Rep. Everett responds

In response to the Aug. 26 editorial “Idiotic Remarks” about my recent comments concerning Congressman John Murtha, D-PA., the editorial ignored my explanations and erred on its facts concerning my support of veterans’ funding.

When I used strong language against Congressman John Murtha, I was guided by my emotion that Mr. Murtha still has not apologized for accusing a decorated battalion of marines of the “cold blooded murder” of Iraqi civilians. Military courts have so far cleared seven of the eight accused.

Mr. Murtha also did not support the surge and, in my opinion, the Democrat Congress, including Mr. Murtha, has been less than fully supportive of the war on terror.

Even though an Aug. 23 news story in the Eagle included my comment that I wished I’d chosen my words about Mr. Murtha more carefully, the editorial ignored that.

Furthermore, the Eagle editorial gave only half the truth when it stated the Democrat Congress “more than doubled funding for the troops and veterans in a new GI Bill, which incidentally, Everett voted against.”

I opposed the first version of the GI Bill because of loads of unrelated new government spending and tax increases. But, on June 19, I voted for final U.S. House passage of the new GI Bill without new taxes or billions in new spending.

I’ve supported veterans since my first days in Congress. I was proud to be a part of the effort in Congress to increase VA funding near 75 percent since 1994 when the Republicans took control. I secured a Wiregrass VA outpatient clinic and have been an outspoken advocate of reforming the Veterans Administration.

I’ve also been a tireless supporter of strong defense budgets that don’t undercut the mission and safety of our men and women in uniform, which our veterans, our military and my constituents understand.

U.S. Rep. Terry Everett
Rehobeth