"McBush" Opposed to New G.I. Bill

In researching this bill I noticed that this was first introduced during the 2007 congressional session and it was not allowed out of committee (Democrats took control of congress in 2006) If it were such a good bill why didn't they pass it last year? Why was the bill held until the President needed war funding? Are the congressional leaders playing politics with our troops? According to the Congressional Budget Office http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/92xx/doc9212/s22.pdf This bill will cost the government 51.6 Billion in additional educational expenses over a 10 year period and reduce re enlistments by 16%. Then there is indirect spending increases of 1.1 Billion in the cost to administer the program. The bill also leaves 2 big holes in the program as seen by many of the soldiers. The first is the time limit of 36 months of benefits when it takes between 48 and 56 months to receive a BA Degree. The second complaint I read about was that graduate school was excluded from the program. many of the servicemen and women in today's military are college graduates and would like to continue their education once they leave the military or while in the military. This bill would not allow for graduate school. If you are looking to help the men and women in the National Guard and reserves it requires that they serve two tours to qualify (36 months of Active Duty) Finally why has there not been more discussion on this bill. It has been in congress for 2 years and is rushed through without much debate. I have talked to many service men and women and there are things they would like to see offered that were not discussed. I have two sons in the military and would love to see them get more benefits but lets make it a benefit that they can use and want. Also make it a benefit that will not hurt the military and its ability to function. To me this seemed like a poison bill that was attached to the war funding and it would make the president sign a very large increase in the the National budget and it still may not do what it is intended to do. This issue it too important to pushed through hidden in another bill that must pass. Lets have an open and honest discussion on the merits of the bill.

A veteran is a veteran and they deserve far more than this country can or will ever give them. Didn't they crap on the troops when they came back from Vietnam as well?? Obviously, this is a way to push people away from the military instead of trying to get them to serve our country. They are both just hypocrites. Since when are they worried about expensive?? They haven't seemed to worry about our expensive gas prices...

That is horrible. I can't understand why McCain doesn't support it. They ALL deserve those benefits. They risked their lives over and over again, so they deserve something.

It seems quite odd to me that the politicians that say they support the troops and call those who oppose their own war efforts traitorous refuse to support the troops with an education or even simple armor to protect themselves. Yet they are willing to spend Billions (that's right, billions with a B!) on missile systems even the Pentagon says we don't need and won't spend a few million on benefits for our own troops. It really makes me wonder where the loyalty of our own government lies. Where is THEIR patriotism?