Military Update: Congress battling over how to enhance GI Bill

[unhappycamper]

Military Update: Congress battling over how to enhance GI Bill
By Tom Philpott, Special to Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, April 19, 2008

The Bush administration has endorsed a House bill that would improve the Montgomery GI Bill education benefits in several ways, including a 31 percent jump in monthly benefits and a new $500-a-month stipend to help cover living expenses.

The administration’s aim is not only to improve veterans’ benefits in wartime but to derail a far more costly GI Bill reform package that Virginia Democrat Jim Webb, in just his second year as a senator, is shepherding toward likely enactment with tenacity and timely compromises.

No matter who wins this showdown, current and future GI Bill users are almost assured that their benefits will be more valuable by next year.

Webb’s bill, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act (S 22), would be available to any active or reserve member who served at least three months on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Maximum benefits would cover tuition costs up to an amount equal to tuition payments at a state’s most expensive public university. Payments to full-time students would jump to about $1,900 a month, from $1,100 under the MGIB.

Webb’s bill also would pay a monthly stipend to cover living expenses. That payment would be set locally based on military housing allowances payable in the college area to a married enlisted member in grade E-5.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54152



uhc comment: "No matter who wins"????? :wtf:

[w8liftinglady]

1. UHC-my latest ltte addressed this very thing..to be printed Tues

As recent developments about increased suicides and PTSD among our Iraq War veterans have escalated, I thought it important to review how our Presidential Candidates “Support the Troops”.Recently,Senator Jim Webb introduced a bill for GI Educational Benefits called “The New G.I. bill“. Senators Clinton and Obama both voted “for” this bill. Senator McCain voted “against“. His rationale? “Officials in charge of Pentagon personnel worry that a more generous and expansive GI Bill would create an incentive for troops to get out of the military and go to college” Heavens forbid.

At this point, John McCain has fully embraced the "less jobs and more war" philosophy. He has been famous for touting this on several talk shows, noting how the American jobs shipped overseas aren’t coming back, but there will always be war. Essentially, he's offering troops the opportunity to sacrifice more for fewer incentives. With the Bush administration's help, McCain is telling America's troops, "Thanks for your service and your three combat tours in five years. Now get back to work."

This is the Republican stance on “Supporting the Troops”-support them as long as “Our” kids don’t have to serve. Support them until it requires more funding or effort. Support them until it involves their children or families. A “Bait and switch”-Support the Troops” on the sign outside-nothing inside the store that remotely resembles this. Remember who has been in charge of military funding for the last 12 years…do you trust them to truly” support our troops”?

[unhappycamper]

2. Excellent .

You rock, my Friend.

[KSinTX]

3. Pacific S&S blast from the past - I used to work in the Oki bureau!