The GI Bill of World War II is credited with creating our middle class. When veterans returned, they received benefits of full college tuition, fees, books and a monthly stipend. It is estimated that in return, our government collected seven tax dollars for every dollar spent due to the increased incomes of those college graduates. Even Defense Secretary Gates owes his Ph.D. from Georgetown to the GI Bill and his Vietnam service. Unfortunately since Vietnam those benefits have greatly decreased -- this at a time when our service and National Guard members are spending multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Carrying out a campaign promise, Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) immediately went to work with Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) to create a GI bill for this century. Although he was unsuccessful his first year in the Senate, the two senators -- both Vietnam veterans -- now have 55 additional supporters, including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They need three more to ensure Senate passage of the bill, which is estimated to cost about $2.5 billion a year (roughly the cost of United States operations in Iraq for one week). This bipartisan bill has also been introduced in the House.
But there's an obstacle on the road to rewarding our troops. John McCain, joined by his Republican friends Lindsey Graham and Richard Burr, has quickly cobbled up a bill which would raise the benefits slightly. McCain commented, "I'm a consistent supporter of educational benefits for the men and women of the military. I want to make sure we have incentives for people to remain in the military..."
McCain's bill offers a flat sum for tuition with no attention paid to the differences in the states' tuition. It will not cover all educational costs. It ignores the National Guard and Reserve. It's cheaper but is this what we want for those "who have done all that we asked"?
McCain, who is willing to keep troops in Iraq for 100 years, fears that Webb's bill will lure the troops to leave the service at the end of their enlistment for the rewards of college life.
