H
Harry Hope
Guest
So where's McCain on this, who has made "support the troops" his
campaign mantra?
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=307120
04/06/2008
MCCAIN GETS FLAK ON THE NEW GI BILL...
It would seem like a no-brainer for any presidential candidate:
a bill, introduced by two veterans, with the support of veterans
associations around the country, that increases the opportunity for
vets to go to college.
Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have co-sponsored a bill put
forth last fall by Jim Webb of Virginia and Chuck Hagel, Republican
from Nebraska, called the "Post-9/11 Veterans' Educational Act," that
is a return to the spirit of the World War II GI Bill, with enough
funding such that every returning veteran is guaranteed a quality
education.
The bill, put forth as the first step in making "A 21st Century GI
Bill," would give veterans who qualified tuition for a full four years
of college, as well as a stipend for books and living expenses.
Currently, veterans are covered by the Montgomery GI bill, which
requires that troops pay $100 a month during their service, which then
qualifies them for around $800 per month for college tuition.
As Webb and Hagel pointed out in an op-ed last year, that barely
covers courses and books at many community colleges, let alone a state
school or private university.
So where's McCain on this, who has made "support the troops" his
campaign mantra?
When asked in March by a representative of Student Veterans of America
why he wouldn't co-sponsor the bill, McCain wavered and mumbled,
saying, "Uh, I haven't had the chance to examine the bill."
Several weeks later, it seems he still hasn't had a chance to, and
needless to say, many aren't happy.
"McCain needs to be on this bill," Webb told reporters recently.
"I have said to him several times that this is not a political issue."
And this week, Vote Vets and Brave New Films made a fascinating video
featuring young vets talking about their own difficulties getting
access to education and calling on McCain to sign on to the bill.
The most plausible explanation for McCain's reluctance is the White
House's resistance to the bill, with the argument that such an effort
would affect military retention rates.
But from the so-called "maverick," and a veteran, one would expect
better.
________________________________________________
So where's McJerk on this, who has made "support the troops" his
campaign mantra?
campaign mantra?
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=307120
04/06/2008
MCCAIN GETS FLAK ON THE NEW GI BILL...
It would seem like a no-brainer for any presidential candidate:
a bill, introduced by two veterans, with the support of veterans
associations around the country, that increases the opportunity for
vets to go to college.
Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have co-sponsored a bill put
forth last fall by Jim Webb of Virginia and Chuck Hagel, Republican
from Nebraska, called the "Post-9/11 Veterans' Educational Act," that
is a return to the spirit of the World War II GI Bill, with enough
funding such that every returning veteran is guaranteed a quality
education.
The bill, put forth as the first step in making "A 21st Century GI
Bill," would give veterans who qualified tuition for a full four years
of college, as well as a stipend for books and living expenses.
Currently, veterans are covered by the Montgomery GI bill, which
requires that troops pay $100 a month during their service, which then
qualifies them for around $800 per month for college tuition.
As Webb and Hagel pointed out in an op-ed last year, that barely
covers courses and books at many community colleges, let alone a state
school or private university.
So where's McCain on this, who has made "support the troops" his
campaign mantra?
When asked in March by a representative of Student Veterans of America
why he wouldn't co-sponsor the bill, McCain wavered and mumbled,
saying, "Uh, I haven't had the chance to examine the bill."
Several weeks later, it seems he still hasn't had a chance to, and
needless to say, many aren't happy.
"McCain needs to be on this bill," Webb told reporters recently.
"I have said to him several times that this is not a political issue."
And this week, Vote Vets and Brave New Films made a fascinating video
featuring young vets talking about their own difficulties getting
access to education and calling on McCain to sign on to the bill.
The most plausible explanation for McCain's reluctance is the White
House's resistance to the bill, with the argument that such an effort
would affect military retention rates.
But from the so-called "maverick," and a veteran, one would expect
better.
________________________________________________
So where's McJerk on this, who has made "support the troops" his
campaign mantra?
