Up North Progressive
Politics and commentary for Northern MichiganDan Benishek Won’t Run In 2016 Because Veterans Need Him After Saying He Would Run In 2016 Because Veterans Need Him
Tuesday , 15, September 2015 Candidates, Elections, Tea Party 2 Comments
Tea party VA surgeon and 3 term U.S. Rep Dan Benishek won’t break his vow to only run for three terms after all. This morning he issued a statement claiming he wanted to devote more time to his family and help veterans, and he could do those things better if he wasn’t a US Congressman.
Up North Progressive couldn’t agree more.
Benishek’s voting record for veterans’ issues can only be described as abysmal. As the only Michigan member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, he voted in favor of cutting benefits for homeless veterans, made it harder for veterans to sue the governement, and with other Republicans gutted the funding from a veterans health act that made it even harder for veterans needing health care to get it. He also voted in favor of the Republican-led shut down of the federal government in 2013 that cost the American taxpayers billions. The only time he really ever bothered to talk to veterans was during election years, the rest of the time he was too busy beefing up his stock portfolio and taking handouts from K Street.
According to Roll Call, the race currently rates as lean Republican. The Michigan Democratic Party has two candidates seeking to run for U.S. Congressional District 1: Lon Johnson and Jerry Cannon. Now with the seat open in 2016, Republicans will certainly line up to run as well.
It would be a great thing to have a Democratic Party Congressman representing Northern Michigan again. Someone who will represent the people, rather than use the office to get rich.
Darrell Austin says: There is no subtlety to the conflict of interest the exist with the appointment to veterans affairs . The gross negligence of the appointment is consistent with the inbred go along to get along veterans affairs committee cultural heritage.
To learn a new way old ways need to be left in the past. 30 year retired and a patient of dans hostioatal ,oscar g jhonston, hospital I’m fully aware of visn 12 lack of efficacious medical care and timely nonprejidical services. As a constituent I know for a fact you were made aware of the medical treatment being changed or canceled as a coercive tool to control pateints and the dangerous ramifications including death. Your first months in office you were made aware of this and did nothing until it made national headlines.
Marilyn Zeitlin says: MARVELOUS NEWS! Yes, Dr Dan, stay home and take care of whatever. Lon Johnson will be a great Congressman.