Veterans: Berkley over Heller

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, founded by vets from those wars, has consistently found Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Shelley Berkley stronger on veteran issues than her Republican opponent Dean Heller.

In “report cards” issued in 2008 and 2010 representing their votes as members of the U.S. House, IAVA found Berkley more supportive of veterans than Heller.

In 2008, the group ranked House members on 14 votes involving veterans. Heller received a “B” grade compared to Berkley’s “A.” Heller lost points particularly for his reluctance to fund veteran services. He was faulted for failing to cosponsor the Post-9/11 GI Bill of Rights, for voting against a 2007 veteran’s health care measure, and for his votes on the new GI Bill. Berkley lost points only for a vote she missed.

In 2010, Berkley’s grade fell to a “C” but it was still higher than Heller’s “D.” He and Berkley both lost points for voting against additional pay for servicemembers forced to stay in war zones past the ends of their enlistment contracts and for failing to cosponsor measures dealing with veterans’ disabilities, a veterans employment bill and the proposed new GI Bill.

In addition, Berkley was faulted for failing to vote for homeless veterans legislation, while Heller was faulted for twice failing to vote for Veterans Administration funding, and for failing to vote for sexual trauma counseling. (There have been numerous rapes in the war zones.)