Today Alaskans join the rest of the country in saying thanks to all those who have served our country in the military. And we have plenty to thank them for. We live in a free country, the most powerful the world has ever known. We can go about our normal business today and every day because of what our veterans have done for us. About 70,000 veterans call Alaska home -- that's roughly one in 10 of us. Whether serving a short tour or a full career, they endured the hardships of military life -- rigorous physical training, frequent travel, separation from family. They gave up part of their freedom so we can enjoy ours.

Those who served in combat did something that's hard for the rest of us to comprehend. They risked death on behalf of total strangers -- us, their fellow citizens back home. They stood in harm's way so the rest of us could remain safe.

As former POW Leo Thorsness suggests on the op-ed page today, it makes a world of difference to veterans to know their service is appreciated, so take the time today to say thanks.

Cold hold

Sen. Coburn single-handedly stops bill to help veterans

Alaska Sen. Mark Begich and two of his colleagues on Monday called on "Dr. No" to allow a Senate vote to help some of our seriously wounded veterans and their families.

"Dr. No" is Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a budget hawk who has exercised his senator's prerogative to place a hold on the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009. That bill would ease the burden of family members and other private individuals who care for veterans disabled and severely wounded since 9/11, expand services for women veterans, make medical care easier for vets in rural areas and increase outreach efforts to homeless vets.

Begich and Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii urged Coburn -- who attended their press conference -- to pull his hold on the bill and let it come to a floor vote for Veterans Day -- today.

Thus far Coburn has refused to yield.

He criticizes the bill for the fact that the Senate has no idea how to pay most of the tab -- $3.7 billion over five years. And he criticizes the bill for restricting some of its help to those who have served since Sept. 11, 2001. What about Persian Gulf and Vietnam vets? Do those veterans or their caregivers deserve less?

His second point is worthwhile.

His first point has merit on its face, but is laughable when you consider that the United States government hasn't known how it was going to pay for the entire cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars for some time now, other than borrowing. That hasn't stopped the wars. If the nation is going to continue its wars, the nation has to take care of its warriors. It's that simple.

But this doesn't mean a blank check. Begich got carried away when he said no price is too high to care for our veterans. He knows better. The hard work of legislation and government is to decide what you can afford to do and sustain, who's going to pay and how much. Coburn is right on that point.

But Coburn's proposed cuts to programs that are important to Alaska -- water and sewer and essential airline service for small communities -- are non-starters. Others deserve debate -- but on their own merits, not as requirements to pass the vets' bill.

Coburn is wrong to use a senator's privilege to stall a bill that's so important to our veterans. He should offer amendments -- or make good on his promise to offer alternative legislation. The "Dr. No" role won't play in Peoria, or anywhere else veterans live.

This is an obligation we need to meet, period.

Then we need to be realistic about how we're going to pay for it.

Here's a suggestion: Add a penny a gallon to the federal fuels tax.

That penny would count for a lot more than a yellow ribbon on a tailgate.

First, it more than covers the costs of the legislation. That single cent on just the 380 million gallons of gasoline the United States uses every day would provide almost $1.4 billion per year. And that doesn't count diesel, jet or marine fuels. Use what's left over to help pay for other veterans' services like the new GI Bill.

Second, and just as important, that penny a gallon would be a substantial way for the entire country to support our troops and veterans.

A small minority of Americans are carrying the burdens of war for the rest of us. This way almost all of us would be contributing. We wouldn't be borrowing from the Chinese; we wouldn't be laying the cost off to our children.

Sen. Coburn should release his grip on the bill and let the Senate vote aye to stand by our vets. Then Sen. Begich and his colleagues should stand up and say here's how we'll pay for it. A penny a gallon for our veterans? Alaskans will cover that in a heartbeat.