Veterans are not surprised to find that George W. Bush and John McCain oppose Senator Jim Webb’s new G.I. Bill. G.I. Bill S22. The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, authored by Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va, will increase founding for educational aid received by veterans, but it will revise the allocation methods. The bill would drastically upgrade the Montgomery G.I. Bill; their plan is to offer most veterans who serve in the war compensation for the most expensive public schools in their state, but also a living stipend.

Sen. John McCain opposes the bill, saying the measure could hurt retention in a time of war. McCain, along with Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., introduced his own plan, which would encourage troops to stay in the military because it would increase benefits more for troops who serve 12 years or more.

“McCain, Graham and Burr want to reward members. If they serve longer, they get increased benefit,” said Kevin Bishop, spokesman for Senator Lindsay Graham.

The Montgomery G.I. Bill was initially projected as e set of rules designed to help veterans assimilate into civilian life; the law’s key points were education and training, loan guaranty for homes, farms or business, and unemployment pay. Millions of veterans had the chance of redemption after they returned from World War II. In 1947, veterans accounted for 49 percent of college admissions; in eight years, the number increased to 7.8 million of 16 million World War II veterans.

Webb and others said the education of veterans is an investment and the country's troops deserve a good education when they return home.