Ed Royce

Independents, non-whites, Democratic women under 55, men under 55

Royce has received a D rating from veterans groups for his record on veterans. Specifically, Royce opposed a bonus for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He voted to protect his own pay while opposing protecting military personnel pay during a government shutdown. Royce also opposed providing education benefits to veterans, and he even voted against increased survivor benefits for widows and orphans of soldiers killed in combat.

Received “D” Rating From Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America (2010):  In 2010, Royce received a “D” rating from veterans group, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which was based on Royce’s voting record on key votes that IAVA defined as legislative priorities in the 111th Congress.  (IAVA, “2010 Congressional Report Card,” http://www.iavaaction.org; The Hill, “Veterans Group Gives Congress Low Marks,” October 20, 2010)

Voted Against Military Bonuses (2003): On October 17, 2003, Royce voted against an amendment providing a $1,500 bonus to all troops serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.  The amendment (Stupak (D-Michigan) would have cost $265 million.  The amendment failed 213-213.  Two Democrats voted against the amendment and 14 Republicans voted for it. (Roll Call Vote 554, HR 3289, October 17, 2003)

Voted Against Measure That Would Have Prevented Members Of Congress, President From Receiving Salary During A Government Shutdown (2011): On April 1, 2011, Royce voted against a motion to recommit HR 1255, the : Government Shutdown Prevention Act, to the House Administration Committee  with instructions to add an amendment that would have prevented members of congress and the president from receiving  a salary during a government shutdown that lasts more than 24 hours.  The amendment was also instructed to have language that would have prevented lawmakers and the president from receiving that pay retroactively. The motion was rejected 188-237.  (Roll Call Vote 223, HR 1255, April 1, 2011)

Voted Against Measure That Would Have Protected Military Personnel Salaries Under Similar Circumstances: On April 7, 2011, Royce voted against a motion to recommit HR 136, a Short-Term Continuing Appropriations for the Department of Defense, to the House Appropriations Committee with instructions to add an amendment that would have protected military personnel salaries.  Specifically, the amendment would reiterate the provision of funding under the bill for the salaries.  The motion was rejected 191-236.  (Roll Call Vote 246, H.R. 1363, April 7, 2011)

Voted Against Bill That Provided Education Benefits To Post 9/11 Vets (2008): On June 19, 2008, Royce was one of 12 House members to vote against a motion to concur with amendments added to a supplemental appropriations bill that provided a permanent expansion of education benefits for post- Sept. 11 veterans.  The bill also cut $3.6 billion from funding for wars in Iraq & Afghanistan and would have temporarily extended unemployment benefits.  The motion passed 416-12 and the bill was signed into law June 30, 2008. (Roll Call Vote 432, HR 2642, June 19,2008)

Voted Against Motion To Recommit 2007 Defense Authorization Bill To Eliminate Compensation Reductions For Widows, Orphans Of Deceased Military Personnel (2006): On May 11, 2006, Royce voted against a motion to recommit the FY 07 Department of Defense Authorization bill to the Armed Services Committee with instructions to include language that would eliminate a requirement that reduces benefits to survivors of deceased military members. The motion intended to allocate more money to survivors of deceased military members by eliminating a requirement that requires their survivor benefits be reduced by the amount they received from another program, the Veteran’s affairs dependent and indemnity compensation program. According to the motion’s sponsor, Representative John Salazar (D-Colorado), that requirement can cause an estimated $993 per month reduction in survivor’s compensation. The motion failed 202- 220. (Roll Call Vote 144, HR 5122, May 11, 2006; Congressional Record, “National Defense Authorization For Fiscal Year 2006,” May 11, 2006, Page H2550)

Red Alert

Independents, non-whites, Democratic women under 55, men under 55

Royce voted to slash Medicare funding and turn Medicare into a voucher program, while raising taxes for middle class families. Under Royce’s plan, a family earning less than $200,000 a year would see a tax increase of $1,400, while those making more than $1 million a year would get a $260,000 tax cut.

Voted In Support Of 2012 Ryan Budget That Included Privatizing Medicare (2011): On April 15 2011, Royce voted in support of a 2012 budget plan drafted by Rep. Paul D. Ryan that included a proposal to convert Medicare from a program where the federal government was the health insurer for Americans 65 and older to one where older Americans join private health plans that are subsidized by the government.  Specifically, the budget called for converting Medicare for persons currently younger than 55 into a "premium support system" through which the government would pay private insurance companies directly for each enrollee.  On April 4, 2011, the Wall Street Journal opined that Ryan’s plan “would essentially end Medicare.  The House voted 235 to 193 to approve the budget, with no Democrats voting in support.  (The New York Times, “House Approves Republican Budget Plan to Cut Trillions,” April 16, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com; Roll Call Vote 277, H Con. Res. 34, April 15, 2011)

Voted in Support of 2013 Ryan Budget That Would Have Raised Medicare age Eligibility, Raise Taxes on Middle Class, Give Tax Cuts to Those Making More than $1 Million (2012): On March 29, 2012, Royce voted in support of the $3.5 trillion 2013 budget also drafted by Ryan that would have raised Medicare age eligibility, raised taxes on the middle class and give tax cuts to millionaires.  Under the plan, Medicare eligibility age would rise from age 65 to 67 beginning in 2023, while future seniors would be given government assistance to purchase private health-insurance plans or have the option to take part in the traditional Medicare model.  Additionally, according to a June 20, 2012 report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee Chairman’s Staff, a typical family making between $50,000 and $100,000 would pay an estimated $1,358 more in taxes a year under the Ryan budget—assuming a 10% tax bracket. Families making between $100,000 and $200,000 would pay $2,681.   According to an analysis conducted by the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, those earning more than $1 million a year would receive an average of $265,000 in new tax cuts, resulting in a 12.5% increase  in after-tax income.  The House passed the bill 228-191, with no Democrats voting for the Ryan Plan.  (Roll Call Vote 151, H Con Res 112, March 29, 2012; Washington Post: the U.S. Congress Votes Database, “House GOP Budget Plan,” http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/; Washington Post, “House approves Ryan budget plan to cut spending, taxes,” March 29, 2012; U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee Chairman’s Staff, “Winners and Losers: Understanding the Ryan Plan’s Potential Tax Implications for America’s Workers,” June 20, 2012; http://www.jec.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=39920ecd-8a70-47e6-b4ab-88257386a4aa, ; Democratic Caucus Committee, “The Paul Ryan Plan,” http://www.dems.gov/press/the-paul-ryan-plan; Tax Policy Center, “House Republican Budget Plan without Unspecified Base Broadeners; Baseline: Current Policy; Distribution of Federal Tax Change by Cash Income Level, 2015,” http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/numbers/displayatab.cfm?Docid=3384&DocTypeID=1, April 9, 2012)