Support the Troops: Cut Their Survivors' Benefits

Pres. Bush has a plan to show his appreciation to our brave men and women in uniform:

President Bush's budget calls for elimination of a $255 lump-sum death payment that has been part of Social Security for more than 50 years and urges Congress to cut off monthly survivor benefits to 16- and 17-year-old high school dropouts.

That's the way to honor the troops: Stiff their children for dropping out of school.

Duncan calls it "vicious":

This is just a petty, vicious, pointless idea. Survivor benefits give people a chance to maintain their economic existence after one spouse dies. There's no reason to tie it to school enrollment.