Republican Sen. John McCain and two other senators have proposed an alternative that would boost the maximum monthly stipend for veterans from $1,100 a month to $1,500 a month.
Democratic Sen. Jim Webb counters that his legislation would be more effective in attracting new recruits and would offset any drop in the military’s ranks.
“I can't think of a better way to broaden (the) propensity to serve than to offer a truly meaningful educational benefit, rather than simply taking that smaller demographic” of those already enlisted “and pound on it” with repeated combat tours, he said.
Democrats are pushing Webb’s bill and other domestic add-ons, including a major expansion of state unemployment benefits, as part of a larger $195 billion package that would pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year. A House vote is planned this week.
President George W. Bush is expected to veto the measure if it is sent to him with added domestic spending, including the veterans’ bill. In a closed-door meeting last week, Bush urged a group of House Republicans to reject the bill and uphold any veto if the legislation does not adhere to his request.
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