Modernized GI Bill passes, despite opposition from McCain, Bush

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Once in a while, it's hard to keep a good bill down — especially when it involves expanded benefits for the troops, during a war, in an election year.

The Senate has overwhelmingly passed a new GI bill and billions in new domestic spending as part of the $165 billion Iraq war funding bill pending before Congress.

The 75-22 vote marked a resounding victory for Senate Democrats as well as Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who has battled to expand the educational benefits for soldiers who served in Iraq. The vote was the first critical hurdle in a three vote package on the Iraq war funding bill. The measure also included a 13 week extension of unemployment insurance, home heating assistance and other domestic spending add ons. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, which will top $200 billion with the extra spending. […]

What was most surprising was not that the domestic funding amendment and the GI bill won a majority of the Senate votes, but that half of the Senate's 49 Republicans bucked President Bush and GOP presidential candidate John McCain to back the dramatically expanded GI bill. Many uncertain Republicans stood in the well of the Senate, taking their time to make a decision. Virtually every GOP senator who is politically vulnerable this year voted for the domestic spending, including Sens. John Sununu of New Hampshire and Roger Wicker of Mississippi.

It's interesting how vulnerable Republicans suddenly start to notice the merit of Democratic legislation six months before Election Day, isn't it?

In all 25 Senate Republicans broke ranks with Bush/McCain to support the measure, giving the bill a veto-proof majority. Even Lieberman voted for it. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spoke in favor of the bill and voted for it. McCain, who has repeatedly said he opposes the measure, decided to raise money in California and skipped the vote. All 22 "nay" votes were conservative Republicans.

As it turned out, the debate included some pretty interesting arguments.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/

[Ban Hammer 14,668]

thanks, mccain.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

thanks, mccain.

Yeah, I'm surprised that he wasn't present for the vote because this is really going to come back to haunt him in the general election.

[Ban Hammer 14,668]

thanks, mccain.

Yeah, I'm surprised that he wasn't present for the vote because this is really going to come back to haunt him in the general election.

it already has. i'm voting for hillary.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

thanks, mccain.

Yeah, I'm surprised that he wasn't present for the vote because this is really going to come back to haunt him in the general election.

it already has. i'm voting for hillary.

What if she's not the nominee? How about Bob Barr, the Libertarian?

[Ban Hammer 14,668]

thanks, mccain.

Yeah, I'm surprised that he wasn't present for the vote because this is really going to come back to haunt him in the general election.

it already has. i'm voting for hillary.

What if she's not the nominee? How about Bob Barr, the Libertarian?

she will be

[almaty 19]

alright..a tip of my hat to the GOP,(half of the Senate's 49 Republicans) who backed a good bill along with the dems..

[one...two...tree 2,762]

alright..a tip of my hat to the GOP,(half of the Senate's 49 Republicans) who backed a good bill along with the dems..

It's just too bad it took an election year for them to cross party lines for a bill that deserved bipartisan support.

[alienlovechild 75]

Expanding the G.I. Bill has more to do with politics than any real need. Most people don't know some jobs in the military also are eligible for the bonuses with the college fund. I'm one of the 8% almost used up all of my benefits without the college fund.

"About 70 percent use at least some part of it, said Keith Wilson, director of the education service, but the VA does not track how many earn degrees.

An independent study found that just over half use some part of the benefits, said Ray Kelley of AMVETS, a veterans support group, and only 8 percent use all. "Congress is realizing we're not giving them the benefits we say we're giving them," Kelley said. "They only have 36 months from the time they start using it to the time they finish." That means going to school full time, year-round."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...2802994_pf.html

"The G.I. Bill liason guy at my university told me a lot of vets just don't finish and their degrees.

"The GI Bill is currently worth up to $39,636. This amount is based on the 2007-2008 monthly full-time student payment rate of $1101 multiplied by the 36-month limit. This “payment rate” automatically increases on October first each year. You get the annual increase no matter when you became eligible or begin using it.

The term "36 months of benefits" refers to academic months. This means you will have up to 8 semesters (four years) to complete a traditional academic education."

http://education.military.com/money-for-sc...ill-users-guide