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GI Bill Spin by Repubs - Help Rick Reach this Goal -My match

by: allonghorns

Thu Jun 19, 2008 at 05:41 PM CDT

I'm working this election cycle for electing Senators that would be better advocates for our troops. Let me preface this by saying that I am not paid by the Noriega campaign.

I've raised almost $1200 for Noriega and other candidates better for vets than what we have now with my Act Blue Page. I want to get to $1500 as soon as possible.

If I reach this goal tonight I will pledge $400 of my own money this cycle to Noriega and $100 to other candidates on my page. If I can raise an additional $1500 I will pledge another $500.

Let's help Rick. Click on my thermometer to help.

I am disturbed today that the Republicans including McSame are supporting the 21st Century Bill of Rights because it's tied to more funding for the war. They never supported it before and they claim its better now because of the transfer of the benefits to children. They leave out their part about the retention rates.

Read McSame's statment.

With the addition of the transferability provisions sought by Senators Graham, Burr, myself and others to give service members the right to transfer earned G.I. Bill benefits to spouses and children, we will have achieved in offering vastly improved educational benefit while also offering incentives for continued service by the most capable, experienced NCO's and officers. Our courageous NCO's and officers called for this option, and I believe that its inclusion in this bill will help maintain retention levels in all the Services where it needs to be for the well being of the All Volunteer Force and our Nation."

This came from an ABC report. For some reason having trouble with links. Maybe it's my browser

Mind you that before we had all the veterans organizations and a bipartisan coalition supporting this bill. Now we get to listen to McSame posture himself as supporting the troops.

I haven't seen any statements from Cornyn on the GI Bill but I imagine he's going along with McSame.

Cornyn did say today about Obama (From Fox News, yeah I know!!!

Rather than sending a message that he's about change or a new type of politics in America, it really looks and sounds like he's about the same old ... type of politics in America," Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn

Tags: GI Bill, Rick Noriega, veterans, support our troops, (All Tags)

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GI Bill Spin by Repubs - Help Rick Reach this Goal -My match | 5 comments

Plenty of info available on this (2.00 / 1)

Republicans may well support the G.I. Bill compromise because it -- as President Bush requested -- includes transferability of education benefits to spouses and children. The Webb bill did not include transferability and undercut both retention and our ability to keep a trained military that can defend our country.

The Pentagon concluded that transferability would increase retention rates for two-three term enlistees. Bush asked for transferability in his 2008 SOU speech. Transferability was included in the McCain bill, supported by Cornyn, as was a major increase in G.I. bill benefits.

Because McCain and Cornyn held firm, our military will now have what amounts to a education savings account for their family, even if they choose not to return to school after their service. Tell me this is not a highly desireable benefit for our troops.

Interestingly, the House Blue Dog Democrats are threatening to oppose the G.I. bill compromise because the compromise proposed bill is not "paid for" by tax increases or spending cuts.

by: Buck Smith @ Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 03:17:00 AM UTC

so (0.00 / 0)

why did mcsame say he didn't support the bill before because it caused retention problems?

by: allonghorns @ Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 04:55:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Because it would have caused retention problems (0.00 / 0)

McCain and Cornyn objected to the Webb bill because the Pentagon and the CBO both said it would harm retention, by 16 to 40 percent.

But the House Democrats have now negotiated a compromise with the White House that adds increased transferability of G.I. benefits to the bill, as McCain and Cornyn wanted. That provision -- not in the Webb bill that passed the Senate -- will improve retention since troops will know that continued service = a $50+K educational benefit for themselves, their spouse or their kids. Is that clear?

by: Buck Smith @ Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 11:39:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

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I don't buy (2.00 / 1)

The retention argument.

How much do our current benefit offerings harm retention? How much does offering high-dollar bonuses (my friend just got $40,000 sign-on to drive trucks as a PFC) -- that's $40k in his pocket as soon as he finishes AIT (17 weeks into his enlistment) -- harm retention?

As with the benefits we currently offer our servicemembers, those who get out to use their benefits will be replaced by those enlisting in order to gain those benefits and serve their country.

by: Triangulation of Death @ Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 14:12:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

i've seen other data (2.00 / 1)

to the contrary. and the veterans groups all said they did not feel that it would cause retention problems.

by: allonghorns @ Fri Jun 20, 2008 at 16:20:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

GI Bill Spin by Repubs - Help Rick Reach this Goal -My match | 5 comments

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