by Katie Fretland
No lawmakers were present at President Bush's signing of a $162 billion war-spending bill today, but White House Press Secretary Dana Perino notes: "They're all out of town." Congress is out for a July 4 break.
The bill, however, will double GI bill college benefits for troops and veterans and provide funding for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through the end of Bush's presidency and even further, depending on what the next president decides about the war.
The bill adds more than $650 billion to the Iraq war and $200 billion for the war in Afghanistan. Democrats had tried to force troop withdrawals, but failed.
"I appreciate that Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed to provide these vital funds without tying the hands of our commanders and without an artificial timetable of withdrawal from Iraq," Bush said.
The new GI bill offers troops and veterans free tuition to the equivalent of the most expensive school in their state and a housing stipend. Those who have served three years in the military are eligible.
Sen. John McCain was one of the people who Bush thanked for his work on the GI Bill expansion. McCain was hesitant on expanding the bill for fear troops would leave early. Although he was absent for the vote on the bill, he pushed for legislation that would allow veterans to transfer benefits to their spouses or children and for use to pay student loans.
The transferability provision was included in the final bill.
The spending bill includes funding for other initiatives, including a partnership with Mexico and other nations in Central America to combat violent drug-trafficking gangs. The bill also includes nearly $2.7 billion for disaster relief, as well as an expansion of unemployment insurance benefits.
Bush thanked members of Congress from both sides of the political spectrum for their cooperation on the bill. Previously, Bush had threatened to veto a bill that had any extraneous spending. The expansion of unemployment benefits was the result of a compromise between Congress, which supported the measure, and the White House, which did not. The agreed-upon version includes a requirement that people to work at least 20 weeks before receiving the extended benefits.
To see a full transcript of Bush's remarks today, click here.
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Comments
Bush's thank you list is curious to me. Of the five Senators Bush thanked, three of them opposed the GI Bill he signed into law today.
Notable on that list who didn't vote for this GI Bill for our troops are three Veterans who have obviously forsaken their own: Senators Graham (R-SC), Burr (R-NC) and, you guessed it, McCain (R-AZ).
McCain was not even present for the GI Bill vote, refusing to put his name behind the principle he had previously championed: (defeat of substantially increased education benefits for Veterans). In case you were wondering, the only other Senator to miss this vote was Tim Johnson who was recovering from brain surgery.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK_9sI7hzAc
Posted by: John E | June 30, 2008 3:03 PM
They are a dysfunctional lot, aren't they ? The Republicans, of course !! Nobody wants to be in the same room with them !! That is a very sad state of affairs, when this President, in his term's waning days, he is still trying to confuse and distort for the American public, the truth!! In this case, who supported this bill and who didn't !!
All I can say to this President: I hope America and the Iraqi people, to name two, will be able to forgive you for your sponsorship of brutality towards another nation, under our flag. That the Iraqi people will be able to forgive us, and our President, for our continued support of such an Unamerican policy, towards another nation, and it's brutal consequences !! It will be a long night before anyone soon, will be able to forgive this President and his two administrations for these dastardly deeds !!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | June 30, 2008 3:41 PM
Since it is the media's job to report the facts, not just what the president says, I'm sure there will be headlines tomorrow correcting the president and saying those senators should not have been thanked. Right, Chicago Tribune? I'll look forward to your coverage of this.
Posted by: Paul | June 30, 2008 4:46 PM
We and our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and GREAT-GREATGRANDCHILDREN are goin to owe the Chinese and BE BEHOLDEN TO THEM until THE END OF TIME!!!
Posted by: Mary in Fort Madison | June 30, 2008 6:55 PM
Another $162 billion up in smoke. While our infrastructure decays, millions of people go without health coverage, our economy is in shambles, etc. etc. . . .
Posted by: Tom in California | June 30, 2008 7:34 PM
Obama's command experience? You're joking, of course. But Bama did help to organize his friend Farrakan's "million man march" that got all of maybe 90,000 to Washington.
Posted by: Jansenn | June 30, 2008 7:35 PM
Just remember, we can't afford national health ins.
Posted by: C.Morris | June 30, 2008 8:20 PM
Obama's command experience? You're joking, of course. But Bama did help to organize his friend Farrakan's "million man march" that got all of maybe 90,000 to Washington.
Posted by: Jansenn | June 30, 2008 7:35 PM
Oh yeah, you're not a 'real' man unless you've invaded some country that hasn't attacked us and caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. AND bankrupted your own country in the process. Now THAT'S leadership.
Posted by: DD | July 1, 2008 1:14 AM
I can't believe people within the USA believe this bill is a use of taxpayer funds. Don't people realize from history that our investment in today's young veterans will result in many decades of high returns. It happened after WWII and will happen again. Kudo's to the government's incite. Also, this bill will greatly assist in the recruitment of needed recruits into the military. A win-win for America and its citizens. By the way, I am in the military and support what we have done. I wish other's could see the good that has come from this mission (helping those who cannot help themselves) ie. children
Posted by: lane | July 1, 2008 1:17 AM
As a former enlistee and a supporter of America, I would like to say that today's signing was a huge step for our service members.
All politics aside, this will help our troops and former troops get the education that they so deserve after serving our country.
The only way that we as a nation will combat "terrorists", poverty, national health insurance, war on drugs, war on "insert whatever you want here" is by becoming more knowledgeable through education.
Education is the foundation to which we make our decisions, both positive and negative. But, the more knowledge we are given, the better choices we can make for our future.
This is a giant step in getting our young Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airman a degree in their hands and more money back into our economy.
Posted by: Phil | July 3, 2008 7:03 AM