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Vitter and Veterans: Vitter Skipped Vote on Providing Health Care for Iraq and Afghanistan Vets

After confirming that he patronized a Washington, DC brothel, David Vitter missed key national security votes in the U.S. Senate, including one provision to expand research and treatment of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"As we approach Veteran's Day, it’s important to remember that two years ago, David Vitter chose to go AWOL instead of standing up for the brave men and women who have served in our nation's armed services," said Louisiana Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Franck.

After Vitter's phone number was found in the records of the DC Madam, Louisiana's junior Senator went "more or less AWOL," according to the Times-Picayune. The Baton Rouge Advocate reported that Vitter missed at least seven key votes on a bill to authorize all Defense Department funding for 2008 in the immediate aftermath of his confession. [Times-Picayune, 2/23/08; Advocate, 7/14/07]

Among the votes Vitter missed was a provision that authorized funds for the treatment of traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. The same provision eliminated a requirement that severance pay be deducted from disability compensation for disabilities incurred in a combat zone.

Vitter also missed several votes on limiting the length of combat deployments and increasing the minimum amount of time service members get at home between deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Vitter also missed two votes concerning the threat posed to the U.S. by Iran and one on increasing the reward for the capture of Osama Bin Laden.