IAVA releases the score card on Congress

[Monkeyman]

http://www.iavaaction.org

House Democratic Leadership Average :90% A
Rep. Pelosi 89% B+
Rep. Hoyer 93% A
Rep.Clyburn 90% A-
Rep.Larson 88% B+

House Republican Leadership Average; 75% C

Rep. Hastert 9% F
Rep. Boehner 76% C
Rep. Blunt 73% C
Rep. Pryce 77% C+

House Republican Leadership Average w/out Hastert, 75.3% C
House Republican Leadership Average 58.7%w/Hastert 58.7% F

Ranking Democrats on the Veterans Committee :Rep. Lane Evans 93% A
Republican Chairman of Veterans Committee: Rep. Steve Buyer 76% C

[Monkeyman]

1. These guys are fair

[FogerRox]

2. I dont understand the curve applied to these grades

The IAVA blurs the line between real VA support, and dismantling the VA system. And the IAVA doesn't address the past and current vehicle procurement problems. Frankly I find their rankings too generous towards republicans, it looks like they give everyone in the NJ caucus a passing grade. Which is no reflection of real life. With Troops still lacking quality Kevlar vests, lacking the M-117 armored vehicle (A favorite of Colonel Hammes, in the video below), the IAVA is giving a pass to the party in power when it comes to Military Matters. In 3 years the DOD has bought 1000 M-117's. Col. Hammes addresses this procurement problem here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM4wkcQEgdo


With 48 Stryker armored vehicles being produced each month from a sole supplier (IIRC Textron), US troops are still, after 3 1/2 years, facing shortages of essential vehicles & other material. Shame on the IAVA for not recognizing these problems and those responsible for not just solving these shortages, but those who created these shortages in the first place. I deem these IAVA report cards to be negligent. I deem the IAVA to be negligent. I give the IAVA an F+, as the IAVA seems to lack the balls to address the issues that concerns their brothers and sisters in harms way, as well as their brothers and sisters that have come home with PTSD, or lacking body parts.

Disabled American Vets gave Rodney Frelinghuysen a Zero, 2 out of 19 votes, though the 2 votes were unaminous.

On May 26th, 2005 Rodney voted against Military Families Quality of life & VA funding. On July 25th, 2006, Rodney voted against 1.8 billion for VA Health Care Funding. See the video "Rodney doesn't vote like a VET":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_HTcg3YAm4

Rodney has a report card Here:

http://www.meetrodney.com

The ability for the IAVA to ignore the military & political failures outlined by their fellow officers such as Colonel Hammes (noted above), to me is an act of political cowardice. At a time when the troops and the VA need advocates, the IAVA has dropped the ball.

General John R.S. Batiste:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPxZLLLb3RY

& Major General Paul D. Eaton:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMqL82RK4V8


Disabled American Veterans (DAV)gives the NJ Caucus these grades

NJ U.S. House 1 Robert E. 'Rob' Andrews Democrat 100
NJ U.S. House 2 Frank A. LoBiondo Republican 0
NJ U.S. House 3 H. James 'Jim' Saxton Republican 0
NJ U.S. House 4 Christopher H. 'Chris' Smith Republican 40
NJ U.S. House 5 E. Scott Garrett Republican 0
NJ U.S. House 6 Frank J. Pallone Democrat 100
NJ U.S. House 7 Michael 'Mike' Ferguson Republican 0
NJ U.S. House 8 William J. 'Bill' Pascrell Democrat 100
NJ U.S. House 9 Steven R. Rothman Democrat 100
NJ U.S. House 10 Donald M. Payne Democrat 100
NJ U.S. House 11 Rodney P. Frelinghuysen Republican 0
NJ U.S. House 12 Rush D. Holt Democrat 100

Yet the IAVA gives the NJ Caucus these grades:

Garrett C-
Saxton C
Payne C
Frelinghuysen C+
Ferguson B-
LoBiondo B-
Smith B
Pallone B
Holt B
Rothman B+
Andrews A-
Pascrell A-

Ferguson who voted the DAV way 2 out of 12 times

Pascrell, who voted the DAV way 12 out of 13 times

And the IAVA links to the DAV for Reps votes on Vets issues....

What gives IAVA?