Republicans offer alternatives for schooling changes to GI Bill

[unhappycamper]

Republicans offer alternatives for schooling changes to GI Bill
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON — A group of Republican senators including presidential candidate John McCain on Tuesday introduced legislation to boost college tuition payments for troops and to allow them to transfer the education benefits to their spouses and children.

The measure, designed as an alternative to a Democratic bill already under consideration, also includes larger payouts for troops who stay in the service for at least 12 years, an incentive sponsors added to help with recruiting and retention.

“We don’t think the GI Bill is broken, we don’t want to replace it,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. “We just think it needs to be modernized.”

In February, Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., introduced more dramatic changes to the existing GI Bill benefits, promising free in-state tuition and a $1,000 monthly living stipend to all veterans.

That measure has since gained support from Democratic leaders and influential Republicans, such as Virginia’s Sen. John Warner. But Graham and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., criticized Webb’s proposal for being too complex and too expensive, topping $3 billion by some estimates.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54280



uhc comment: The rethug bill "would provide more money to troops who stay in longer".

[Ian David]

1. You can't "Support The Troops" AND The Veterans at the same time!

We need the troops out their trooping!

Or else they're not troops anymore.

That's why the Republickers are trying to get all the troops killed-- to spare them the indignity of surviving long enough to become Veterans.


I'm tired of being polite to the Repukes.

When do we start publicly calling them on their bullshit?

[elocs]

2. Topping $3 billion?

They can't even spend what they are willing to put out for a month in Iraq? Pathetic. I went to college on the G.I. Bill--not because I ever served, but because I was a veteran's dependent and my dad was a 100% disabled vet from WWII and he didn't have to serve any 12 years to get the benefits. Going through North Africa, Sicily, and landing on Omaha Beach were enough.

[CRK7376]

3. Of course Richard Burr is a CHICKEN HAWK

The weasel is a Wake Forest University graduate unfortunately. Grew up in Winston-Salem and played football at Reynolds High School and WFU. I too grew up in W-S and graduated from WFU about the same time this weasel was there. Unlike Burr, I used my GI Bill to help pay my way through WFU. GI Bill helped but there sure were some gaps. I love the GI Bill. My Dad used his Korean War GI Bill for his college and PhD, my brother and I used our GI Bills at WFU....We served...Burr is a CHICKENHAWK. Making me nauseous, I tend to see him at WFU football and basketball games all to often. I really like Senator Webb's suggestion, but know reality is against it. We will not see our service men and women get free in-state tuition, better stipends etc...But the GI Bill does help.