American Legion Breaks with Bush, McCain on GI Bill

[babylonsister]

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1231

American Legion Breaks with Bush, McCain on GI Bill
by: Chris LeJeune
Mon May 12, 2008 at 12:18:24 PM EDT

Last Friday, the American Legion released a statement in support of Senator Webb's proposal for a new GI Bill. As a Legionnaire myself, I am very happy to see that they are supporting the needs of veterans.

"When The American Legion championed the original Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, even some veterans groups complained that it would 'break the treasury,'" National Commander Marty Conatser said. "Instead, the GI Bill transformed the economy and has been widely hailed as the greatest domestic legislation Congress ever passed. The critics were wrong then and they are wrong now."

As for concerns about the cost of the new GI Bill:

Conatser pointed out that while the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill, S-22, would cost $51.8 billion over 10 years, "it is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the sacrifices made by America's servicemembers and their families."

Then there are concerns about retention:

Concerns that the new GI Bill, proposed by Sen. James Webb, D-Va., would hurt military retention are unfounded, according to The American Legion. "This bill would encourage young men and women to join the military," Conatser said.


This is wonderful news. I know that this bill has been a top priority for the VFW and VoteVets for some time now. The more veterans groups who support this bill, the more likely it is to succeed.

[Submariner]

1. Under the Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944

I got free VA health care for life when I got out in '69. Now under the mandated Romneycare health insurance scam in Mass the state wants to clip me for $10,400 per year. From free to $10K a year thanks to that yellow-bellied draft-dodging coward Dick "5 deferment" Cheney and AWOL-boy who deserted his TNG unit.

I doubt that I'll get my free health-care back with an Obama presidency, but at least I won't get caught up in these mandate scams set up by the insurance companies for their political pals.

It's about time the American Legion stopped kissing Bush's ass.

[liberal N proud]

2. About God Damn Time they broke with the riech wing

I never understood how the regime gripped that once great organization through the fake patriotism.

[mike3121]

3. Federal money goes bye bye

Bush oversaw the hugest rise in farm subsidies ever, 250 billion. Now he wants to veto the next proposed 300 billion farm subsidy program. They provide government check to not grow crops. A factory "farmer" and his wife (or any other family member living on the farm)will each get yearly checks of $ 300,000 for life. Sorry to say the dems under Pelosi support this. The point is the government has this massive amount of free money for powerful farm companies yet refuse to help out the vet with the new GI bill.

[wmbrew0206]

4. I put this in another thread but it applies here

As a Marine Officer, I disagree with Mr. Conatser on the retention issue. Mr. Conatser seems to mistake retention for recruiting.

Here is why it is a retention issue:

Webb's Bill offers so many benefits that an E-4 could make as much going to college as he could by staying in the service.

The military needs to get a certain % of its first termers to re-enlist for three reasons:

1. These are your junior NCOs. These are the people that run the Army, Navy, Air Forces, and Marines. Every service is only as good as its NCOs and if you a higher % of them get out because the benefits they get fromone term are so good that they can make almost as much by going to college it will have a HUGELY negative impact on the military.

2. The costs associated with Webb's bill. I'm not talking about what it will cost to give the benefits, but the cost to the military in having to train a lot more recruits to make up for all the junior NCO's who got out.

3. Time. When that E-4 leaves the service for college instead of staying in, he is taking four years of experience with him. That is four years of experience the military has to invest in someone else and four years of experience that that E-4 could have imparted to those brand new E-1's and E-2's he'd be in charge of.

[alstephenson]

5. K & R

[nichomachus]

6. The Legion is getting what it deserves

They supported Bush and his criminal policies for eight years -- screw 'em.

[formercia]

8. The Legion was founded by Bill Donovan, former head of the OSS

WWI hero and Knight of Malta. The Knights pushed for this little Crusade.

[formercia]

7. The GI BIll was the best investment the Federal Goverment made.

The increase in educational level of veterans and the resulting increase in wages brought in many times more in income tax paid back to the Treasury then was paid out for educational benefits.

Anyone who opposes this bill should be sent to Iraq and made to walk point with a big radio on their back.

[jazzjunkysue]

9. If he's lost the fundamental church, and the veterans, who's left?

Oh, yeah. I forgot about the KKK.

[samsingh]

10. repugs don't care about GIs. if they did they would not send them

to get killed in oil wars.