Sununu Record Reality:

Sununu Voted Against Establishing 9/11 Commission. [House Vote #347, 7/24/02]

Sununu Voted Against Implementing 9/11 Commission Recommendations. [Senate Vote #73, 3/13/07]

HOUSING

Sununu Website Claim:

"Senator Sununu has been out in front of the recent rise in the number of delinquent mortgages..."

Sununu Record Reality:

Sununu Voted Against Bill to Provide Mortgage Relief to Victims of Foreclosure and Tax Breaks to First-Time Homebuyers.  [Senate Vote #157, 6/25/08]

Sununu Was 1 of Just 13 Senators to Vote Against a Bill to Tackle the Mortgage Crisis and Provide Relief to Struggling Homeowners.  [Senate Vote #185, 7/25/08]