Older Vet engages Obama on Vet Benefits

This is just a cool story regardless of who you support. This vet, unemployed and older, had a marvelous idea and it may get introduced on a bill being presented next week in the Senate.




An unemployed senior citizen and military veteran from West Des Moines caught the attention of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama today when he pleaded for the United States to withdraw time limits on educational benefits given to soldiers.

Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, said in front of a Des Moines crowd of about 600 people that the 66-year-old man has “an outstanding idea.” The crowd cheered.

“We might introduce legislation next week,” Obama said to the veteran, John Strong. “Maybe we’ll name it after you.”

Currently, many GI benefits that help military veterans pay for college expire in 10 to 12 years after the person has left service. That is a problem, Strong told Obama.


http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070710/NEWS/70710027/-1/RSS22

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