3 state Republicans block Wellstone honor

[Supormom]

3 state Republicans block Wellstone honor
Frederic J. Frommer, Associated Press
October 23, 2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two years after Sen. Paul Wellstone was killed in a plane crash, legislation to rename the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center for him has languished on Capitol Hill because of objections from some Minnesota Republicans.

Rep. John Kline, a Republican from Burnsville, has led the opposition, arguing that the hospital should be named instead for a "real war hero."

The bill, which would rename the hospital the Paul Wellstone Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was introduced by Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-St. Paul, as a way to pay tribute to Wellstone's work on behalf of veterans.

"Certainly, Senator Wellstone deserves honor and recognition as a U.S. senator from Minnesota," said Kline, noting that a community center in St. Paul has been named for Wellstone and his wife, Sheila, who was also killed in the crash.

"But we're talking about a VA Center. It seems to me that Senator Wellstone was a senator who couldn't find his way to supporting defense budgets, and had some reputation as an anti-war protester. And while it's certainly his place to do that, it seems to me that a VA center ought to be named for a veteran who is a real war hero."

Monday is the second anniversary of the plane crash that killed the Wellstones, their daughter Marcia Markuson, and five others.
More...
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5047798.html

[Kolesar]

1. Then they could not name the VA center after Shrub Bush, either

"a VA center ought to be named for a veteran who is a real war hero."

[Inland]

2. Renamed Reagan National because he was a pilot, case in point.

and Cape Kennedy because JFK first man in space, blah blah blah.

[dflprincess]

3. I bet it's killing Coleman to support this

but what else could the weasel do?