Ending the "GI Tax"
By Wesley Clark
Thanks so much to all of you who participated in yesterday's discussion about the situation in Iraq. I appreciate the healthy, spirited debate, and I hope it's an indicator of the kind of conversations we'll have this week. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to answer every question, but hopefully we'll have more time to flesh some of this out as the week continues.
I'll be spending most of today in Wisconsin, visiting with the people of the state and discussing where our nation needs to go in the future.
Today, I'll be traveling to the Wisconsin state capital in Madison to meet with Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton and State Representative Bob Turner, two of today's most impressive leaders in Wisconsin's fine tradition of progressive politics. We'll be talking about the need for a new GI Bill of Rights to honor the sacrifices being made by the men and women of our armed forces and their families. This is not a new idea.
In 1944, the Congress enacted the original GI Bill first drafted by the American Legion in order to honor the Greatest Generation, who ultimately won World War II. In doing so, the Federal Government supported our returning troops with educational benefits, loans to buy a home, and medical assistance. In fact nearly 8 million veterans went to school under the GI Bill. In effect the GI jumpstarted our economy and created a strong middle class. And in each military conflict since, we have honored the service of our soldiers through a new GI bill.
http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/8/30/9557/43205Go ask questions :hi: