Reid hits McCain on new G.I. Bill

LAS VEGAS-Bearing a plastic bag of peppered beef jerky, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid dropped by the Laborers International Union Hall in Las Vegas Saturday, where he spoke before a crowd of about fifty Nevadans making care packages for troops in Iraq.  Reid took advantage of a few minutes in front of the crowd to slam Ariz. Sen. John McCain for not supporting a newly-approved expansion of the G.I. Bill.

"It seems difficult to believe or comprehend how John McCain could say the G.I. Bill of Rights that [Va. Sen.] Jim Webb wrote was too generous," said Reid.  "Not only that, he didn't even bother to come and vote.  He was against it, said he was against it.  He should have come and at least stood up and voted, but he didn't do that."

Reid also repeated earlier charges against McCain, saying he "doesn't have the temperament" to be president and is wrong on both the war and the economy.

The new G.I. Bill, which was approved in a 75-22 vote in the senate and passed the house last week, would pay tuition up to the cost of the most expensive in-state public university-plus stipends for books and housing-to any veteran who has served three years of active duty since Sep. 11, 2001.

McCain has argued that the new G.I. bill would hurt efforts at retention and encourage troops to get out of the military after only one term of service.

Speaking with reporters afterward, Reid dismissed those arguments.

"The troops coming home from World War II, they were educated.  For every dollar we spent on those troops coming home, it generated seven dollars for America itself," said Reid.  "These troops coming home from Iraq, whether they've been there for three years or six years, deserve an education.  No one is going to stay out of the military because they think the G.I. Bill of Rights is too good for them.  That's ridiculous."

"John McCain is following George Bush step for step.  That's a mistake.  Anyone who thinks the bill is too generous to educate troops coming home from Iraq or Afghanistan, I don't think deserves to be president."

Reid noted that the bill was written not just by Webb, a Vietnam veteran, but by Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), also a Vietnam veteran, and John Warner (R-Va.), a World War II veteran, as well.

Reid also responded to President Bush's comments earlier in the week that an early withdrawal from Iraq would be "catastrophic for our country."

"The American people no longer believe President Bush," said Reid.  "His fear-mongering, that's what he's been doing for seven years.  The time has come to be realistic.  The war in Iraq is costing the American people, in borrowed dollars, $5,000 a second, $12 billion a month.  It's time we brought our troops home."

Reid was joined at the event, organized by the Nevada Democratic Veterans and Military Families Caucus, by Nevada Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, state Senate candidates Allison Copening and Assemblyman David Parks and Assembly candidates Andrew Martin and Ellen Spiegel.

In all, they prepared more than 150 care packages of toiletries and food items for members of K. Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, serving in Iraq.