Thumbs up: Honoring recruitment promises

We don't hesitate to criticize Congress for its partisan bickering, long vacations and skimpy work product. So it's only fair to give a thumbs up when lawmakers move quickly to right a wrong. That's an apt description for a recently concluded negotiation that protects some 10,000 current and former National Guard members from a costly injustice.

A decade ago, military recruiters were struggling to find enough soldiers to fight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. As an incentive to stay in the service and, potentially, return to the front lines, bonuses were offered to men and women willing to re-enlist. When it was later determined that some of those who received bonuses were ineligible, the Pentagon demanded the money back. It was an insult to thousands of National Guard members who had volunteered to fight. Under a deal struck by House members, however, the debts will be forgiven except for anyone who “knew or reasonably should have known” that they weren't eligible. A final vote is expected this week.