Fear and Loathing on the Trail column by Chris Graham
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An online petition is drawing attention to Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s flip-flop on the New G.I. Bill.
Virginia Veterans for Obama co-director Terron Sims has initiated the petition drive to raise issue with a campaign mailer sent out by the Goodlatte congressional office last month that claimed that the Republican was a supporter of the New G.I. Bill introduced in Congress by Virginia Democratic Sen. Jim Webb.
“Recently, the Congress passed, with my support, important legislation that expands the education benefits for our returning service members,” Goodlatte wrote in an item that appeared under the heading “A NEW G.I. BILL FOR OUR VETERANS.”
Goodlatte actually voted against the legislation when it came up for a vote in Congress on May 15, citing a tax increase on small businesses that he said was included in the language of the bill. The tax increase in the bill was in reality on individuals who make more than $500,000 annually.
Goodlatte did later vote for a supplemental appropriations bill that included the New G.I. Bill as a rider.
The petition drawn up by Sims reads: “We, the undersigned, call on all Veterans and citizens of the 6th District of Virginia to reject Congressman Bob Goodlatte’s false statements. And call on Goodlatte to acknowledge his misleading claims regarding his support for our veterans.”
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Chris Graham
