Hall of Shame: Norm Coleman

2007-07-20

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Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman earns his place in the Hall of Shame this week for saying one thing and doing another. Coleman will probably spend the next 18 months trying to convince Minnesotans that he's a centrist despite voting for President Bush's right-wing agenda over 90% of the time, so it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that this week Coleman voted against a number of issues he claims to support.

When it comes to taking care of America's veterans, here's what Norm Coleman says:

"Those who have served our country in the armed forces need and deserve the best access to health care."

But this week, here's what Norm Coleman did:

Coleman voted against a budget resolution that would have provided $43.1 billion for our nation's veterans, including medical care.

That's not all. Coleman also claims he supports a balanced budget:

"If we fail to address this problem, the deficit will saddle future generations - our children and grandchildren - with our unpaid debts and threaten their economic security."

Yet this week, here's what he did:

Coleman voted against a budget resolution that will return the U.S. to a budget surplus in 2012, reversing the years of deficits under the Bush administration.

And finally, when it comes to protecting the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Coleman said:

"I will fight to ensure that Minnesota is not penalized for its effective and efficient use of federal funding."

But once again, here's what Coleman did:

Coleman voted against a budget resolution that included up to $50 billion to expand coverage and improve children's health care through SCHIP.

Minnesota deserves a senator who backs up his tough talk with real action. Coleman's up for re-election in 2008 and while he'll undoubtedly try to claim he's a centrist, Minnesotans deserve to know what Coleman really stands for. And to get the truth, voters will have to look at what Norm Coleman does - and ignore what he says.

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