Republicans Targeted For Opposition To G.I. Money

By Patrick O'Connor

(The Politico)  Americans United for Change, a group created to oppose the Bush administration, will air television ads against four potentially vulnerable Republicans over the Memorial Day recess for their votes to oppose expanded college aid for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The group has targeted Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, Ohio Rep. Steve Chabot, Florida Rep. Tom Feeney and New York Randy Kuhl. The ads will air on a mix of cable and network television, according to a spokesman for the group.

Democrats made another big push this week to approve a dramatic increase in education benefits for veterans, but the Senate is not expected to complete work on the broader legislation - a nearly $200 billion war-funding package - before lawmakers leave for the weeklong recess. These four targeted Republicans were among the 166 lawmakers to vote against amendment that included domestic spending.

This campaign is part of the group's Bush Legacy Project, an effort linking congressional Republicans - including Arizona Sen. John McCain, the party's presumptive presidential nominee - to President Bush during his final year in the White House.