Why Doesn’t Van Support Tennessee’s Veterans?
As failed gubernatorial candidate Van Hilleary offically launches his second bid to win a statewide election today, Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke called on the former Republican lobbyist to explain why he voted against more than $20 billion in funding for veterans while he was a member of Congress. “Just like all of the other career politicians, Van Hilleary’s actions don’t match Van Hilleary’s words,” Tuke, a Marine Vietnam veteran, said. “Today, and for however long he stays in this campaign, you’ll hear him throw around empty rhetoric about his support of veterans. The truth is that he was one of the most consistent votes against the interests of veterans when he was in Congress.”
Tuke specifically cited Hilleary’s vote against $100 million for veterans’ medical accounts (HR 1158, 05/02/95, Roll Call #303); his vote against $900 million in funding for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (HR 2099, 07/31/1995, Roll Call #607); and his vote to cut mandatory spending for veterans’ programs by approximately $10.4 billion over five years (H Con Res 284, 06/05/1998, Roll Call #210).
“As Hilleary again stands before the people of this state and asks for their vote, he should explain to them why he doesn’t think it’s important to support our veterans after they finish their military service,” Tuke said. “Our commitment to veterans shouldn’t end when their service ends. We want our servicemen and women to know that we stand with them and their families while they serve, and we’ll stand with them and their families after their service is done — period.”
If Hilleary can’t honestly explain his position on veterans’ issues, Tuke said, he can’t expect Tennesseans to support his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
“Hilleary has made a long career out of dodging the truth,” Tuke said. “But he can’t with a straight face ask anyone in this state to vote for him unless he tells us why he turned his back on our veterans.”
