Democrats pushing new GI Bill

[babylonsister]

Democrats pushing new GI Bill
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Posted May 17, 2008 4:53 PM
The Swamp

by Matthew Hay Brown

On Thursday, House Democrats tied what they call the GI Bill for the 21st Century to the latest round of war spending for Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, they're linking it to Memorial Day.

"My friends, Memorial Day is fast approaching," Rep. Xacvier Becerra says today in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "As we reach out to embrace our loved ones or their memory, let us feel the pride in knowing we did everything we could to honor and repay them for their service."

The House passed legislation this week that would guarantee the equivalent of in-state tuition at the most expensive public university, plus a monthly housing stipend, to qualified veterans with three years of active-duty service.

The bill's cost, estimated at $52 billion over the next 10 years, would be covered by a surtax on individuals earning more than $500,000 per year and couples making more than $1 million.

The Pentagon has expressed concern that the benefit could affect troop retention. Supporters say counter that it would be an effective recruiting tool. The legislation now goes to the Senate.

"President Bush and our Republican colleagues in Congress should join Democrats to make these policies the law of the land so that a grateful nation can repay its heroes," Becerra says.

The complete address follows:

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/05/democrats_pushing_new_gi_bill.html#more