The Democrats once again show that they really support the troops. Today, Senator Jim Webb's G.I. Bill will be voted on. The bill is a much-needed update of one of country's most significant and important promise to our soldiers. Under the old G.I. Bill, the money given to soldiers for education doesn't even pay for a year of college:

Ever since the G.I.’s came home from World War II, it has been the nation’s policy to reward war veterans with college education. Now, a bipartisan proposal to expand that benefit significantly for today’s veterans has encountered a new complication: the military still needs its fighting men and women in uniform, not in classrooms.

With the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan far from over, President Bush is threatening to veto a bill that would pay tuition and other expenses at a four-year public university for anyone who has served in the military for at least three years since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. A main reason is the fear that it would hasten an exodus from the ranks.

The legislation, the biggest expansion of the G.I. Bill in a quarter century, has attracted broad bipartisan support, passing the House this month with a veto-proof majority. In the Senate, it has 58 sponsors, 11 of them Republicans.

UPDATE: The bill passed 70-26......

And rather than use tax money to continue that continues to fund America's Occupation of Iraq, the bill will be paid for through a tax increase on the wealthy

The version adopted by her House colleagues in a 256 to 166 vote would be funded through a surtax of half a percentage point on wealthy Americans' incomes above $500,000, or $1 million for couples.

For the record, the amount that the rich will be taxed to fund this is equal to less than half of what the rich recieved from their Bush Tax Rebate.
McCain, who is voting against the bill to help soldiers, once again supports President Bush on his plan to deny American troops the promised education that they deserve.

McCain Voted Against $19 Billion for Military Hospitals. In February 2006, McCain voted against a Senate amendment that would have provided for at least $19 billion for these military health facilities, paid for by eliminating tax cuts for the wealthiest earners. [Senate Roll Call Vote 7 (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00007 ), 2/2/06].

McCain Voted Against Amendment to Provide $2.8 Billion For Veterans Medical Care.

McCain Voted Against 2005 Amendment to Provide Guaranteed Funding Stream for Veterans' Health Care.

McCain Voted Against Establishing $1 Billion Trust Fund to Provide Improvements to Military and Veterans Health Facilities.

McCain Voted Against Adding $1.5 billion to Veterans Medical Services in FY 2007 by Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes.

McCain Voted Against Mandatory Funding of $6.9 Billion in FY 2007 and $104 Billion Over Five Years for Veterans' Health Care.