The Senate has overwhelmingly passed a new GI bill and billions in new domestic spending as part of the $165 billion Iraq war funding bill pending before Congress.
In two subsequent votes, the Senate passed the war funding portion of the bill, 70-26, and rejected an amendment that contained troop withdrawal language on a 34-63 vote.
The 75-22 vote on the GI bill and domestic spending marked a resounding victory for Senate Democrats as well as Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), who has battled to expand the educational benefits for soldiers who served in Iraq. The measure also included a 13 week extension of unemployment insurance, home heating assistance and other domestic spending add ons. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill, which will top $200 billion with the extra spending.
Our troops deserve it.
BTW- McMaverick didn’t vote. Instead of voting to fund a bill to spend the money we owe our troops, he decided to raise money for his own campaign in California. Because he is a straight shooter, you see.
*** Update ***
I should probably also point out to all the people on either side who claim they will sit out the election or vote for McCain if their side does not win that elections matter. This simply would not have happened without Jim Webb, and you need to remember what it took to get him elected, and the kind of crap the GOP threw at him and what he had to endure:
Attention Virginia. Sure,
John Mark Karr’sJim Webb’s supporters can hide behind the “it’s just fiction” defense. But you really want to do that? Do you really want to defend a guy with that sort of imagination?Well, it’s time to wake up and realize the Democrats have nominated a dirty perv in Virginia. And you guys can send him to the Senate if you want. But I think I’d lock the doors and hide the kids if you did.
So, before you go vote, let’s look at the icky factor in voting for the dirty perv.
You all remember who John Mark Karr is, don’t you? And this is what they said about a guy like Jim Webb.
This is going to be an ugly, ugly election, and Obama is going to endure some serious nonsense, but it is worth it, as Sen. Webb’s bill shows us.