Well, Pat Roberts again turned his back on our troops, and this time Sam Brownback decided to show up to work and do the same.

"This amendment would provide a safety net to our men and women in uniform by providing a minimum and more predictable time for them to rest and retrain," Webb said. "Our troops are spending more time in Iraq than they're spending at home," when traditional Pentagon guidelines say they should be given home stays twice as long as their deployments, he said.

When will Roberts put Kansans - especially Kansans who are sacrificing every single day to fight for our country - before Bush and his failed policies in Iraq?

In July, Pat Roberts decided against supporting our troops and their families by voting against the Webb amendment, which would have required that active-duty troops and units have at least equal time at home with their families as the length of their previous tour overseas.

(Brownback, of course, failed to show up for this vote.)

Though it did not pass (thanks in part to Roberts), Sen. Jim Webb today announced his plans to reintroduce the amendment:

So, fortunately Pat Roberts will be given a second chance to vote in favor of our troops and military families and Brownback will be given a 124th chance to show up to work.

But what is this!?! Another Bush Republican playing politics with our troops?

Yes, unfortunately, Sen. John Warner (R-VA) undermined Webb's efforts to support our troops by introducing the exact same bill in the form of a "sense of Congress" amendment. In other words - this would not become an actual law, but would instead just "express an opinion"! This would allow Bush Republicans like Pat Roberts to vote "Yea" so it appears as if he supports the troops - without actually doing anything to ease the burden on them or their families!

Veeerrrry sneaky...

Fortunately, we know better. Call or write to Senator Pat Roberts and Senator Sam Brownback and tell them to vote in favor of our troops, not in favor of empty promises!