"...Proposed GI Bill for Veterans =3F a Source of Controversy
By Andrew Duncan
12:53, May 12th 2008
Veterans are not surprised to find that George W. Bush and John McCain
oppose Senator Jim Webb's new G.I. Bill. G.I. Bill S22. The Post-9/11
Veterans Educational Assistance Act, authored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va, will
increase founding for educational aid received by veterans, but it will
revise the allocation methods. The bill would drastically upgrade the
Montgomery G.I. Bill; their plan is to offer most veterans who serve in
the war compensation for the most expensive
public schools in their state, but also a living stipend.
Sen. John McCain opposes the bill, saying the measure could hurt retention
in a time of war. McCain, along with Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., and Sen.
Richard Burr, R-N.C., introduced his own plan, which would encourage
troops to stay in the military because it would increase benefits more for
troops who serve 12 years or more.
"McCain, Graham and Burr want to reward members. If they serve longer,
they get increased benefit," said Kevin Bishop, spokesman for Senator
Lindsay Graham.
The Montgomery G.I. Bill was initially projected as e set of rules
designed to help veterans assimilate into civilian life; the law's key
points were education and training, loan guaranty for homes, farms or
business, and unemployment pay. Millions of veterans had the chance of
redemption after they returned from World War II. In 1947, veterans
accounted for 49 percent of college admissions; in eight years, the number
increased to 7.8 million of 16 million World War II
veterans.
Webb and others said the education of veterans is an investment and the
country's troops deserve a good education when they return home. ..."
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