Who Supports the Troops (and who doesn't)

There are many ways of supporting our military. You can give up golf...like President Bush has done. Or, you can attempt to pass some legislation, like the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. Yes, the Bill is expensive at an estimated $2.5 billion per year. But that is about what we spend in Iraq in one week. A years worth of war funding would provide GI Bill benefits to our troops for over 50 years.

The Bill improves veteran health care, increases survivor benefits, pays a $1000 bonus to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and improves health and education benefits for veterans. That is how one supports troops.

The Senate Bill S.22 is sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb and has 57 cosponsors. Notably absent as a cosponsor is Sen. John McCain. The House Bill H.R. 5740 is sponsored by Rep. Harry Mitchell and has 295 cosponsors. Notably absent as a cosponsor is Rep. John McHugh. President Bush has his own reasons for not supporting the Bill, among them that the Bill is too expensive.

People love to talk about supporting troops, but when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is....not so much.