McCain explains shortcomings in veterans’ educational bill

Sen. Barack Obama’s strategists have seized the day—Memorial Day, that is—by firing on Sen. John McCain’s belief that a bill to upgrade veterans’ educational benefits isn’t sound legislation. You have to hand it to the Obama camp—they picked a timely topic and shot some sound bites to mainstream media.  Problem is the Dem strategists and MSM truncated McCain’s statement and also left out the fact McCain was none too happy with a whole lot of pork in the Supplemental Appropriations Act. Enough pork in fact to make a Sunday barbecue for at least 1 entire state (red or blue).

McCain has a lengthy statement at his official Senate pages—21 other senators and McCain had offered up a different approach—“one that builds on the existing Montgomery GI Bill to ensure rapid implementation of increased benefits. And, unlike S22, we think a revitalized program should focus on the entire spectrum of military members who make up the All Volunteer Force, from the newest recruit to the career NCOs, officers, reservists and National Guardsmen, to veterans who have completed their service and retirees, as well as the families of all of these individuals.”

Aside from the repartee about educational benefits, McCain also noted some seriously non-emergency measures stuck in the SAA. Among them:
• $75 million for the fishing industry
• $10 million for educational and cultural exchange programs
• $3.6 BILLION (all caps on purpose, sorry about the shout) for cargo aircraft the Air Force wants but the Dept. of Defense and Pentagon say aren’t even needed
• And more—go here for the full list.

All I can say is Sen. Nancy Pelosi promised change and she surely has delivered, to the tune of billions of US tax dollars, legislation on copyright matters that puts creatives' works in jeopardy and Dem ideas about suing OPEC that would make the US a sitting duck (how about another country suing us over the price of corn?). 

You’d think the Associated Press at the least would get facts right when they report a story about presidential candidates, since their content fills a whole lot of space in dailies.  I admit it: I'm an idealist.
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Blog Stroll: Sister Toldjah (Check out the pics of the not-so-green transportation some senators use)

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I invite you to read the poem I presented at the dedication of Billard Park and Veterans' Memorial here in Jacksonville. I presented the poem on Veteran's Day, and I shared it with my Covering Florida readers for Memorial Day.