Democratic Underground - American Legion Breaks with Bush, McCain on GI Bill

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.

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