Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite was for the new G.I. education bill before she was against it.

In fact, the Brooksville Republican was lead House GOP co-sponsor of the bill to expand vets’ education benefits. Then on Thursday, she voted against it, as it passed the House 256-166.

The reason: Brown-Waite was upset that Democrats who control the House decided to pay for the increased educational benefits with what they called a “Patriots Premium”—a surtax of half a percentage point on wealthy Americans’ incomes above $500,000, or $1 million for couples. It’s expected to generate $56 billion over ten years.

Conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats in the House wanted the funding source specified before they would agree to the bill, which provides full tuition at any public unviersity for returning Iraq and Afghanistan vets. Borwn-Waite said the cost should be included in war spending, not paid for with raised taxes.

Veterans groups hailed passage of the bill as a victory, but Brown-Waite said on the House floor, “I’m saddened because I can’t vote for its passage” because Democrats had included “an egregious tax.”

“There is no need for this tax and certainly it’s not welcomed at a time when our economy is struggling,” she said, accusing Democrats of being willing to “play games” with the needs of veterans.

Her office then sent out a news release with a link to her House web site , where viewers can watch her speech.

Later Thursday, Brown-Waite and her Democratic co-sponsor, Rep. Harry Mitchell of Arizona, sent a letter top Senate appropriators asking them not to include the tax in its version of the bill.

Brown-Waite now faces explaining her stance to local service men and woman. She may start as early as Saturday, when she is scheduled to appear at an Armed Forces Day event at about 10 a.m. the corner of SR 50 and U.S. 19 in Hernando County.

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