MELISSA FOX CALLS OUT STEVEN CHOI FOR DECEITFUL CLAIMS REGARDING HIS ROLE IN STATE FUNDING FOR VETERANS
Assemblyman Steven Choi Touts Veterans Cemetery Funding That He Voted Against
IRVINE, CA – Today, Irvine Councilmember Melissa Fox, who is challenging Steven Choi to represent the 68th Assembly District in the California Assembly, released the following statement calling out Steven Choi’s lack of leadership on veterans issues after his deceitful and hypocritical email taking credit for funding provided to the Orange County Veterans Cemetery when he was in fact the sole vote in the Assembly against the funding.
In a recent email to constituents, Choi wrote that the revised California budget for 2020-21 was passed and boasted that “our efforts to protect funding for Veterans were successful!”
In fact, Choi voted against the budget that contained these funds for veterans.
Choi also boasted that “The Southern California Veteran Cemetery Master Development Fund will keep its $24.5 million in funding.”
In fact, Choi was the only member of the California Assembly to vote against the $24.5 million in state funding for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery (AB 368).
On May 23, 2019, the Assembly voted 67-1 in support of AB 368, providing $24.5 million in state funding for a veterans cemetery located in Orange County on the grounds of the former El Toro Marine Air Station. As reported at the time, “the only dissenting vote was from Assemblymember Steven Choi.”
Later, Choi changed his vote to “Absent/Abstain.” He subsequently changed his vote again, this time to “concur,” at the very last minute, only one day before the legislation was presented to be signed by the governor.
“Claiming credit for funding for veterans that he opposed is, at best, deceitful and hypocritical,” Melissa Fox said. “I have been fighting for a veterans cemetery in Orange County for many years. When we needed his support, Choi voted ‘No’.”
Choi was also the only member of the Orange County delegation in the Assembly, including both Republicans and Democrats, who refused to sign a letter to the City of Irvine pledging to allocate the funds necessary for the decontamination and construction of a veterans cemetery at the former El Toro Marine Air Station.
“Our veterans deserve to be treated with honor and dignity long after they have served our country,” Melissa Fox said. “That is why I am appalled that Assemblymember Steven Choi would not only vote against allowing the Southern California Veteran Cemetery Master Development Fund to keep its $24.5 million in funding, but then attempt to claim this funding as his own accomplishment. This funding was secured despite his opposition, not because of his support.”
“Orange County veterans deserve a leader who is committed to fighting for them. We all deserve representatives in the Assembly who tell the truth about their record. The OC Register described me as ‘an incredible advocate for veterans’ due to my commitment to veterans’ issues, and I will continue to be a powerful advocate for veterans in Sacramento.”
