Common Defense, a progressive veterans group, has begun a $500,000 advertising campaign attacking Republican Sens. Deb Fischer (Neb.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) for voting to hold up the PACT Act, which created new health benefits for 3.5 million U.S. military veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.
The digital ads and direct-mail items focus on a July 2022 vote against cloture on the PACT Act. Fischer and Cruz were among the 25 Senate Republicans who voted for a similar version of the legislation in June 2022, but changed course after then-Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) raised concerns about the long-term costs of the program. A few days later, following outrage by veterans groups, the Senate passed the bill with Fischer’s and Cruz’s support.
Common Defense has endorsed independent Dan Osborn, a left-of-center Navy veteran, who is challenging Fischer, and Rep. Colin Allred (D), who is challenging Cruz…