>>> THERE'S NO QUESTION IN MY MIND WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR OUR
VETERANS, BUT WE MAY BE TAKING A STEP BACKWARDS BECAUSE THERE'S
AIDS NEW BILL IN CONGRESS THAT WILL REQUIRE VETERANS TO PAY
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FEES IN ORDER TO RECEIVE G.I. EDUCATION
BENEFITS. SOME VETERANS GROUPS CALL IT A
TROOP TAX. CONGRESSMAN PHIL ROWE IS
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AIRFAS.
HE DEFENDS HIS BAIL SAYING THESE PRO-VIGZS IF ENACTED WOULD
BENEFIT THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CURRENTLY WEAR THE UNIFORM AND
WOULD PRESERVE G.I. BILL BENEFITS FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME.
PAUL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> MY PLEASURE.
>> OKAY, SCANDALIZED. I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF VETS
WHO COME HOME, THE HEAD INJURIES.
I'M SKANDIZED WHEN WE NICKEL AND DIME THEM.
I KNOW YOU ARE TOO. >> THIS IS A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF
STUPID OUT OF WASHINGTON. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT NICKEL AND
DIMING VETERANS. IT'S WILL OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE.
THIS PROPOSAL WANTS TO CHARGE PRIVATES ENLISTING IN THE
MILITARY $100 A MONTH TO BUY INTO THEIR G.I. BILL.
SO AS BOMBS ARE DROPPING ON SYRIA, WE'RE A NATION AT WAR,
SOME FOLKS IN CONGRESS THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO START
CHARGING ENLISTED JUNIOR SOLDIERS A HUNDRED DOLLARS A
MONTH FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAKE ON
AVERAGE, THEIR BASE SALARY IS ABOUT $19,000.
IT'S BAD FOR RECRUITING, BAD FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE, BAD FOR THE
PENTAGON. IT'S BAD FOR AMERICAN BECAUSE
THE G.I. IS THE BIGGEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE'VE HAD.
OUR MESSAGE IS CLEAR. IAVA AND LEADING VETERANS GROUPS
ARE GOING TO DEFEND THE GI BILL. WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW
CONGRESS TO COME AFTER OUR BENEFITS.
THIS IS A COST OF WAR. IF YOU COME AFTER THIS, WE'RE
GOING TO VIGOROUSLY DEFEND IT AND OPPOSE ANY CUTS, ANY ANY FE
ANY TAXES THAT CONGRESS TRIES TO COME UP.
>> YOU LOOK AT IT COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY THAN I DO.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC COSTS.
I LOOK AT IT FROM A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT VUPPOINT.
I LOOK AT IT FROM I'M ASHAMED. >> WE SHOULD BE.
>> I LOOK AT IT LIKE I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE TRYING TO NICKEL
AND DIME THESE VETS. HAVE THEY EVER SEEN THESE VETS?
I MEAN IT'S JUST EXTRAORDINARY TO ME.
I JUST AM ALMOST SPEECHLESS. HERE'S THE VIDEO OF SOMEONE WHO
IS REALLY HURT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO IT TO SOMEONE
WHO'S NOT HURT, WHO'S BEEN STATESIDE THE WHOLE TIME.
>> THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN SWIFT. YOU'RE ONE OF THE FIRST NATIONAL
NEWS AGENCIES TO COVER THIS. I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WHO HAS
PUT THEIR NAME ON THIS IS GOING TO FACE A FURIOUS AND IMMEDIATE
BACKLASH. IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR
RE-ELECTION, GO INTO YOUR TOWN HALL AND TELL THEM YOU'RE GOING
TO CHARGE PRIVATES AND VETERANS TO BUY INTO THEIR GI BILL.
ANYBODY WHO SAYS WE HAVE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THEY MIGHT CUT IT
LATER, THAT'S GARBAGE. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP THINKS ABOUT THIS. I HOPE SOMEBODY ASKS SEAN SPICER
ABOUT IT TOMORROW IN THE DAILY PRESS CONFERENCE.
>> YOU JUST TIPPED HIM OFF TO DO THAT.
I ACTUALLY THINK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD BE SCANDALIZED BY
THIS. I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED AT WHO IS
PITCHING IT TOO. I THINK THAT HE HASN'T THOUGHT
IT THROUGH. I MEAN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SPONSORING THIS HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT THIS ONE THROUGH.
LOOK, THERE'S SO MUCH GOVERNMENT WASTE IN WASHINGTON.
I COULD WALK UP THE HILL AND FIND YOU ABOUT SIX PROJECTS THAT
WE COULD CUT TO PAY FOR THIS. >> RIGHT.
THERE'S NO BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAN THE G.I. BILL.
IT'S PRODUCED COUNTLESS OUTCOMES FOR OUR -- IMAGINE A RECRUITER
SITTING IN A MALL SOMEWHERE TRYING TO CONVINCE A PRIVATE TO
JOIN THE ARMY. HE SAYS WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU
TO MAYBE FIGHT IN SYRIA. BY THE WAY, $100 A MONTH FOR
YOUR G.I. BILL. HOW IS THAT GOING TO GO OVER IN
MAINSTREAM AMERICA? >> I'M JUST EMBARRASSED.
>> WE SHOULD ALL BE EMBARRASSED. YOU'RE RIGHT, I AND HOPE PEOPLE
CALL THEIR CONGRESSMEN.