May 22, 2008

Senate Passes Bill on Veterans' Tuition Benefits by Veto-Proof Margin

Washington — The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly today to pass a pair of amendments that would significantly expand veterans’ tuition benefits while providing billions of dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The package now heads back to the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed the tuition-benefits measure last week but rejected the war-funds legislation. If the House agrees to the Senate’s war-spending level, the bill will go to President Bush for his veto or signature. If the House does not agree, lawmakers will have to convene a conference committee to negotiate a compromise first.

Either way, lawmakers will have to figure out how to pay for the tuition benefits. The House, which is bound by “pay as you go” rules requiring all new spending to be offset with cuts, has approved a tax increase on the wealthiest Americans. But several senators oppose that plan, so lawmakers may need to find another offset.

There are other potential hurdles as well. President Bush has threatened to veto any spending bill that exceeds his $108-billion cap. Today’s votes in the Senate were large enough to override such a veto, but it’s unclear if the House’s margin will remain large enough once war spending is added to the package.

If the bill is ultimately signed into law, veterans who have served in the military for at least three years since September 11, 2001, would receive tuition aid up to the cost of attending the most-expensive public college in their state, plus a monthly stipend for housing costs. —Kelly Field

Comments

1. Three cheers for lawmakers championing this bill!

   — UTK Alum    May 22, 03:53 PM    #

2. The Senate has shown their support of those brave citizens in uniform that the other 99% of the population appreciates their sacrifice.

   — Jim USAR Ret    May 22, 04:08 PM    #

3. remember McCain is against this veterans’ bill

   — jake    May 22, 04:27 PM    #

4. McCain is against this bill because he very sensibly understands that it is going to bankrupt the military budget if it passes into law.

   Part of being a leader is sometimes having the guts to say NO when the nation can’t afford something. We can’t say YES to everything.

   Wake up!!!!

   Signed: Sister and grand daughter of veterans…

   — NYMOM    May 23, 09:03 AM    #

5. Bailouts, tax cuts for the wealthiest and corporations, colossal waste by for-profit contractors in Iraq and New Orleans, and … the Iraq war itself … and this expenditure is going to bankrupt us?

   — swish    May 23, 10:31 AM    #

6. McCain needs to say “No” to continuing this war which is bankrupting the country. Then there would be funds available to support tuition for veterans.

   — David    May 23, 10:47 AM    #

7. I teach online courses in which approx. 95% of my students are active duty military. Many of them are stationed overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, or other places that they won’t divulge. These individuals look forward to communications with their classmates around the world as a way to stay connected with any sense of normalcy.

   These students also rightfully realize that they will pursue other careers after their time in the military has ended.

   If support for these individuals’ education is threatened, then I would suggest that we need to re-examine our ethical and financial priorities.

   — Dr. J    May 23, 11:05 AM    #

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