May 14, 2008

Begich Disappointed in Stevens' Support for Watered Down GI Bill

From a Mark Begich press release:

Mayor and U.S. Senate candidate Mark Begich today said he was disappointed to see Sen. Ted Stevens support the watered down Graham-McCain G.I. Amendment during a vote in the Senate. The Senate rejected Republicans' efforts to attach the Graham-McCain Amendment to a bipartisan collective bargaining bill that affects firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians.

The Bush administration reluctantly will list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because of shrinking sea ice from global warming.

"It's unfortunate to see Sen. Stevens playing politics with our veterans and our first responders," Begich said. "Our veterans deserve full educational benefits after they serve our country, and our first responders deserve rights and protections granted under collective bargaining. These bills each require their own hearing and shouldn't be tools for political gamesmanship."

Begich has pledged his full support for the bipartisan 21st Century G.I. Bill sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb and 56 other Senators. The bill provides post 9/11 veterans with money for the full cost of attending a state university for in-state residents equal to four academic years. The benefit is capped at the cost of the most expensive public state college or university in any given state.

Sen. Stevens has not supported the Webb bill.

"As I've said, there is no compromise when it comes to caring for our veterans," Begich said. "Our veterans are giving 100% in Iraq , Afghanistan , and everywhere else they have been asked to serve by our country. We need a Senator who will give Alaska 's veterans 100% in return - nothing less will do."