Webb-sponsored G.I. Bill clears first big hurdle

Do I think that America should pay for their vets to go to college for 4 years YES. The American public owes it to those who have served this country in it's defense for the chance to make a better life for themself. The men and women who defend this great nation cannot be repaid for some of the things they have had to endure, which is a very unfourtunate truth. Every bill that goes through capital hill has some kind of "fluff" in it, so we should just be happy that this one has something positive for those who have served.

Read the bill. It's got more pork in it than support for the veterans!

BTW, I too am a 60% disabled vet, I KNOW what it's like so don't jump me either

It's very easy to see what's going on in Congress by simply logging onto congress,org. From there you can sign up to recieve emails on how your elected reps actually vote and what bills are coming up. I promise you will be amazed at what goes on there. We are the people and we need to be armed with all information we can get, besides the news media.

Most of the posts are missing the point. I too am a disabled Veteran and well understand the Hell of dealing with the VA system. I also understand the idea that we should cover ALL veterans, but I think Jim Webb is tring to do what he can with this do nothing President and his do nothing supporters. we waste BILLIONS every year on Pet projects for the rich senators. Jim Webb is trying to look out for the Veteran. He good as gold in my eyes.

And who is going to fund this? I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and yes I would love to go to college, but not at the expense of every person in the U.S.A.

Please read my Washington Post quoting George Allen and his macaca comment below. Allen knew exactly what he was saying.

George Allen should better focus his use of racial epithets for those occasions when he really really really knowingly, purposefully, and maliciously wants to castigate and belittle a dark-skinned political rally attendee (who's holding a video camera).

The promised veto isn't about Pres Bush denying the troops. It isn't about the idea that a democrat introduced the bill. Bush told congress not to exceed the $108B cap on earmarks (pork) attached to the bill. Congress surpassed that cap. Yes, OUR congress is point blank to blame if this bill fails. Even though it has overwhelming support from both parties, if President Bush veto's it, it will then come back to congress and you will find that the congressional vote will change dramatically and the bill will be completely killed. This is typical politics. Find a favorite bill, attach all your pork to it, then cry that the President doesn't care about the troops and their families when he kicks it back. The slanted media is nothing but a tool in these games. Both parties are guilty of these tactics and we, as Americans, should pick up a pen or log onto a computer, and write a letter to congress telling them to stop.

I doubt he knowingly, purpusely and with malice used that term.

I wonder why the press hasnt gone wild over Obama's remark about he's visited 57 sates and had one more to go, he thinks. Good thing it wasnt Dan Quale.

Assume [sic]

BigMike's reasoning is sound. Nobody in this country would ever set a roadblock for our vets to obtain a college education. But what the Pilot is leaving out is all the "fat". This bill is loaded with earmarks and other pork spending for other parts of the country. Not enough room here but research it for yourself. Strip out the unnecessary spending and the bill would be more crediable.

To sit there and say that George Allen didn't know what macaca meant when he spoke that word is truly amazing. Here's the quote read it for yourself.
"This fellow here, over here with the yellow shirt, macaca, or whatever his name is. He's with my opponent. He's following us around everywhere. And it's just great," Allen said, as his supporters began to laugh. After saying that Webb was raising money in California with a "bunch of Hollywood movie moguls," Allen said, "Let's give a welcome to macaca, here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." Allen then began talking about the "war on terror."

Allen's Mother is from Africa and in some European countries the word is a racial slur. Allen claims he made the word up and didn't know what it meant. A bigger lie by George Allen has never been told.

my complaint isn't with the money being used to care for our troops(i am a vet myself, and this bill effects MY benefits), i was merely commenting as to where the money COULD come from. they complain about the $51M it would cost to make this boost of GI Bill benefits, yet overlook the amount of money being spent in Iraq and Afghanistan. i agree with the reasons for going over there, and i fully support everyone who has been there, is there, and will go there, i just feel that its time has passed. we accomplished what we intended to. the Iraqis are dragging their feet as far as running their own show because its just easier to let us do it. its time for us to take the training wheels off over there and let them run their own country, so that we can get back to taking care of ours.......

Most of you leaving commenst are excately what's wrong with this country, you expect the governement to take care of you. Don't get me wrong, I served for 25 years and recently left the military without any money for college, but we throw thousands at those that serve today. I see no problem with the goverment supporting those in uniform but I care at what cost. Where do you really think the money is going to come from? For those of you that can balance a checkbook you're probably correct, higher taxes,in essence, your pocketbook. Jim Webb was a loser as Sec of Navy (got fired), and he's aloser as a typical Senator. Anyone that goes on NPR is just using that network to get liberal support. In truth, he could careless about those in uniform. This is just a way to get a check in the block and out expense.

George Allen should be more familiar with the racial epithets he uses.

... and endorsed by McSame, can soldiers even leave the service to take advantage of the education benefits? Check for a McCain rider that stipulates that the benefits do not take affect until after our next 5 years in Iraq, as envisioned by John (down from 100 years). Thats when John expects to mission accomplishcize the democracy spreading that junior started.

Befor this war our Vets were being forgotten the budgets for them slowly getting smaller..No one thought for a minute what we were sending our youn men and women into.. now it is shocking..with better life saving techniques and devices are men are surviving with disibilities very bad ones this cost no one is really thinking about...were focussing on the GI Bill when we should be focussing on VA benefits and survivor benefits both are really out dated have to be some psychological problems will be very hard to deal with..even live with..its allready starting to come to light OUR SERVICE MEMBERS DESERVE BETTER If more of our Congressmen and women and our senitors had their sons and doughters serving and returning home..not whole..maybe more people would take notice and old benifits would be improved and approved

all middle class or below? Please, all politicians are wealthy. Heck, Hillary loaned her campaign 5 Million. Wish I had money to loan myself 5 Million. Doesn't matter what party it is, they are all rich, and look after their money before ours.

The reason Bush will veto is because the money is going to come from his rich cronies. God forbid!! if the wealthy should have to pay for anything.

My point is that Allen didnt truly understand the meaning of the word. Do you?

Kind of like Al Gore and the internet, isn't it? J. Webb "Mr. Don't Let Females in the USNA or Combat", what a loser!

I know how it works in the "real world". I know people that have gone through Voc Rehab to get their Masters and/or Doctorate, it depends on your job. If you are already qualified and the extra schooling is not needed, then no, you won't get voc rehab, because as its name states, it is to teach you a new profession so that you can survive on the outside. Now I never used the GI Bill, as I opted out of it, and paid for all my own schooling. The point is, there are things already available to ALL veterans. This bill wants to single out ONLY veterans of Iraq. Which is not right by any means. Your husband should know how bad the compensation is from the VA for disabled veterans, not to mention the fact that the amount you receive from the VA is deducted from your retirement pay. In my case, I only get what the VA pays. We have alot of service members coming back disabled, those are the ones that should be taken care of.

How foolish some of these comments are. Senator Webb trying to fund his son's college w/this new bill? This man is a Sen. and a former Sec. of the Navy under Reagan. He was the first Ass't. Sec. of Defense, a graduate of Georgetown Law School and the Naval Academy and a recipent of the Navy Cross for valor during the VietNam war. I doubt funds are a problem for him! I listened to his interview on NPR several days ago and his compassion and respect for the military in evident. You folks who support all things Bush/Republican need to stop being so partisan. Are you still pouting over Webb's comment to Bush when the Prez asked about his son, serving in Iraq? If people believe in a strong military being necessary for our defense, they best be willing to pay for it.

Not too surprised that the mindless neocon drones here only "talk" but not "walk" when it comes to supporting the troops. Perhaps it's time for them to start having an original (gasp!) thought of their own.

What is sad is the aid that we provide to other countries when so many here could use it. We have people here, including veterans, that have to make a decision daily...eat or medication, because they can't afford both. We need to start taking care of our own, especially our military, and stop sending and spending as much as we do to foreign countries. Even one homeless, hungry vet is too many.

Thank god we have a senator who cares about my son and all of the other military members serving this country.I can't believe some of the garbage I am reading here knocking senator Webb.He is a true american hero who has served his country honorably and proudly and to knock him for trying to help our military members better themselves with a new and improved Gi Bill is disgraceful.Our own US congress woman Thelma Drake says she supports the troops and then votes against the passage of this bill which I find insulting to our troops.

Yes, I think it is a good idea. But, where is the money comeing from? he wants to give those making more than $500K a year a surcharge (additional tax) to pay for it.

Good, Dems sock it to the Rich again! I remeber, back in school, the geeks running away from the Bullies that wanted to steal thier lunch money.

I, a retired veteran, believe that my brothers and sisters in arms should be getting more benefits than the illegal aliens, no-load welfare rats and cowards without honor. So lets take it from them! Send the illegals back(they don't pay taxes) put the welfare rats to work cleaning up the trash in our parks and streets, and send the cowards without honor (pissant politicians) back home.

Web has a great idea, but how will WE pay for it?

I use to say, "Enjoy life before Life enjoys you". I now say, "Enjoy life before the politicians give it to somebody else."

Pres Bush is not going to veto this bill because he doesn't care about the military. He's not going to veto this bill because a democrat introduced it. He's going to veto the bill because he asked for a cap of $108B in earmarks (pork) and congress surpassed that. That's right, he told congress that he would pass the bill if they could control their "out of control" spending, which they have not. This has nothing to do with NOT supporting the troops. This is typical politics for both sides... Find a bill everyone supports and then attach tons of useless spending to it and start crying that no one cares when it gets cut. The media is an important tool in this for those who cry foul so they can get sympathy and rally the dimless to out the other party.

It is truly sad to see this turned into a partisan affair by some of the posters. To state that Sen. Webb does not have the troops best interest at heart is untruthful and unoriginal. As for Lores, this statement:

"He's only a senator becuase the press had field day when Allen misspoke. Moral of the story, never use a foreign word during a campaign."

Is that what it was? Racial insults do not matter if we use a different language to express them aye?

The current GI bill paid my full tuition to a public university and I put money in my pocket while doing it. Now I did not go to a choice school mind you.

I paid 1200 dollars for it in 1990, at the time it was a big chunk of my pay as an E1. Since I left they now have the GI bill kicker that allows them to pay more and get more, a great deal. I do not see the big difference with this new GI bill. I also think Cal should be excluded from any GI Bill money. lol

The hypocrisies from some of these bloggers is leaking day by day. Had this been a Republican idea, they would have been cheering and bragging about how they are the only ones supporting the troops. It's no wonder recrapblicans polictical number is dwindling. The true side of how un-American and un-value they are is spewing from their A***. Thank god George Maccaca Allen is no longer in politic, he was an embarrassment in himself and to all VA. We're getting too much lip service from the do nothing republican.