Bonus for vets OK'd by House - Sentinel & Enterprise

Call it an early "thank you" card. Bay State servicemen and women returning home from their second and third tours of duty overseas will receive an added $500 bonus under a sweeping new law approved by House lawmakers on Wednesday that extends new benefits to veterans in a show of appreciation just days before Veterans Day.

[Jim]

Let's just keep increasing taxes and spending money, the polticians just don't get it

[no comment again]

Yet again, no comments from Leominsters State Rep- come on Sentinel

[braindead]

Jim wrote:

Let's just keep increasing taxes and spending money, the polticians just don't get it

Its for veterans.

[seymor]

asdf

[Connie]

Veterans,as well as seniors and school children tend to get hit the hardest when budget cuts hit. The men and women going overseas are risking their life everyday. Most of them volunteer to be deployed. This is a very small way for us to say thank you.

[Rob]

Small way is right. If it made a difference. I would be all for it. Five Hundred dollars doesnt seem to be alot to say Welcome Home. I have to agree with Jim on this one. This money being spent might have the right intentions but seems to be more of a pull from the tax payers money. You want to help a vet...give them a job when they get home.
I know that I went on alot of long deployments but wasn't give a thing. These service members do not expect this. I think the public backing them is all they are looking for.

[tazz4040]

im glad somebody's finally think of the vets im a Vietnam vet and i remember the welcome home we got spit on, called baby killers we were shot at by the people at airports and docks some even killed by armed civilians.all we were doing was what the government told us to do.we got no bonuses no extra help at all the v.a turned there backs on us the state reps turned there backs on us .all i can say to these vets is fight for every thing you deserve and don`t let anybody take it away

[Veteran]

While serving in Desert Storm, the King of Kuwait offered each military service member the sum of $10,000 for our service in chasing away the Iraqi soldiers that attacked them. Our president, at the time was George Bush Sr. Well, Mr. Bush declined the offer saying, "If our forces were paid that money ($10,000) the America military would be considered mercenaries." So, this $500 incentive is a slap in the face. Oh, by the way, the other countries that served in the region, accepted the offer. God bless the USA!

[Fred]

Sounds like some of you are saying "Boo Hoo, I didn't get nuthin', so they shouldn't either.".
How many of you refused your "stimulus" check? It was paid for by you and other taxpayers. What did you do to deserve that money? Did you put your life on the line for it?
Come on folks,$500 is a small amount to give to a retunrning vet.
By the way, ROB, are you ready to give a vet a job?

[ILOVETHEFLAG]

The authors of the legislation said the bill will not cost taxpayers a dime, with the money being used to pay additional benefits coming from reserves and unspent money in existing accounts. The legislation said the increased bonuses will only last as long as sufficient funds are available.

Read the whole article, it is basically expanding the current Welcome Home Bonus program, along with many other benefits for Veterans that truly deserve everything they get.