Think Progress

House passes Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act.

Last month, Iraq war vet Jordan Fox revealed that some wounded soldiers were being asked by the Pentagon to return part of their enlistment bonuses. Today, the House passed the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act to ensure that future soldiers aren’t treated like Fox. The legislation will ensure that members of the armed services who are discharged as a result of combat-related wounds receive the full compensation to which they are entitled by the Department of Defense. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA), one of the bill’s primary sponsors, spoke on the floor this morning. Watch it:




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52 Responses to “House passes Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act.”

  1. Leftside Annie Says:

    I'm sure Chimpy will veto this.


  2. Mr.Bungle Says:

    Well, if he'll veto health care for kids, and ignore the care that our vets get down the street at Walter Reed, why wouldn't he veto this?


  3. Blue Stater Says:

    It says it was a unanimous vote, so even if Bush somehow does veto this it will be overridden.

    http://kdka.com/local/Enlistment.Bonuses.Veterans.2.613624.html


  4. Menehune Says:

    #1...not a chance. He'd be over-ridden in a second and would look like a bigger tool than he already does if he tries to veto it.


  5. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Oh PLEEEEEEASE Veto this, Mr. President.

    I dare ya. I double dare ya.


  6. Mr.Bungle Says:

    Blue Stater,

    Signing Statement then?



  7. gummitch Says:

    I’m sure Chimpy will veto this.

    Comment by Leftside Annie — December 18, 2007 @ 5:21 pm

    It's essentially chump change, so he'll probably try to take credit for it. One of the chief sponsors is Jeff Sessions (R-AL) so you can figure that Bush and the Republicans will keep mentioning his name and give all credit to the Republicans.


  8. tombaker Says:

    Oh good - another embarrassing "veto-op" for dubbie. i wonder who will get the pen he signs that veto with? Erik, or Cookie, or Buzzie??


  9. Wayne Says:

    Is there a roll call count yet on this?


  10. Wayne Says:

    never mind, I see it had no nay votes.
    Veto proof... nice


  11. wisedup Says:

    bush is so stupid, he'll just have to put in a signing statement that reads: 'If DEAD, wife must return all money,uniforms, and cash.


  12. Erroll Says:

    Soldiers, do not allow yourselves be used as cannon fodder by your government. Resist by joining the IVAW [Iraq Veterans Against the War] and say NO to the war machine of the United States.


  13. lm945 Says:

    The fact that this bill was even necessary speaks volumes as to the callousness and greed of this administration.

    Red states, are you listening?


  14. Buckie Boy Says:

    YES, it is about time that they did right by the guys stuck in this illegal, immoral war.

    But of course the deserter will veto it, because he DOES NOT SUPPORT the Troops, like most armchair reichwing warriors.

    Buck Fush


  15. Jason M. Hendler Says:

    House passed the increased CAFE standards bill. Hopefully they will take up the domestic power generation portion left out of this bill first thing next year.


  16. republicans hate facts Says:

    House passed the increased CAFE standards bill. Hopefully they will take up the domestic power generation portion left out of this bill first thing next year.
    Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 18, 2007 @ 5:53 pm

    Either start your own blog, or STFU on your off topic, stupid ramblings - aspergers boy! Your lack of proper 'socialization' skills explains why you're SUCH AN ABSOLUTE MORON - JUNIOR!


  17. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    He’s not going to veto legislation he backed. This was bi-partisan. Get real.

    Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 5:58 pm

    But Jason, the SCHIP legislation was bi-partisan too. He vetoed that, didn't he?


  18. Jason M. Hendler Says:

    #19, rtwl,

    When I post, I always use my own name. As much as you would like to bring me or others down through this association tactic, those who have read my posts for a long while recognize those other posts as written by some other author.

    I have seen cases in which people will post blatantly racist, sexist, bigotted script, and sign my name, since they can't legitimately label me any of those things. Fortunately, TP mods and other posters recognized those imposters.

    Guess you're going to have to work a little harder to defame anyone who challenges your beliefs.


  19. bilbobaggins Says:

    Next they should pass a bill saying that the military can't force the soldiers to pay for equipment that was either damaged or destroyed in combat. That's something else our compassionate leader of the military has perpetuated. If your gun and your body armor are left behind after a fire fight, the soldier has to pay for it. If your gun gets ruined in the 115 degree heat and sandstorms, the soldier has to pay for it.

    A question for CHL - if the President supports this legislation, why didn't he do something instead of making Congress pass a law to make it happen. If he thought this was the right thing, then why didn't he, immediately upon hearing what was going on, issue an executive order to make sure that these soldiers are paid the money they were promised?


  20. Clumberfeet Says:

    I am disgusted that the Legislature, by law, has to stop this Administration from screwing our soldiers. The same soldiers this administration uses as bait to get more billions for no bid DoD contracts.


  21. Lefty Patriot Says:

    Guess you’re going to have to work a little harder to defame anyone who challenges your beliefs.

    Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 18, 2007 @ 6:06 pm

    Jason Hitler, you lie.

    Just another fact.


  22. bilbobaggins Says:

    Guess you’re going to have to work a little harder to defame anyone who challenges your beliefs.
    Comment by Jason M. Hendler

    I guess it's just a really big coincidence that you and CHL show up here at the same time and use the same phrasing and the same insulting nick-name for Senator Clinton.


  23. WaltTheMan Says:

    It’s about f’in time! Next will they take up the issue for those soldiers whose VA benefits were nullified because their assignment orders were a single day short of requirements? After that, you have the maimed and shell shocked. It seems that when the Bushies say support our troops they are referring to bras and cod pieces.


  24. RUCerious Says:

    Poor attention deficit Jason. Can't stay on topic, must urinate all over each and every thread with off topic crap.
    Kind of like a mutt marking its territory.

    Anyone got a rolled up paper?


  25. Jason M. Hendler Says:

    #24, bulbous bubo,

    Couldn't say if it is coicindence or some type of subterfuge. I just know it's not me.

    Perhaps phrasing is similar, but content and argument is clearly not similar.


  26. Lefty Patriot Says:

    Perhaps phrasing is similar, but content and argument is clearly not similar.

    Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 18, 2007 @ 6:26 pm

    yes it is, the same shit. You're a lousy liar, as well as a lousy American.


  27. WaltTheMan Says:

    Hey folks, please, never criticize JMH, the only thing that he lacks is a brain cell.


  28. RUCerious Says:

    Any wonder why recruitment in in the terlet?

    Besides providing cannon fodder for the never ending war on terra?


  29. --Blue Girl Says:

    Actually, the House version does nothing for Vets like Fox - On Friday the Sessions-sponsored bill passed the Senate and it would be retroactive to 12 September 2001. The House version has no retroactive protections. I blogged about the two versions of the legislation earlier today. In reality, there has been no movement on compromise language, and it is likely that nothing will happen before Congress leaves town for the holiday.


  30. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    When I post, I always use my own name. As much as you would like to bring me or others down through this association tactic, those who have read my posts for a long while recognize those other posts as written by some other author.

    Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 18, 2007 @ 6:06 pm

    As much as I'd love to believe you, Jason, I just don't. Forgive me for believing my own lyin' eyes.


  31. evil_framers_of_the_constitution Says:

    He’s not going to veto legislation he backed. This was bi-partisan. Get real.

    Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 5:58 pm

    He was against it before he was for it. The Pentagon asked for "their" money back from the wounded vets, remember? Who is Commander in Chief?


  32. Jeremy in Denver Says:

    Hendler, since registration, no one has the ability to do what you are claiming. Registration was brought for that reason among others, actually, because it was a tactic your side used against the rest of us.

    As for now, pardon us if we don't believe that 'you' are not a sock puppet among many sock puppets run by a single troll trying to disrupt the conversation.

    Anyway, hopefully my little crusade of getting as many people to flag you and yours inappropriate posts will either shape you up or ship you out.


  33. Lefty Patriot Says:

    Anyway, hopefully my little crusade of getting as many people to flag you and yours inappropriate posts will either shape you up or ship you out.

    Comment by Jeremy in Denver — December 18, 2007 @ 7:08 pm

    Probably won't see much of jason hitler here any more, since you have caught him dead to rights with the registration thing. too bad, he's good for a laugh, and a leading indicator of how disastrous the next election will be for the Bushreich.


  34. Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Says:

    Hendler comes in with a completely irrelevant post anyway, so why respond to the a-hole?


  35. bilbobaggins Says:

    It’s about f’in time! Next will they take up the issue for those soldiers whose VA benefits were nullified because their assignment orders were a single day short of requirements?

    And please don't forget all the injured veterans who were rated 29% permanently disabled rather than 30%. What's the difference you ask? If they are rated 30% permanently disabled, they will get lifetime health benefits. They are rating people who have lost a leg or an arm as 29% disabled. To them, if you have at least 71% of your body left intact, you are only 29% disabled.


  36. had enough Says:

    House passes Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act
    This is fine and good, but our Veterans still need more than what they are getting. And I am sure America would go along with it for reasons it is the right thing to do and because many Americans have feelings of guilt knowing the soldiers unfair multi tours in Iraq means the draft will not be brought back.


  37. Marie Says:

    It's disgusting that it takes an act of Congress in order to force the Bushies to play fair.


  38. Marie Says:

    I think the majority of enlistees in Bush's Army come from rural areas, depressed areas, and red states. We often comment about people who vote against their own best interests.


  39. Jeannie See Says:

    The fact that this is even an issue is bull.


  40. Guy_Fawkes Says:

    As a side note, just curious: How much did the GOP pay Larry Flynt to keep the lid on Lott's romp with a gay escort?


  41. Jason M. Hendler Says:

    #33, Jeremy,

    Yes, registration prevents someone using my name, but it doesn't prevent someone trying to emulate my posts to achieve the same end. You act like you are so brilliant as to see similarity, then deny any ability to recognize counterfeit.

    I suppose your other means of dismissing my posts on merit fail, so you then have to attempt some other misdirection.


  42. Lefty Patriot Says:

    I suppose your other means of dismissing my posts on merit fail, so you then have to attempt some other misdirection.

    jeremy has never failed to destroy your asinine posts, Hitler. You've never actually made a cogent, actual, honest point. Don't blame others for your blind ignorance.


  43. Sabyen91 Says:

    "I suppose your other means of dismissing my posts on merit fail, so you then have to attempt some other misdirection."

    Are you kidding? Your posts are not even worth noting, much less dismissing.


  44. Doc Rock Says:

    Bottom line: if it had not been for practices of DoD under the Cheney-Bush administration, led by the great Decider, to recoup bonuses from wounded troops, this legislation NEVER would have been NECESSARY!!!!!!!!!!!!


  45. Democrat Soldier Says:

    At first, I wondered why Pres. Bush and his Administration obviously hate our soldiers enough to do nothing about actions of this nature.

    Then I remembered, these are soldiers that can no longer fight the occupation in Iraq, and it made total sense why Pres. Bush did nothing at all to stop this egregious behavior. All Pres. Bush had to do was say "Hey, support our troops, stop this behavior!".

    Pres. Bush only likes (relatively) healthy troops that he can send to foreign countries to secure the oil. Any other troops (veterans, disabled veterans, retired veterans) are nothing to Pres. Bush.


  46. Dave C Says:

    Just to make a point, but it is still possible to post as someone else. I just did it. I'm in no way support Hendler. But this registration hasn't stopped this kind of fake posting. btw, I'm not Jason M. Hendler.


  47. Dave C Says:

    Skip that. I see they blocked the method of posting under you nickname. Nothing to see here.


  48. IronMan Says:

    Take that BUSHCO!


  49. shoeless Says:

    I think the majority of enlistees in Bush’s Army come from rural areas, depressed areas, and red states. We often comment about people who vote against their own best interests.

    Comment by Marie

    Yes, but as liberals, we believe in protecting even dumbasses who vote against their own best interests.


  50. taz Says:

    Jason Altmire happens to be my Congressman. Interestly, the veteran who was first affected lives in Mount Lebanon, PA, not in Mr. Altmire's district. The congressman for Mount Lebanon is Repug. Tim Murphy. It took a Democratic Congressman from a neighboring district to actually care about what happened to this veteran. Another shame on Republicans.


  51. Jeremy in Denver Says:

    I have seen cases in which people will post blatantly racist, sexist, bigotted script, and sign my name, since they can’t legitimately label me any of those things. Fortunately, TP mods and other posters recognized those imposters.

    Those were your exact words, Hendler. Notice the line at the bottom of my post that says 'Comment by Jeremy in Denver - Some Date @ Some Time'. THAT is the signature line. Nobody can sign as you since Registration. One of the reasons registration was created was because of you and yours would do this tactic to disrupt the conversation. You guys lost that war and Registration now protects you as much as it does us.

    As for dismissing your posts on merit, you do that just fine all on your own. But your posts aren't intended to stand and fall on their own merit, but to disrupt, hence why I don't see any point in debating you on political issues.



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