Rep. Bill Foster continued his string of valuable votes yesterday. First, he supported a narrowly-passed bill calling for Iraq withdrawal timelines, more accountability for military contractors, and an end to interrogation techniques that amount to torture. He additionally backed the revamped GI Bill, a great piece of legislation initially decried by his Blue Dog caucus as "fiscally irresponsible." To pay for the benefits, party leaders added a half-percent tax surcharge on individuals earning over $500,000 and couples earning over $1 million a year, which convinced almost all of the Blue Dogs to sign on. The legislation passed 256-166, with 32 Republicans voting yes and only five Democrats voting no (Rep. Melissa Bean among them).
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This revised version comes with some needed perks, as the Washington Post explains:
On the domestic side, unemployment compensation would be extended for 13 weeks. Regulations the Bush administration hoped to impose to restrict access to the Medicaid program would be blocked. Funds would be provided for international food aid, levees around New Orleans, federal prisons and the 2010 Census. And the G.I, Bill passed after World War II for an earlier generation of veterans would be updated ...
The politically controversial expanded G.I. Bill was expected to give momentum to the House measure. The provision, written by Sens. James Webb (D-Va.) and John W. Warner (R-Va.), would cover the costs of school at even the most expensive state universities for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and would encourage private universities to provide additional student aid for them.
President Bush has vowed to veto the GI Bill because of "its cost, its tax increase, and fears that its generosity could entice service members to leave the military rather than reenlist at the end of their tours." And its most valuable provisions likely won't survive a GOP filibuster in the Senate. But it's a great first step and Foster should be commended.
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