Columbus Republic: Pence tweets praise for military bill he voted against multiple times
Pence’s office describes being held accountable for votes against our nation’s armed forces as “deception and lies”
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today criticized Congressman Greg Pence for trying to take credit for policies he voted against last year when he voted “nay” on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an annual budget measure to fully fund our nation’s armed forces across the globe. What’s worse, Pence appeared to take credit on cybersecurity measures that didn’t even appear in FY2021 NDAA to begin with — proving once again why fair-minded Hoosiers just don’t trust anyone with the last name of “Pence”.
While the Indiana Democratic Party certainly could understand why Congressman Pence’s office was upset after they were caught lying to constituents, holding elected officials accountable is not abiding by “deception and lies”, a phrase Pence’s office used to describe Democrats. We recommend the Pence office look up the word “projection” before issuing a response next time.
Here are some key points from the article:
Pence tweets praise for military bill he voted against multiple times
Columbus Republic // Andy East
“The Indiana Democratic Party said Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, tweeted false information in which he appears to take credit for legislation benefiting the National Guard that he voted against multiple times.
On Tuesday, Pence tweeted that he was “proud” that former President Donald Trump “signed into law” the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021, which the congressman also suggested in a press release provides funding for a cybersecurity pilot program at Camp Atterbury and the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex.
Federal records show that Pence voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021 on July 21 and against a conference report on the legislation on Dec. 8.
Trump, however, did not sign the bill into law, instead vetoing it on Dec. 23. Five days later, the House voted 322-87 to override the veto, but Pence was the only House Republican from Indiana to vote against overriding the veto, meaning he was voting against the bill. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, R-Indiana, did not cast a vote.” […]
“The National Defense Authorization Act authorized $740 billion in military programs and construction and provides a 3% pay raise for U.S. troops, improvements for military housing, among other things. Congress has approved a version of the bill for nearly 60 years in a row.” […]
“In one instance, the press release claims that the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020 is the funding source for the training center, but incorrectly states that it was signed into law earlier this year. The 2020 bill was signed into law by Trump in December 2019, and Pence voted in favor of it.
But later in the press release, Pence is quoted as saying, ‘Camp Atterbury and the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex are critical components to our national security. …I am proud to have this program signed into law by President Trump in the 2021 NDAA earlier this year.’
Neither the 2020 nor the 2021 legislation explicitly mentions a cybersecurity training program at Camp Atterbury or the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex, though the 2021 bill mentions an extension of a ‘pilot program on regional cybersecurity training center for the Army National Guard.’
The 2021 bill also provides $12 million in funding to the Army National Guard for a military construction project in Shelbyville, which congressional records show Pence voted against.
Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry, public information officer at Camp Atterbury, said he was unaware of any new cybersecurity training centers or cybersecurity programs at Camp Atterbury and had sought clarification from Pence’s office.”
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