RUBBER STAMP
Republican Phil English
(PA-03)

Phil English talks a good game on Iraq, but doesn't back it up. English has voted in virtual lockstep with George W. Bush on Iraq, and last year even voted to endorse the Bush administration's Iraq policies. English voted for the war and since then has routinely voted with President Bush, even after claiming that the Bush administration "failed to plan adequately" and after calling on the Bush administration to change course.

The record makes it clear: You can't believe what Phil English says. It's his voting record of rubberstamping the Bush administration's failed policies that counts.

Case #1: Administration Policy

Phil English's Rhetoric

  • 7/11/07: English Says Administration Should Change Course
    "Many of us agree with the comments of Senator Lugar and Senator Voinovich and feel the administration needs to correct its course and change its emphasis," English said in 2007. [The Hill, 7/11/07]
  • 11/18/05: English Says The Administration Failed
    "The administration clearly failed to plan adequately for the challenges in Iraq following a successful invasion," English said in 2005. [English Press Release, 11/18/05]

The Real Phil English Record

  • 10/10/02: English Voted for War in Iraq
    In 2002, English voted to allow the President to use the military force in Iraq. [HJR 114, Vote #455, 10/10/02]
  • 10/17/03: Opposed Competitive Bidding on Iraq Contracts
    In 2003, English voted against an amendment to require that normal competitive bidding procedures were followed in procurement using funds appropriated for Iraq's oil infrastructure, even in emergencies. [HR 3289, Vote #557, 10/17/03]
  • 5/20/04: Opposed Investigation on Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners
    In 2004, English voted against the establishment of a select committee to investigate the treatment of detainees in the global war on terrorism, including all allegations of abuse of Iraqi prisoners. [HR 4200, Vote #205, 5/20/04]
  • 3/15/05: Opposed Investigation into Contractor Spending in Iraq
    In 2005, English voted against the establishment of a select committee to investigate reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, including contracting procedures, protection against money laundering, and the allocation of contracts to foreign companies and small businesses. [HR 1268, Tierney amendment, Vote #72, 3/15/05]
  • 5/11/05: Opposed Crackdown on War Profiteering
    In 2005, English voted against a motion to recommit a gang violence bill with instructions that it be amended to include a provision expanding the criminal code to cover "war profiteering and fraud relating to military action, relief, and reconstruction efforts in Iraq." [HR 1279, Vote #167, 5/11/05]
  • 3/16/06: Voted Against Accountability in Iraq Contracting
    In 2006, English voted against an amendment that would prohibit contracts by the Secretary of the Army to any contractor if the Defense Contract Audit Agency has determined that more than $100 million of a contractor's costs involving work in Iraq were unreasonable. [HR4939, Vote #60, 3/16/06]
  • 6/16/06: Endorsed Bush Policy in Iraq
    In 2006, English voted for a resolution endorsing President Bush's Iraq policy while declaring that the United States will prevail in the war against terrorism. The resolution also took a stand against setting withdrawal dates. [CQ Today, 6/16/06; HRES 861, Vote #288, 6/16/06]



Case #2: Benchmarks

Phil English's Rhetoric

  • 2/14/07: English Says US Involvement Should Be Conditioned on Benchmarks
    "Overall U.S. military, diplomatic and economic strategy should not be regarded as an open-ended commitment but should be conditioned upon the Iraqi government's meeting benchmarks," English said in 2007. [English Floor Speech on Iraq Resolution, 2/14/07]
  • 1/10/07: English Says We Must Establish Benchmarks
    "We must move to establish a benchmark based plan for systematically withdrawing troops while encouraging the Iraqi government to rebuild their economy and take full responsibility for their own national security," English said in 2007. [US Fed News, 1/10/07]

The Real Phil English Record

  • 7/20/05: Voted Against Setting Benchmarks for Success in Iraq
    In 2005, English voted against requiring President Bush to set benchmarks for measuring U.S. progress in Iraq in areas such as defeating the insurgency, establishing democratic institutions and bringing U.S. troops home. [HR 2601, Vote #398, 7/20/05]
  • 3/23/07: Opposed Bringing Troops Home by August 2008
    In 2007, English voted against a bill that would set in motion a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq by August 2008. [CQ House Action Reports, No. 110-3, 3/20/07; HR 1591, Vote #186, 3/23/07]
  • 4/25/07: Opposed Requiring Iraqi Government to Meet Benchmarks for Success
    In 2007, English voted against a bill that set a goal of redeploying most U.S. combat troops in Iraq by the end of March 2008, if the president can certify the Iraq government is meeting benchmarks, and by the end of 2007 if he cannot. [HR 1591, Vote #265, 4/25/07]
  • 5/2/07: Rubberstamped Bush Veto of Benchmarks for Iraq
    In 2007, English voted against an attempt to override President Bush's veto of legislation to require accountability in Iraq. The bill set as a goal of redeploying most U.S. combat troops in Iraq by the end of March 2008, if the president can certify the Iraq government is meeting benchmarks. [Congressional Quarterly; HR 1591, Vote #276, 5/2/07]
  • 5/10/07: Voted Against Benchmarks for Iraqi Government
    In 2007, English voted against legislation to require the president to report on progress the Iraqi government has made toward meeting specified benchmarks and goals. [Congressional Quarterly; HR 2206, Vote #333, 5/10/07]
  • 5/10/07: Opposed Requiring Bush to Report on Progress in Iraq
    In 2007, English voted in favor of a motion to kill a requirement that the Bush administration report to Congress on benchmarks for success in Iraq. [HR 2206, Vote #332, 5/10/07]
  • 7/12/07: Opposed Accountability in Iraq, Redeployment of Troops
    In July 2007, English voted against a bill to require the Defense secretary to begin redeploying U.S. troops and contractors out of Iraq within 120 days of the bill's enactment. [Congressional Quarterly; HR 2956, Vote #624, 7/12/07]



Case #3: Stifling the Debate

Phil English's Rhetoric

  • 2/14/07: Claims Democrats are Stifling Real Debate on Iraq
    "Unfortunately, the Democrat leadership does not want to allow a full and fair debate on Iraq," English said in 2007. [English Floor Speech on Iraq Resolution, 2/14/07; US Fed News, 2/14/07]

The Real Phil English Record

  • 11/03/05: English Voted to Kill Hearings on Bush Iraq Policy
    In 2005, English voted to kill a bid by Democrats for the House to begin conducting oversight hearings into a wide range of administration actions and policies relating to the war in Iraq. [Washington Post, 11/06/05; Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, Vote #562, 11/03/05]



Case #4: Salary Bonus

Phil English's Rhetoric

  • 3/27/03: English Says Troops Need to Know How Much We Support Them
    "As the conflict with Iraq escalates, it is evermore important to let our troops know just how much we support and appreciate their service and sacrifice," English said in 2003. [English Press Release, 3/27/03]

The Real Phil English Record

  • 10/17/03: Opposed A Salary Bonus For Our Troops, Guard, Reserve
    In 2003, English voted against providing service members a $1,500 salary bonus to every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including National Guard and reserve forces. [HR 3289, Vote #554, 10/17/03]
  • 10/17/03: Opposed Equipment Repair, Quality of Life Enhancements for Troops
    In 2003, English voted against shifting $3.6 billion to pay for quality of life enhancements for U.S. service members, including the repair and replacement of damaged equipment, medical and dental screening of military reservists, family assistance centers, pre-paid phone cards for the troops in Iraq, the transportation of troops on rest-and-relaxation leave. [Washington Post, 10/17/03; HR 3289, Vote #547, 10/16/03]



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