WHAT IS THE RECORD ON DICK CHENEY?

GET THE FACTS BEHIND THE NEWS. Dick Cheney is constantly in the news defending Bush Administration policies. He is vigorously defending the use of the Guantanamo Bay prison and the use of harsh, some call it torture, interrogations. He has stated that these interrogations have resulted in obtaining vital information that “has saved thousands of lives”.

What is Dick Cheney’s history? After various gov’t jobs Dick Cheney was elected from the state of Wyoming to the US House of Representatives in 1977. H served five terms till he was appointed Secretary of Defense in 1989. What was Dick Cheney’s record in the US House of Representatives?

Education—He always opposed funding for Head Start. He voted against creating the Dept of Education.

Civil Liberties—He opposed a resolution calling for the release of Nelson Mandela in South Africa.. He maintained that Mandela’s group was a terrorist organization and that Mandela was a terrorist, perhaps a peek into the future.

Women—He voted against the Equal Rights Amendment for woman. He opposed federal funding for abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Guns—He opposed gun control limits. In 1985 he was one of 21 members of Congress to vote against a ban on armor piercing bullets. In 1988 he was one of three reps to vote against plastic guns that could slip thru airport security. In 1988 he voted to scrap a proposed 7 day waiting period on handgun purchses.

Environment—Cheney opposed refunding the Clean Water Act. He voted to postpone sanctions on air polluters that failed to meet pollution standards. He voted against legislation to require oil, chemical, and other industries from making public records of emission known to cause cancer, birth defects and other diseases.

Military—Dick Cheney consistently voted to raise military spending. He supported the Nicaraguan rebels even after the moratorium on funding.

Budget—Dick Cheney supported legislation to balance the national budget.

Social Services—He voted against funding for Meals on Wheels for Seniors.

To come -- a business career and VP years