On June 29, 2010, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) sought unanimous consent on S.1237, the Homeless Veterans and Other Veterans Health Care Authorities Act of 2010, which would expand assistance for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children and would increase funding and extend federal grant programs to address the unique challenges faced by these veterans.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), a Republican, of course, objected on behalf of Sen. Tom Coburn (OK), who apparently was concerned about funding the costs of such legislation.

Speaking of funding, where was Republican Senator Tom Coburn (also known as Senator “NO!”) at that time?

Coburn was co-hosting the first high-powered fundraiser for Dino Rossi’s campaign against our pro-veteran senator, Patty Murray. At $500 per person and $1,000 for each PAC (political action committee), or co-host designations at $1,000 per person and $2,000 per PAC, Rossi must have raised some big bucks.

And, speaking even more about funding, it would be well to remember the illegal fundraising campaign orchestrated by the Building and Industry Association of Washington in 2008. Funds raised from the campaign were directed to a multi-million dollar BIAW war chest to support Rossi’s bid for governor against Christine Gregoire. BIAW’s fundraising on behalf of Dino Rossi was prosecuted by our Attorney General as illegal.

If we care at all about our vets, we have to keep Murray in the Senate.

Karen Hedwig Backman, Federal Way