NYT and the Webb/Hagel GI Bill...

The New York Times hits the nail on the head with its editorial today - Mr. Bush and the G.I. Bill.

So lavish with other people’s sacrifices, so reckless in pouring the national treasure into the sandy pit of Iraq, Mr. Bush remains as cheap as ever when it comes to helping people at home.

The basic argument that he and Mr. McCain use is that with such a lavish gift of a college education, most service members will not re-enlist.

In fact, the Congressional Budget Office does predict that the number of re-enlistments will go down about 16%, BUT the CBO also predicts that the number of new enlistments, given the education incentive of the Webb/Hagel bill, will increase about 16%! It would be a wash. Of course, to finish his dirty little war, Tsar George would probably be happier if that would be 32%! Won't happen. No incentive; no increased enlistments.

One would like to think, given the bipartisan support of the GI Bill, that Congress will finally show the cajones the Democrats promised by overriding the threatened veto by the Tsar. It already is veto-proof given the support by which it was passed. The Republican wizards will be working overtime, you can be sure, to make sure the veto sticks if it comes to that.

The NYT's final say in the editorial is great:

By threatening to veto it, Mr. Bush is showing great consistency of misjudgment. Congress should forcefully show how wrong he is by overriding his opposition and spending the money — an estimated $52 billion over 10 years, a tiniest fraction of the ongoing cost of Mr. Bush’s Iraq misadventure.

Misadventure? They are too kind. Everybody else but the Tsar knows it's a total disaster...

Senate passes GI Bill...

75 - 22 with half of the 49 Republicans thumbing their noses at Mssrs. Bush, McCain and Cornyn. It now will go to the House for approval as part of the large War Funding bill.

Though the bill is veto proof in the Senate, Mr. Bush has promised to veto it with the extra funding for servicemembers because he believes it's too much money and will cause members to leave the service after only one tour of duty, which most do anyway.

(The Politico) The Senate has overwhelmingly passed a new GI bill and billions in new domestic spending as part of the $165 billion Iraq war funding bill pending before Congress.

In two subsequent votes, the Senate passed the war funding portion of the bill, 70-26, and rejected an amendment that contained troop withdrawal language on a 34-63 vote.

The 75-22 vote on the GI bill and domestic spending marked a resounding victory for Senate Democrats as well as Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who has battled to expand the educational benefits for soldiers who served in Iraq. The measure also included a 13 week extension of unemployment insurance, home heating assistance and other domestic spending add ons. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, which will top $200 billion with the extra spending.
Politico via CBSNews

It's a step in the right direction. Now we only have to see if the House will pass it and the entire Congress will have the cajones to stand up to the nitwit Tsar George. The one thing going for this is that it is election year and the Repubs are really afraid with the last few Congressional elections they've lost.

Congratulations to VoteVets.org, WesPac, and others who have been fighting for Senator Webb's bill.

Senator Cornyn's office responds to VoteVets.org ads...

huh?

WASHINGTON - Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan today expressed disappointment that Senator John Cornyn would belittle them and their service, because they asked him to vote in favor of a bi-partisan GI Bill for the 21st Century. That bill, offered by Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel, would update the Montgomery GI Bill to keep education benefits for troops current with the cost of education.

In today's edition of Roll Call, Cornyn's spokesman responded to an ad launched by VoteVets.org calling on Cornyn to vote for a new GI Bill by saying, "The anti-war crowd is determined to use our men and women in uniform for their political advantage, even if our national security is jeopardized in the process."

News from VoteVets.org

ummm, VoteVets is an organization founded and basically supported by veterans. There are then the rest of us, who in turn, totally support them for the service they have provided even if they did not agree with it.

That makes them anti-war crowd? Does the senator remember that we have an ALL volunteer services. Everyone who serves does so at his/her choice?

The bill that Senators McCain and Cornyn want passed would limit the annual tuition benefit capped at $2,000.

Tuition for ONE three-hour class at Northern Illinois University for an in-state student this spring is $681.00! That is close to half of the total benefit the good senators want. It also does not include student fees, technology surcharges, textbooks, etc, etc., and NIU is a state school that is partially funded by government. Have they looked at places like Yale, Harvard, William & Mary? Wait. Maybe their kids went there?

What is Cornyn's reasoning behind not supporting Senator Webb's full tuition bill? More servicemembers would opt to leave the service if they knew they would get an almost free ride to college. This, in spite of the fact, that all research says that the majority already only opt to serve one term.

duh!


fight for us; kill for us; become injured for us; die for us...

just don't expect anything in return. it's not the American way. fend for yourselves.