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.   

It’s important for union members to stand up for veterans’ issues. Last week, Sen. McCain spoke out against the increase in VA [Veterans Affairs] 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.

McCain says he supports the military and veterans, but he opposes a bill that gives returning veterans an educational benefit equal to the cost of attending a public university in their home state. Coulter was able to attend college because of the G.I. Bill.  

I’m concerned because 25 of McCain’s fellow Republican senators thought the bill was a good idea. McCain didn’t. I’m here on behalf of those veterans. My college education came because of the G.I. benefits.

Stewart says voting against war veterans is the same as voting against working families.  

McCain has systematically voted against veterans. He voted against funding for the VA. I think this sort of outsourcing of veterans’ issues is much the same as the outsourcing of our American families’ working needs and issues. We’re all working people and need the support of each other.

McCain ought to listen to these veterans. They understand the challenges of transitioning into civilian society and the need for comprehensive benefits to honor those who’ve served.

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