Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, scored a minor victory today when part of his plan for education benefits for returning military veterans was included in the massive war supplemental package this week.
The majority of House and Senate members wanted the GI bill pitched by Sen. Jim Webb, a Democrat from Virginia, that allows vets to get into the most expensive in-state university in their home state, Barb Barrett reports.
Burr, along with Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, had an idea allowing military members to transfer benefits to spouses or children after several years in the service.
That transferability option was preferred by the Pentagon, which said Webb's generous benefits package could encourage troops to leave the military at a critical time.
The war supplemental bill has bounced among the House, Senate and White House in recent weeks as politicians argued about funding for the war and domestic programs.
The deal reached Wednesday night by congressional leaders has been okayed by the White House.
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