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Chabot Held to Account for Standing in the Way of Quality College Education for Ohio Troops Returning Home from Iraq and Afghanistan
Washington D.C. – Americans United for Change announced its latest TV ad campaign today calling U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (OH-1) to the carpet for voting against legislation to establish and fund a 21st century G.I. Bill that ensures our fighting men and women returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan no longer have to worry about paying for a quality college education.
The spot entitled 'Lip Service' will air over the Memorial week recess on a mix of cable and broadcast television in the Cincinnati media market. AUFC also announced similar ads airing in the districts of U.S. Reps. Michele Bachmann (MN-6), Tom Feeney (FL-24), and John "Randy" Kuhl (NY-29).
With no help from these Bush apologists in Congress, the U.S. House recently passed an amendment to an Iraq/Afghanistan/Domestic priories supplemental appropriations bill that restores full, four-year college scholarships and makes the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan part of an American economic recovery, just like the veterans of World War II were. The U.S. Senate followed suit yesterday, overwhelmingly passing similar legislation by a 75-22 margin, despite President Bush's repeated veto threats.
The goal of the Bush Legacy Project is to cement into history how two terms of failed conservative policies – supported by Bush and his allies in Congress including Sen. John McCain and Rep. Chabot - have weakened America's security abroad while neglecting and undermining important priorities here at home.
"For all the lip service Congressman Chabot pays back home to the sacrifices our troops are making overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, he sure have a funny way of showing his support in Washington," said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Americans United for Change. "Chabot stood with President Bush and opposed a 21st century G.I. Bill that reflects the needs of a struggling economy and skyrocketing tuition costs. That Steve Chabot can vigorously support spending of $12 billion a month to continue this President's failed Iraq war policies but not a fraction that amount on these brave soldiers' education when they return home signals just how radically skewed his priorities really are. In fact, the first two years of the new GI bill would cost what we spend in just two days in Iraq. For all Chabot's empty rhetoric about supporting the troops, when faced with a simple choice of voting for 'em or against 'em – he voted against 'em."
"The original GI Bill launched millions of families on a course to achieving the American dream – and set the American economy on the right course after a draining war. It returned $7 to the economy for every $1 spent on it," added Funk. "Current GI educational benefits pay only about 60 percent of a public college education and 30 percent of a private college education. That's simply not enough, especially in an economy slipping further and further towards a full scale recession. Ensuring that these men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan don't have to worry about how they're going to afford a quality education is the very least we can do to truly show our appreciation and support. But, for whatever reason, Steve Chabot just said 'no.' It's a real question of priorities, and he clearly has his all mixed up.'"
