Reichert Votes Against Supporting Troops:

General Paul Eaton Describes Reichert Vote Against Bi-Partisan GI Bill as "Outrageous" and "Indefensible"

Bellevue, WA (May 16) - Congressman Dave Reichert yesterday showed his true colors in standing with the Bush administration by voting against a bi-partisan new GI bill that would improve educational opportunities for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Reichert's controversial no vote earned a strong rebuke from respected retired military leaders like Major General Paul Eaton (ret.), who served in Iraq.

"Congressman Reichert's vote against a new GI bill, a bipartisan proposal drafted by two of the most respected military veterans in the Senate -- Jim Webb and John Warner -- is indefensible," Eaton said. "The argument advanced by the Bush administration, the Pentagon, Congressman Reichert and by Senator McCain, that this GI Bill would lead to retention problems is simply outrageous and shows fundamental disrespect for our fighting men and women.  What worked so well for our soldiers and our country after World War II must be made to work again."

Reichert's Democratic challenger, Darcy Burner, is a strong supporter of the legislation.

"I believe that supporting the troops requires more than paying lip service to their tremendous sacrifices on behalf of our nation," Burner said. "When our veterans come home from the battlefield, they need to be treated with the honor and respect that they have earned. They gave 100 percent on the battlefield, and when it comes to veterans educational benefits we should support them 100 percent. This proposal will finally do that."

She added, "For decades, GI benefits have long been the engine of opportunity for countless military families, including my own. This is personal for me: my brother, who served in Iraq, would get the educational benefits he deserves - benefits he currently has been denied - if this important legislation is enacted into law.

The original GI bill enabled millions of Americans to achieve the American dream, returning $7 to our economy for every dollar that was spent. The new GI bill, proposed by Democratic Senator Jim Webb and Republican Senator John Warner, both highly respected military veterans, would provide full college scholarships to war veterans. Current GI benefits only cover about 60 percent of the cost of a college education and less than a third of tuition costs at a private college.

An amendment on the House floor yesterday paired the GI bill with an extension of unemployment benefits - currently more than 1.35 million American workers are suffering long-term unemployment, more than when Congress last extended such benefits in 2002. The costs of the benefits for veterans and the unemployed was paid for by a less than one half of one percent surtax on the very wealthy -- individuals who earn more than $500,000 or couples who earn more than $1 million per year - who have enjoyed massive tax breaks under President Bush. The bill passed easily, 256-166, with 32 Republicans crossing the aisle to vote in favor of the benefits. Reichert voted no.

Congressman Reichert also again stood with President Bush yesterday in supporting an endless, open-ended military commitment in Iraq. Reichert voted against a separate amendment setting a responsible timetable to remove our combat troops from Iraq by the end of 2009. The amendment would also have implemented many of the key pieces of Burner's Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq, and required that U.S. reconstruction funds for Iraq be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Iraqis.

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