Bush Threatens to Veto Webb's GI Bill

Speaker Pelosi's office has put out a statement noting that in a press conference at the Rose Garden earlier this week, President Bush threatened to veto the Iraq War Supplemental if Sen. Webb's GI Bill was attached to it:

Bush Administration Rejects Bipartisan Veterans Measure

Opposes New GI BILL to Restore a Free College Education to Veterans,

Grow the Middle Class, and Invest in our Economic Future

As a bipartisan coalition of members of Congress came together with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to press for a new GI Bill to provide full college scholarships to returning service members yesterday, the Bush Administration said no.

In a letter, Defense Secretary Gates declared his opposition: “Gates also restated long-standing Pentagon opposition to GI Bill educational benefits that are too generous, making it more likely for service members to leave the military to attend college. “Serious” retention issues are expected if benefits exceed the average monthly cost for a four-year public college, including tuition, room, board and fees, Gates said.” [Army Times, 4/30/08]

President Bush also warned at a Rose Garden news conference that he would veto any additions to the Iraq Supplemental spending bill, even as Democratic leaders consider whether to include the GI Bill as an amendment to Mr. Bush's $108 billion supplemental request for 2008 war spending. "I will not accept a supplemental over [$108 billion] or a supplemental that micromanages the war," he said.

Republican Former Senate Armed Services Chairman John Warner calls the Pentagon's opposition "very thin and tenuous." "The flip side of that is putting a big piece of cheese out there will induce more qualified people to join just to get this. It should be a tremendous incentive for recruitment.” [Politico, 4/ 30/08]

This measure will offer the 1.7 million brave men and women who have served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan educational benefits, on par with those provided to veterans of the World War II era -- making military service more attractive, and strengthening our sagging economy. The original GI Bill launched millions of families on a course of prosperity and toward achieving the American Dream—and set the American economy on the right course after a draining war.

Once Again, Bush Administration Turns its Back on Veterans:

President Bush has a long record of opposing efforts to help our veterans:

• Opposed A Bigger Military Pay Raise. Last year, the Bush Administration opposed the House-passed Defense Authorization bill – objecting to a range of provisions including those that increased military pay by 3.5 percent calling it “unnecessary.” (The Administration proposed a 3 percent increase.) Ultimately, Congress enacted this increase into law.

• Opposed Ending the Disabled Veterans Tax. In 2003, President Bush threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act over this provision. That year, the White House was forced to drop its opposition, as Congress passed legislation that took a first step in ending the disabled military retirees.
• Opposed TRICARE for Reservists. In 2003, Secretary Rumsfeld recommended that the President veto the defense bill if TRICARE for Reserve forces was included. In 2006, the Defense bill finally included TRICARE for Reservists.