New G.I. Bill Proposes 'Patriot Tax'

[Penn]

NPR
New G.I. Bill Proposes 'Patriot Tax'
By Brian Naylor
Audio for this story will be available at approx. 7:00 p.m. ET
All Things Considered, May 15, 2008 • Congressional Democrats are pushing forward with plans for a new G.I. Bill to give veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan money to go to college for four years. House Democrats want to pay for it with what they've dubbed a "patriot tax" on people earning more than $500,000. In the Senate, one Republican who notably isn't on board is John McCain, a Vietnam veteran who says the proposal is too expensive and could encourage service members to leave the military.

I’ve always been of the opinion that the upper middle class and above have never been represented in notable numbers in the armed forces. What should be add to that bill is a condition that all serving members of both houses and the executive branch have “skin in the game” a first born, in line units, should they send/declare war and put our forces in harms way. I would imagine it would give them some pause. It also strikes me that denying an educational opportunity to a soldier, or to anyone for that matter, definitely limits social mobility.
And Mc Cain’s response surprises me.