(Thanks to Graybeard, who spotted Santorum's lie)
Rick Santorum told Don Imus this morning (on Imus' radio program) that he voted to increase the military death gratuity. Imus then actually thanked Santorum after being told this, for his thoughtfullness and efforts in helping the military families.
But wait, that's not true: Santorum actually voted
against raising the death gratuity. In short, John Kerry introduced an amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill of 2005 that would have increased the amount of money a killed serviceman/woman's spouse and children receive, from the standard $12,000 to Kerry's proposed $100,000. Santorum voted 'yes'...to
tabling the Kerry amendment (and it ended up being tabled):
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00092IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) clarifies this in their explanation as to why they awarded Santorum a 'D-' on disabled veterans issues:
http://www.iava.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2056&Itemid=214 Military Death Gratuity
(109th Congress; Senate vote #92; April 13, 2005)
Senators who voted FOR this motion were voting AGAINST increasing the amount of money a spouse or family member receives when their loved one is killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. IAVA opposed this motion, which would have eliminated the proposed increase.
Prior to this bill, the family of a US troop killed in action would only receive a $12,000 death gratuity from the government. This bill would increase that amount to $100,000.
The motion was defeated, and the plan was adopted and enacted into law.
So, no surprise, Santorum lied, straight-faced, to Imus this morning. And as per Graybeard's suggestion, I'm asking your help in emailing Imus to let him know he had been had by Rick Santorum on this issue.
Imus's email: imus@msnbc.com <imus@msnbc.com>
(Rick Santorum's 'D-' review by IAVA:
http://capwiz.com/iava/bio/?id=498&lvl=C&chamber=S(on edit: correct link to Santorum's 'D-' review)