Fitzpatrick Fails to Protect Veterans from Financial Ruin

By PATRICK MURPHY FOR CONGRESS

(Bristol, PA) – On June 22nd, Patrick Murphy stood with local veterans to challenge Former Congressman Fitzpatrick to explain why he voted against protecting U.S. troops and veterans from some of the worst practices among credit card companies and big banks.

“Our troops risk their lives, along with their livelihoods and homes and businesses, when they deploy for months or even years to protect our freedom,” said Patrick Murphy. “We cannot begin to repay the debt we owe to these heroes but at the very least, we can protect them from drowning in debt the rest of their lives.”

“If Congressman Fitzpatrick didn’t stand up for me, as an Air Force veteran, don’t expect him to stand up for you. I don’t know why someone would turn their backs on veterans, but when it comes to Congressman Fitzpatrick, I have 743,000 guesses,” said Al Dorsey a veteran from Langhorne, referring to the $743,000 in campaign contributions Fitzpatrick has taken from Wall Street.1

When troops are called to active duty, they not only leave behind their families but their homes and their businesses. Many leave thinking they’ll be gone for 6 months but end up staying a year or even longer, and 4 out of 10 members of the National Guard and Reserve forces lose income when they leave their civilian jobs for active duty. The upheaval caused by serving their country can lead to major financial distress for veterans and their families, including bankruptcy.

Former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick had the chance to make the financial transition back to civilian life easier for our troops. Instead, he voted in line with credit card company and big bank demand – and AGAINST basic protections for veterans. The legislation he voted NO on would have exempted veterans from bankruptcy means tests while they are deployed and for two years following active duty, allowing them to transition back to civilian life.2 This legislation would have given them additional time to get their finances back on track following the major disruption of a deployment.

This is a question of character. Former Congressman Fitzpatrick, who took $743,000 in contributions from Wall Street, failed miserably when it was time to stand up for the middle-class and veterans who put their lives on the line to serve their country.

When the same issue came before Patrick Murphy, he voted to pass these commonsense protections and ensure that a veteran whose business suffered or who fell a little behind on his mortgage because he was called to serve his country in Iraq or Afghanistan is not left out to dry.3

1 Opensecrets.org

2 Roll Call Vote #107, 109th Congress

3 Roll Call Vote #682, 110th Congress

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