Denver-Area Union Vets Concerned About McCain’s Record

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/05/28/denver-area-union-vets-concerned-about-mccains-record/

by Seth Michaels, May 28, 2008

Union members gathered in Denver to highlight key issues in the 2008 election and ask Sen. John McCain to pay attention to the issues that affect working families and veterans. McCain was in the Mile High City yesterday for a fundraiser, and as they have at McCain campaign stops across the country, union members turned out to meet him.

Some 38 percent of AFL-CIO members are veterans, so veterans’ benefits like health care and education are important issues for union members. (If you’re a veteran or from a military family, take our survey and let us know.) The federal government employees’ union, AFGE, has launched a campaign to convince McCain to change course and support fully funded public services for veterans, as well as a new G.I. Bill to expand college access for returning veterans. Mike Coulter, a Vietnam-era veteran and union member, served the people of the United States as an air traffic controller and federal employee for 25 years.

http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/mccain.cfm?source=mccainrevealed

It’s important for union members to stand up for veterans’ issues. Last week, Sen. McCain spoke out against the increase in VA funding, and that is unfortunate.

Military families are working families, too. The plans McCain has for education, health care and the economy would affect military families as much as other working families. Lance Stewart, a nine-year veteran with disabilities and a member of AFGE, says:

I wanted to talk about veterans and their need for health care, not unlike our own as American working families. As a veteran, I’m eligible for health care from the VA, however my wife and two daughters are not. This is something that concerns me. Although I respect Sen. McCain’s service to our country, I believe he’s out of touch not only with veterans, but also with working families’ issues.

FULL story at link.