Administration Fights Dem Plan to Boost School Aid for Vets

I think Webb, Campbell et al are slightly wrong on this issue. I’m an 1980′s vet, and received benefits under the GI Bill at the time. I went to school almost immediately after getting out of active duty, and with the GI Bill, state and federal grants and loans, plus working, I made it through and got my degree on time. It’s really not that difficult (after doing a combat tour, going to college and taking even a part time job to supplement your GI Bill payments, grants and loans, is a cakewalk).
As it appears, even the VA says the 100% pproposal is cumbersome and unrealistic…and this isn’t 1944…

I think that it is a good idea. Our veterans deserve more, and if offering them more opportunities at education can help, then let’s do it.

How about the fact that our brave reservists and National Guard troops who have served with distinction in Iraq and Afghanistan get absolutely nothing in the way of educational benefits once they are discharged from the service? Is their substantial sacrifice in life and limb worth less than the “full time” active duty types who may not serve any more time in the service but stand to enjoy full ride benefits under this law?

Interesting — I served over 21 years and retired honorably in 1999. I went back to school full time for three years and received my bachelors from UVA, knowing that VA would be there to help. Guess what? Because I had a two year break in service I receive $0 from the VA — and neither of my Senators (Jim Webb is one of them) nor my Represetative have responded to my requests for assistance. And they really expect to help new vets?? ROFLMAO!!

Doesn’t our country owe our veterans the best that we can offer? Full educational benefits for our soldiers is the least that we can do to repay them for their sacrifices.

This story can not be true. After all G.W. respects our valiant warriors and would not do any thing to help OOps hurt them.

Where have all of the bushies gone? This is the kind of fodder that gets them into their drooling semi-coherent postings. What’s that? Oh, maybe some of the dems, libs, neos,etc. were right after all? All you had to do was open your eyes and see it. Follow your party lines all you want, but don’t follow blindly. You are allowed to disagree. You are free minded, aren’t you.

Why isn’t the main healdining story? Doesn’t anyone care about how we treat the troops who fought for us? Typical Bush, wanting everyone to sacrifice for him with nothing in return. Disgraceful.

If the VA is saying this would be not be wise and that it would take money from other programs, what programs are we talking about. Do we take money from physical therapy, VA hospitals, mental health, disability payments? Maybe we should up grant money available to the troops as well as their GI bill money. There should be something reasonable that can be done without financially straining the country’s purse strings more than it already is. First, think about what we cut…..medicare, social security, food stamps. It’s a great idea to give them more in the way of educational benefits but Congress, both Republican and Democrat, are not very good at funding the laws they pass. Of course, we could always insist that they not get a pay raise for the next decade so they can help fund it.

Anyone ever think of where the extra 3.4 billion dollars will come from to cover this entitlement?? Yes, from the increase in your taxes. I also wonder how much special interest “pork” was tacked on to this bill before it faced opposition. There is always two sides of a story and unfortunately our wonderful liberal press only presents one.

I’m a veteran (56 years ago) used the GI Bill of that time…$3oo per month which was to cover everything…so I worked along while studying…first to have graduated from high school in my family (lower middle class) it opened my life for me…was fortunate to get a Masters degree and Doctorate…four children who all have a Masters Degree…thank god for the GI Bill…my family has given back what was given to me…it is a great investment for our country, as well as a good payback to those who have given so much, no matter what war they fought in…

A better education = better job, higher income, higher income tax paid. The government will get their money back. Pay for regular military and Reserves. As a collge instructor, I WELCOME these folks into my class!

As a died in the wool Progressive, it pains me to say this, but the VA’s stance is par for the course – regardless of administration.
When I joined in the late 1970′s the post-G.I. Bill program, the Veteran’s Educational Assistance Program (VEAP), was woefully inadequate. Very few people enrolled and in fact my recruiter was very honest (I know, recruiter+honest=oxymoron) about how bad the program was. When the Montgomery G.I. Bill was instituted, DoD and the VA allowed those who had signed up for VEAP to transition to the new G.I. Bill, and there have been several “grace periods” since then, but they NEVER allowed those who did not enroll in VEAP to enter the new G.I. Bill program. There were too many of them to accomodate.
As a result, only those of us “VEAP era non-participants” who were able to earn our college degrees while on active duty were able to get funding (through the Tuition Assistance Program). Since retiring, I’ve earned my J.D., once again without any G.I. Bill assistance.
It is a function of the bureauracy – limited budget funding… administrativve difficulties… yada yada yada – to resist sweeping program changes. It was a fact of life under the Clinton Administration as well as the Shrub Administration.

Now that the election is coming up the libs appear to be supporting the vets. But they haven’t been doing that for the last so many years. They were opposed to pay raises, health care and some other benefits for the military. So, who is the hypocrite here? I believe they are just doing this for political gain. After all, they don’t care about the military.

I recently graduated from college using my GI Bill, the other vets and myself joked that we’d take a pay cut when we got a “real job” because a vet could receive the GI Bill, Pell Grants, and unemployment! Also I worked for the VA helping other Vets on campus for minimum wage, but it was tax free. Some politicians are just trying to get a sound bite.

This is one of the better ideas coming from our congress – and of course, Mr Bush is against it. He is only for “supporting the troops” when they are dying to support his little war – once they come back, they have no more use for him and they are swept under the rug.
How he and his fellow repubs sleep at night, I cannot imagine. This also falls in line with him denying the extra .5% in the military pay COLA – according to him, its “not necessary” – hmmm, what a crock!
IMPEACH and get some new blood in our “representatives” – this country has slipped so badly from where we used to stand…sigh…..

Typical Bushie hypocrisy! Just as they are concerned for children only before they’re born, they are SOOOOOOOOO concerned about the troops in Iraq but wash their hands of them as soon as they return stateside.

Real Combat Soldiers deserve a 100% free ride. If you don’t believe that they do, you are a REMF or a Republican, but you sure as heck never served in the combat infantry, artillery, engineers or other combat positions.
The government wastes more $$$ than this will cost. Make Halliburton find the $2 Billion in cash that it lost. Does that seem unfair to
the Republicans and REMFs who are reading this?
Finally, just because one or two of you made it through school just fine, every school and every state doesn’t handle Vets and school in the same manner. If you don’t need the money, don’t take it. Simple. If you do need the money, we should pay.
This is not welfare; rather, it is workfare. Those Vets willing to finish their education before entering the workforce raise the bar for everyone in industry and the professions.
Subsidize the Vets, not the Oil Companies, Pharmaceutical Companies and Insurance Companies. When will you non-combat, Republican types open your eyes?
Sam
US Army Special Forces, 1967-72
RVN Vet, Combat Soldier

Take $5.4 billion per year from Halliburtons corporate welfare contracts… That alone will pay for the program………..Molacai

The RNC. The GOP, and the Bush administration is against anything that is good for our society. The Vets have paid their dues and deserve our gratitude. The Bush misadministration is for Corporate America, no bid contractors, inflated contracts for his cronies. and subsidies and give-away tax cuts for the rich. The Bush misadministration is not for Justice, whether it be legal, economic, or human justice. No, no, no, is the mantra designed to crush the will of the people. The American peoples will cannot be crushed–30% are mad as hell and are willing to fight!

adversity: You are right on! They only care about the ‘idea” not the actual person. Total hyprocricy at its finest.

Now isn’t this just what BUSH & his CHICKEN HAWKS are all about! Nothing left to SAY!

As a Vietnam-era vet from Texas, I attended college part-time and worked for a railroad full time. I exhausted my GI Bill educational benefits within the 10-year alloted time frame without graduating because of work and job transfers.
I retired in 2000 and returned to college in August, 2002, under provisions of The Hazlewood Act for residents of Texas upon entry into military service and who have exhausted their GI Bill educational benefits.
100% payment for 150 credit hours of tuition and most fees at any State-funded school is provided and I graduated in May, 2006, paying approximately $58 for each of eight semesters. I am now attending graduate school and costs are much greater and, with the Spring, 2007, semester as an example, one three-hour class with tuition and fees came the $1,358.00 and I paid $49.00.
To this date, I have 105 credit hours remaining and that will take me through a master’s program and at least half-way into a doctorate program. To that end, in retirement I am a professional college student because I earned that benefit the hard way.
I have asked my Congressman and two Senators, all Republicans, to support a Federal equivalent of the Hazlewood Act because the veterans have earned the opportunity the hard way.
Much unlike the young Republicans who openly proclaim that they have better things to do with their lives than enlist for active duty service.

As an Iraqi freedom vet, mother of two, and a full time college student I would benefit so much from this bill. Books and tuition are so expensive I’ve had to use loans and credit cards on top of grants and the GI bill. A free education would be the nicest thank you I’ve every received.

What is it going to take before this nation WAKES UP and puts the FIRE to the keys of Congress to IMPEACH bush and cheney? This last 7 years has been the worst, most humiliating years (nationally speaking) in my life… and I am an old geezer too.

I wonder if you red states dummies will ever wake up? You keep voting yourselves into the poor house with the Repubs, and you wonder why you are broke.

I went back to college at a ripe
old age of 28; studied hard and
got my BBA at age 32. I also had
a family to support. For family
reasons, my wife had to stay home.
I supported them and met every
educational expense by use of the
GI Bill, a VA guaranteed loan and
a partime job. Yet, there times I
came within an eyelash of quiting.
The Administration talks the talk
now this is one chance for it to
walk the walk. Thus far, it just
talks the talk. We owe all of
the regular military and guardsmen
more than we can ever repay. This
is one way to actually demonstrate
our appreciation.

Do the math on this – if 2b covers 75% why would it add 5.4b to cover the last 25%? Even using the flawed VA fear factor – 7.4 Billion annual.
For 7.4 billion$$ ANNUAL we can put 450,000 kids through college.
For 7.4 billion$$ we can keep 150 / 200K soldiers in Iraq / Afghanistan for about 2.5 WEEKs. This translates to a ballpark figure of 154 billion ANNUAL.
Of course the powers that be do not profit nearly as much from education as they do from war and fear.
That same 154 billion could fund the GI bill for apx. 21 YEARS (sans inflation) has been spent to fight a war over a series of LIES. Follow the money trail – see for yourself who profits. We as Americans have been duped. Be proud to be American – be Smart. Do not fall for the scam – our Children’s future is at stake.

I wonder how Mitt Romney feels about this considering he too never served. Neither did any of his 5 boys. And they are supposed to love the veteran better than the Democrats?

As someone who benefitted from college veteran’s aid, I think it is especially helpful to those in today’s military, because today’s military is entirely volunteer, and that means comprised mostly of people who needed a job…….so badly that even war was acceptable!
You will never bring people out of poverty, as long as the wealthy control the country, because they do not choose to share the wealth……not even for education.
If this country spent more money on its poor, instead of the rest of the world’s poor, we might return to the once prominent position, we no longer enjoy, among the countries of the world.
We can snde billions of dollars to foreign countries, to mostly line politician’s pockets, but we don’t want to help our young people get an education?
Let’s get real.

To the disabled vet from TX – I believe you’re referring to a state program – something that is available only in TX and IL (where I am). I believe WI has recently offered the same to their own veterans who have WI as their home of record.
We’re fortunate our states care as much as they do about their own – most states don’t offer 100% tuition (to a state run university, etc.).
I had the original GI Bill – the IL benefits are separate from that (4 MORE years of aid).
ANY assistance to veterans regarding education is a good idea. Bush and the GOP prove just how little they truly “support the troops” by rejecting out of hand Webb’s idea. Disgusting.

Let’s see under the Republicans for the past twelve years, we have seen the returning injured vets laying in urine, dirty moldy rooms (at Walter Reed), and of course it was simply “outrageous” when the media toured the place and called them on it, they all ran around like they were new people on the block and didn’t know anything about anything.
So, it doesn’t surprise me when it comes to the Repubs and Vets, our military is simply “tools” they need to invade countries and kill people, and if they get killed oh well, we will offer the next guy more money to enlist.
The Republicans are oh so patriotic wrapping themselves in the flag with their cute little support our troops sticker on their cars and by God anyone saying anything negative about Iraq will be branded a traitor. But to have their own kids serve, well you all heard Mitt, they are showing their patriotism by getting him elected! How truly pathetic these people are!

Oh noes! We can’t have monies going to fund services for Americans that would make us communists.

I’m a poster child for what the ‘old’ GI bill was about. After dropping out of college in 1967 because I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. I ended up doing a tour of duty in the Army. Once I got out I didn’t really have much in the way of marketable skills and just kind of bounced from trivial job to job until 1976 when I knew what I wanted to do. Without the GI bill to help I could never have afforded to go back to school at the age of 27. But I did and now have been working for a major aerospace company (starts with B) for 29 yeas as an Electronics and Computing System specialist. It’s a crime that todays veterans don’t have the resources and support that I did 30 years ago to give them and their families what the GI bill gave me and mine.

May I remind everyone that the current “Montgomery” GI Bill is not free to the soldier. To be even eligible for education benefits, the soldier must elect to contribute $1200 while still in service.
Montgomery orginally developed the bill for peacetime service personnel. The fact that it still cost s $1200 bespeaks an Administration in denial.
It does not surprise me at all that the Administration opposes the bill. After all, look at the military service records of both Bush and Cheney!
I might also add that the current GI Bill is in need of simplication. It is a welter of differing eligibility requirements and benefit levels.

Just because some of you had your tuition paid doesnt mean everyone else gets the same benefits. Maybe you should look and see what is offered to the Vets before you comment that you had everything paid for. I am a certifying official for VA benefits at a University and they DO NOT PAY 100%. If you think they do you need to pull your head out. And if you think that most will get grants and scholarships you really ar that stupid and should sue your school for a refund since it didnt do any good. They deserve better then what they are getting which isnt very much

We taxpayers are paying $11 million in Iraq every hour-$12+billion a month and yet Bush and the Republicans in Congress are nickel and diming us to death. They want to cut a given program(usually one that deals with infrastructure-bridges, levees or social safety nets) because that will save $5 billion over 10 years(but will really end up costing us much, much more). WHAT???? $12 billion each and every month spent on Iraq. And then the Republicans and Bush talk about fiscal responsibility. They really must think that the American taxpayer is THAT stupid to fall for that ever again.

I just got out three years ago. I have to tell you with the current cost of tuition the GI Bill is not enough. Getting the Gi bill was a struggle to begin with. It took them 3 months to send the first check and most of my tuition came out of my pocket. I am going to be frank with you as brave as these young women and men are, they deserve every benefit we can give. Please , they are willing to give up their lives for us, why can’t we do something small and return our gratitude by giving a free education to them.

Total BS. They are quibbling over an extra 5 billion a year when the war will cost upwards of a trillion ?
The GI Bill is stingy for what you give up in the service. Some states, like Texas and Illinois provide 100% free tuition for vets, but the majority do not.
I maxed out earning approx 30k per year. Civilians that endured my hardships were making 6 figures.
This is only fair.

Wouldn’t this cut into corporate welfare and tax breaks for the ultra wealthy? They are the primary and actually the only concern of the republicans and this administration of disaster.

A bill like this will likely pay for itself just from all the extra taxes collected when the GIs who get their college education start to earn a lot more money. Having the government pay for education is not a burden on the government but actually helps. We end up being more competitive and make that investment back in the long run. I’d love to see the GI bill expanded and would also like to see some big improvements to the student loan program.

As several other posters have noted, the WW2 GI Bill is the ONLY Federal program ever to show a Profit.
Talk about running Govt. like a Business!
Also, for those who express doubts about the GI Bill’s “Americanness”, remember that the Preamble to the Constitution expressly states that one of the few legitimate purposes of a Government is to “Promote the General Welfare”
Education certainly does that!

It is sad to read today’s vets touting how ‘good’ their GI bill is. As a veteran of the Vietnam times I used the GI bill to get my degree in the 1970s. School were much cheaper and one could get by and study while on the GI bill, if one did a bit of work summers. It was not luxury and the amount, but one did not have to go into high debt either. The government subsidized me w/GI bill money they immediately got back in taxes w/in the first two years after my graduation. Good business for all.
Today’s kids have been brainwashed by the right wing to think that things are decent when in fact they are getting screwed by the corporate elite. My WWII veteran colleagues tell me their GI bill was WAY better than mine so things are going in the wrong directions for veterans.
With the draft dodgers George Bush Jr. and Richard Cheney lying the U.S. into wars for oil many more veterans are going to be getting screwed over.

You know, the way a country treats its veterans, is a complete profile of the how the country treats its citizens. What more could a person sacrifice and still not get every benefit a country has to offer? Seriously, this sickens me more and more each day and has for years now since Bush/Repubs took office. The Walter Reed scandal was not even the tip of the ice berg.
Scott, looking at how this administration and its party operate, do the math. Of course they did it on purpose. The cruelest most despicable thing you couldn’t image these people doing, they go right ahead and do straight in everyone’s faces. It’s disgusting and horrific, especially how these folks wave a flag in hopes of pushing massive nationalism so no one will question their motives. They’ve been pulling the wool over people’s eyes for years. Why do you think they scream so loudly? They don’t want you to look at what’s actually going on behind them. Disturbing.
At the very least I can thank you and your friend for your service. We are in fact fighting for you and the rest of the country.

The college tuition money that is supposed to help vets re-integrate into society is gone with the tax cuts that Bush gave the top 1% of American rich guys. It is gone along with the money that was supposed to go to uninsured kids and to repair New Orleans. It is gone and will not be returned to the coffers of the government until after Bush is out of office along with the other draft dodger, Cheney.
It is okay to send soldier to Iraq by lying but it’s not okay to support them when they return ready to get on with their lives.

I agree that our veterans should be able to go to college for free. But, being a lower-middle income person who works every day, but will not be able to send my kids to college, they will have to get loans, grants or whatever is out there, I certainly cannot afford to pay more taxes to support this financially. If I could, I would. My son is thinking about enlisting just so he can go to college. Why can’t the universities allow these veterans some type of financial break and eat the difference in cost?

Squeenter has no problem with increasng the education benefits, just cut the dickens out of every wasteful gov’t program. If you’ve seen the recent predictions about america’s future from the comptroller/GAO, you know we’re in big trouble if our pols don’t quit making more promises of bigger gov’t, more entitlements etc. and start cutting the budget!
These pols are just buying votes for themselves at the cost of the entire nation’s future. We’re screwed if they don’t shape up.

If I read this right, the current cost of paying 75% is 2 Billion, and the proposed 100% would be 5.4 Billion? Looks like the congressmen pushing this plan could benefit from some education in mathematics.
And as far as lowering standards. A professional army like ours can eventually only consist of mercenaries…particularly if the incentive to join is CASH and not DUTY.
The “greatest generation” was a generation of draftees. We need to bring back the draft and insist our next generation knows something of duty and honor.

We as Americans must come together to preserve the readiness of our armed forces, the greatest military in history, for our troops and our national security. It looks as if President Bush will not increase gas taxes to fix bridges, badly in need of repair. There is more than 73,000 bridges in the United States which are rated “structureally defincient”. Instead of proposing his own plan to repair the nation’s infrastruture, he just keeps on attacking the spending priorties of Congress. It seems Bush again with the backing of the “rubber stamper” Republicans all they seem to do is to lecture Congress about proper investment for our country, then Bush ups and goes on another vaction, so far he has taken 418 days of vaction since he illegally in my opinion became President. It seems George Bush blows taxpayer money in Iraq while the nation is deteriorating. Maybe it is a good idea if Bush and Cheney stayed on vaction and let the Speaker of the House run the country. In my opinion, under this tyrant Bush things like helping the veterans, fair pay for our troops especially the lower rank ones is not on his or the “rubber stampers” Republican agenda.

I served in Afghanistan and got out of the National Guard. I received my CIB and filled through the VA for education benefits. The VA screwed up and says not that I am out I do not qualify for benefits and that I have to be an actively drilling member in order to receive them. Now I have to pay back $2881.00 for money I used to go to school. I served six years in the National Guard. And spent eleven months in Cuba and twelve in Afghanistan. I was honorably discharged and I receive no education benefits.

I’m reading a lot of comments worrying where the extra $3.4 billion will come from. We are now spending that much in Iraq every 10 days or so. I think it’s managable. The initial excuse was that it would make the program “cumbersome”, not that it’s not affordable.
According to Pres. Bush, we’re not paying for Iraq now, are we? All he’s been doing is doling out more tax cuts to those who don’t really need it. Why would we pay for this?
It’s pretty hypocritical, don’t you think?
As far as who’s gotten relief and whether it’s been fully paid, wouldn’t it be better to concentrate on school full time, and not have to worry about housing expenses or how much money you’ll have to spend on books?
Full VA educational benefits are something that should be a no-brainer and yet, the false flaggers are complaining about it. What a shame.

75% what schools are these guys going to total gi benefits with the $600 kicker only total around 44,000 in california my older bro paid 16,000 a year and that was back in 1998 at i was reading that at berkely a 4 year degree will run into $100,000 altogether(berekeley website)from there student budget, and the vocational programs im looking into (supposedly top quality) range anywhere from 45,000-72,000 and thats tuiton only, and there is no on campus housing leaving me to come up with 1000s of dollars on my own to take loans for because theres no time for work in accelerated programs. So come on 75% my ass try less than 50$ if you want to go to a real school, and thats only if you go full time the less hours you take the less money you get (again wheres the time for work)