McCain trips up the new GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill was established to give veterans the opportunity to improve their lives after their service and put them on a career track. This is one of the best ways that we can honor the service of the young men and women who put themselves in harms way to defend this nation. This is also of benefit to the nation as a whole.

The current GI Bill lacks the “oomph” that it had after WWII. The monthly stipend that a veteran receives now is about $1000 a month, not even enough for some state schools. Recognizing this fact, Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) set out to improve the current GI Bill by proposing a new one. Here’s the long and the short of their new bill:

-Veterans will receive a stipend covering the cost of their education program, up to the cost of the most expensive state school in their state. (With regulations regarding National Guard and Reserves.)

-A monthly stipend to cover living expenses.

-A stipend for books.

-Up to $1200 for tutoring services.

-The cost of one licensing or certification test will be paid, up to $2000.

From someone who is currently receiving the GI Bill to attend the University of Minnesota, I can tell you this all looks pretty great to me! It must look pretty good to other legislators as well, as the bill currently enjoys the bi-partisan support of 56 of our Senators, nearly enough to beat a filibuster. (The number was 57 a couple of days ago, more on that in a minute…)

Unfortunately for veterans, Senator John McCain doesn’t think it is so great. He has introduced an alternative to the Webb-Hagel GI Bill aimed at boosting retention numbers, not at benefiting returned soldiers. Details on the specifics of Senator McCain’s GI Bill have been more difficult to find, but here are a few of the details:

-Veterans will receive a flat education benefit.

-After 12 years of service, a member may transfer their benefits to their children.

-No mention of the Guard or Reserve

As you can see, Senator McCain’s version of the bill is watered down in comparison to the Webb-Hagel bill. If Senator McCain’s bill doesn’t cover the cost of tuition at a school near a vet, s/he must move or go into debt. There is something to be said for keeping our forces intact during this time of multiple occupations, but from my experience in the service, when it was time for a soldier to decide if he was going to re-enlist or return to civilian life, the size of the GI Bill was rarely (if ever) a factor in the soldier’s decision. The decision to stay in or get out was usually formed somewhere, at some point, during a deployment. In other words a soldier’s belief in the cause is uncorrelated to how much money is promised for education. Trying to boost retention rates by offering returned soldiers less than the best benefits possible: (a) won’t work and; (b) is spiteful to the soldiers who serve their time honorably and then choose another path.

Senator McCain’s version of the bill also has the potential to undermine support for the Webb-Hagel version of the bill, and indeed this has already started to happen. Senator Inhofe (R-OK) withdrew his support for the Webb-Hagel version Tuesday and has signed on to Senator McCain’s version.

It would be shameful for this legislation to become locked up because of Senator McCain’s actions.
Both Senator Coleman and Senator Klobuchar have signed on to the Webb-Hagel version of the new GI, but I learned that little tid-bit of information before Senator McCain introduced his version of the bill. My efforts to learn whether either of them will withdraw their support from the Webb-Hagel bill in favor of Senator McCain’s have yielded nothing as of yet, and I will update this post when I hear back from their offices.