Modernizing the G.I. Bill
By Dyre42 | Related entries in McCain, NewsLooks like McCain hasn’t signed on yet…
From the LA Times:
McCain must lead the chargeA new GI Bill needs his support, yet the war-hero candidate appears reluctant.Sen. John McCain served his nation with honor in Vietnam, and he is right to be proud of his service. But by hedging on whether he will support a “GI Bill for the 21st Century,” he is casting doubt on his own commitment to the newest generation of American heroes.
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, sponsored by Sens. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), will restore the promise of a cost-free education to those who serve in the military. The original GI Bill transformed American history, providing education for returning soldiers. The GI Bill not only recognized our nation’s moral duty for the enormous sacrifices of our World War II veterans, but it helped create America’s middle class and spurred decades of economic growth for our country. Economists estimate that the original bill returned anywhere between $5 and $13 for every dollar we spent on it. But the original GI Bill has become woefully outdated, to the point where the average benefit doesn’t even cover half the cost of an in-state student’s education at a public college.
The Post-9/11 Veterans Act, which has an estimated cost between $2.5 billion and $4 billion, is common-sense legislation. With 53 cosponsors, including nine Republicans, the three other Vietnam War veterans in the Senate and former Secretary of the Navy John Warner, the bill simply updates what the late historian Stephen Ambrose called “the best piece of legislation ever passed by the U.S. Congress.” Yet, faced with unprecedented filibusters, it needs 60 cosponsors. As de facto leader of the party, McCain could signal to other Republicans to sign on to the bill and assure passage.
Instead, McCain has said he hasn’t had time to read the bill and isn’t sure if he could support it. It’s hard to believe that neither he nor anyone on his staff has had time to read such an important bill, which has been around since before he started running for president. But, even if true, McCain must do the right thing now.
Frankly I’m surprised he hasn’t taken a position on this bill. It seems right up his alley after all. One could could argue that its too expensive right now. In my opinion that would be a short sighted point of view. Given the difference in wages between high school grads and college grads we are effectively enabling people to pay more taxes when the nation invests in their education.
One thing I’m certain of is that if McCain either fails to vote for this bill or votes against the Dem’s 527s will be reminding us of it repeatedly once election season officially starts.
Then there’s this gem…
The White House has voiced concern on the bill, arguing that if returning troops are offered a good education, they will choose college over extending their service.
And thats wrong in what way? The GI bill is more or less a quid pro quo arrangement. They agree to take care of America in return for us agreeing to take care of them. Once the military appears to be unable to take care of their end of the bargain then suddenly Job Corps starts looking like a better alternative to military service for those seeking money for college.
Of course all of these retention, recruitment, and education issues would be a moot point if we paid our soldiers the same as their private contractor counterparts.
H/T to OTB
This entry was posted on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 and is filed under McCain, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
April 11th, 2008 at 12:27 am
[...] X-posted at Donklephant [...]
April 11th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Agreed. This seems like such a no-brainer. Even from a hard-core Libertarian perspective (which I don’t embrace), the one legitimate role of the Government is defense. Taking care of the warriors who take care of us should be one of the highest priorities. It has been widely remarked that in this war, the Bush administration has asked no one to sacrifice except the military and their families. The G.I. Bill is a way to help repay them for our debt to their service and sacrifice.
The two guys I respect most in the Senate are Hagel and Webb. Like McCain, they are both Vietnam vets and war heroes. Unlike McCain, they were foot soldiers and did their fighting up close and personal. I have nothing but the highest regard for McCain’s sacrifice and integrity displayed while a POW. But I don’t think he has the same empathy for the grunts on the ground, like Hagel and Webb.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:18 am
McCain is going to regret it if he doesn’t support this bill…
Because if he doesn’t, then Dems will be in a unique position and able to label him as not supporting the troops… which is really all the Democrats need to do to win. They just have to look more patriotic and supportive of armed-service members.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Here’s the quote in context from npr.org…
Several weeks ago, while on the road, McCain said, “It seems to me that it’s a good thing to do, but I haven’t examined the bill with the care … that it needs. … But we obviously need to do something along those lines.”
That’s a lot different than “He doesn’t support the bill.” It’s more like he thinks its a good idea, but he’s too prudent to just say he supports a bill a reporter asks him about without looking at it first.
April 21st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
[...] won’t he just support the current bill? Odds are given the administration’s resistance to it because it could conceivably reduce retention goals McCain may sense a veto on the horizon. [...]