Mike O'Brien

The original purpose of the GI Bill was twofold: to give veterans an alternative to unemployment, and to make college and homeownership affordable dreams. I'm going to dive into the former, indeed at that time, many veterans did not learn marketable skills while in the service. That is certainly not true today. Nearly all servicemembers obtain marketable skills, the labor department notes that the unemployment rate among veterans is almost always below that of the rest of the population.

There are two proposals in the news presently: One from Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) and one from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Jim Webb would have benefit swelled to full tuition for four years of instate schooling plus a $1000k per month stipend. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have signed on to the bill, John McCain has not. Hillary Clinton discusses this on her briefly website. Barack Obama skipped the hearing where the matter was debated. This bill would cost about $52B. John McCain, said he would rather pay for it by reducing "pork-barrel" projects than by increasing taxes on those earning over $500k a year.

The Defense Department has two primary complaints to the bill: 1) It is too expensive, and offers a broad sweeping reform that is not needed and 2) It would encourage people to get out of the service and go to school rather than stay-in. The original purpose of the GI Bill was to prevent massive veteran unemployment after WWII.

Lindsey Graham would increase the current monthly stipend from $1100 to $1500 to those who utilizee the benefits with less than 12 years of service and to $1650 for those with 12 years of servic. The latter amount would become $1800 in 2009 and $2000 in 2010 before increasing with the cost of living. Additionaly, those who attend college full time would get an extra $500 each fiscal year. John McCain is a cosponsor who signed onto the bill the day it was introduced.