Just How Much Do We Appreciate Their Service Then?

MayorBob.

Posted to Politics on Tue May 13, 2008 at 03:00:44 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Congress is in the process of considering the most massive expansion to the GI Bill since World War II. Democratic leaders in both houses are solidly behind the measure with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D - CA) calling it a "thank you" to the men and women who have put their lives on the line for the nation. President George Bush, obviously thinking the men and women in uniform have been thanked enough, will veto it if it passes. He essentially says it's too much of a "thank you" to his liking.

The measure being sponsored by US Senator Jim Webb (D - VA) would give a full college scholarship to an in-state public university plus a housing stipend to any veteran who served at least three years in uniform. The bill also extends by five years the time in which a veteran has to use his benefits to a maximum of 15 years. Webb said that beyond basic fairness in treatment of veterans, the bill would also be a much needed recruiting tool, "I can't think of a better way to broaden (the) propensity to serve than to offer a truly meaningful educational benefit." The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the total cost of the bill (5 pg pdf doc) at just over (US)$50 billion over ten years.

President Bush is in favor of a more modest Republican-sponsored bill sponsored by US Senators Lindsay Graham (R - SC), John McCain (R - AZ) and Richard Burr (R - NC). Their measure would increase the monthly benefit by $400 a month to a maximum of $1,500 per month with no changes to the ten year limit for use following separation. Bush also wants to separate the GI Bill measure from the funding bill to continue military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, currently estimated at more than $100 billion per year. Bush has urged congressional Republicans to dig in their heels and fight to defeat the bill and, failing that, stand firm to uphold his veto. Democratic Party leaders are likewise firm in standing behind the bill, figuring in a worst-case scenario, a veto would be upheld and the matter could become an election issue. Could it? Judging from the way Barack Obama is blasting away at John McCain over his failure to support Webb's bill, you may now begin betting the ranch and the dog on it.