And besides being pissed that Chimpy has made one more American drop out of college and join the race for lifetime underemployment, I’m pissed at the Democrats. I’m slow and can’t keep up with all the developments these days, but since when has the Montgomery Bill (education for vets) package been so shitty? And for how long are the Democrats going to sit around and do nothing about it? I remember the package when I was in, and for some reason it didn’t seem as bad as it’s described in that clip- I seem to remember there was more. Even if I’m wrong, isn’t right now a great time to get moving on something like this? It’s a win, win, win situation, no voter would be against it and no Republican could be for very long or very loudly in the last few months of the campaign cycle. Sigh. It just seems so obvious to me.
That the Dems’ new “VETS” education package doesn’t increase the amount of money given for books or tuition, I’d have to call it “better than warm shit.” Just what our returning vets deserve, right? Christ, what hypocrites and idiots rule us.
Back when service meant something, the original GIBill made sure a vet could go to any school that accepted him/her, full tuition and books were covered. Which is only half what the college experience costs, but never mind that. Roosevelt honored vets in this way, and Ronny Raygun made it go away. So I guess Republicans like to keep vets stupid as well as unsheltered, without health care, in combat for years and years with no end in sight…
But I don’t forget that the Mighty Overlord Kos went in as a Republican and came out the All Powerful Master of the Liberal
Universe he is today. Still: his sacrifice is worth all the free education we can give him, isn’t it? Isn’t it?
Front page
What bill are you talking about?
Are you talking about Webb’s Post-9/11 G.I. Bill? It’s S.22 and HR 2702.
The bill provides veterans who are in an approved program of education with benefits to cover tuition, fees, room and board. That also includes tutorial assistance and licensure and certification fees.
not webb's
listen to the radio selection, they mention the one they mean. if they have represented a bill incorrectly, let me know.
Recently Out of Military
I’ve been out since 2005 and here is my view of what is wrong with the GI Bill.
Some folks get the GI Bill confused with the “money for college” bonus that some MOS’ get. The GI Bill is still the thing you put money into the first two years of your service and get it back to use towards college. The problem is that it varies depending on where you live and it really hasn’t raised that much in over a decade. Anyone who has looked at college prices know how much those costs have raised, the GI Bill has not gone up with it.
It is also a monthly stipend. In my area I would get $900 a month, which is great, but it doesn’t help me when I don’t have that money to pay for classes to begin with. I only get that AFTER I am in school.
shane, there's an old saying about generosity
“it’s crueler to buy a poor man an expensive toy he can’t afford to power/play with than it is not to give him anything.”
or something like that, i forget.
but the point is that this is basically what is happening to our vets. “free health care, benefits for life, signing bonuses! rahrahrah USA!” and then when they get in the find out that there is no bigger liar on this earth than the DoD and the various subagencies “responsible” for vet care and benes. and our pols do little to change that, except when standing next to a legless vet helps them with a pr moment.
thanks for sharing, and for your service.
Yeah, it's a different bill
Here’s what I found on IAVA’s website:
This bill was sponsored by Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) and Representative Susan Davis (CA). IAVA is saying the bill is supposed to close loopholes in the GI bill that caught vets like Todd Bowers (who now works for IAVA, BTW), who were being hassled by collection agencies over their loans, and help returning veterans complete their degrees.
There’s also no question that GW fucked up by expecting Bowers to pick up where he left off before deployment. Whoever that prof was deserves a major kick in the ass.
At a town meeting I attended, Webb talked about his bill and it sounded pretty generous. I also know Webb submitted his bill early on in this Congress, which is why it has a low number. But it also sounded like it’s supposed to supersede the Montgomery GI Bill but I’m not 100% certain about that.
corrine, now i remember webb's bill
it sounded great, too good to be true. and you’re right, that’s why it hasn’t gone anywhere either.
The process has been very slow
According to Thomas, the bill was introduced on January 4 and was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Hearings weren’t held until July 31, though.
the process dodge! beautiful
item: vets are suffering *right now,* from a combination of (mostly republican) inattention, incompetence, underfunding, and plain old malice. what’s the right response, dem leadership? force the issue, go all out in the media and mailing privs and at home offices, with a set of comprehensive vet-support bills tied to war funding written by popular members (some of whom are vets), or
put them all in committee and forget about them?
we have our answer. the dems are “powerless.”