The GOP as outed Congressman Chris Smith as chairman of the Committee on Veterans Affairs. The change has been denounced by several veterans' groups. Smith is also expected to lose his seat on the veterans panel, a seat he has held for 24 years. "It all came down to the fact I wanted to spend too much on veterans," said Smith following a 90-minute meeting in which he detailed the 22 laws he authored to help veterans in his four years as chairman.
Smith's outing by Republican leaders has even caused denouncing from Democratic Leaders, many who considered Smith a competent chairman who has championed many pieces of legislation to help veterans. "This is not only a slap at Chris Smith, but a shot over the bow at veterans' organizations," said Richard Fuller of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. "The Republican leadership has made a statement that the country is making too much of a commitment to the men and women who have served in uniform."
One New Jersey Democratic Strategist e-mailed the following to JerseyPolitics.com:
I disagree with Chris Smith on nearly every social and economic policy, but the fact of the matter is that Chris Smith's one good quality is that he cared deeply about veterans and for the past four years as chairman, has worked opposite of a Republican administration that has tried to leave veterans behind. Chris Smith said veterans should get more and this Republican leadership wanted no part of that.
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