National Guard and U.S. military reservists are weekend warriors no more. Many are assigned to active duty for months at a time in Iraq and Afghanistan. When that happens they and their families not only endure the usual anxieties associated with separation and warfare, but they often take a serious income hit as well.

Many states are moving to relieve the financial stress as much as possible. It's time Georgia did, too. After all, these courageous volunteers and their kin sacrifice enough without being plunged into a financial crisis that can rob their future and their children's education.

It's not as if the Legislature isn't doing anything. Lawmakers of both parties have introduced bills that would enable Georgia Guard members and reservists on active duty for more than three months to get varied benefits.

One imaginative measure would create a trust fund paid for by voluntary income-tax return checkoffs. A five-member commission would then award grants based on need and availability of funds.

Another bill would exempt military members' income from state taxes after three months of active duty. Yet another would have the state pay service members' life insurance premiums for the military's maximum $250,000 coverage. There is also legislation to provide scholarships to children of Guard members sent overseas.

Maybe it's too much to expect all of these bills to pass, but some of them certainly should. Who's more deserving of taxpayers' assistance than Americans who are protecting the taxpayers? Lawmakers don't disagree; in fact, there's strong bipartisan consensus to help.

The problem is the session's about half over, and there's still a lot of work to be done - hearings, cost estimates, budgeting, etc. - and time could run out before the work is completed. It wouldn't be the first time good legislation failed to make it in the madcap closing hours of the General Assembly.

Despite the bipartisan consensus to help weekend warriors on active duty, the bills could still get lost in partisan bickering over who will get the credit. Both Democrat and Republican bills have been introduced - and each side is pushing its own measures.

To ensure that the work does get done and legislation passed, bipartisan consensus must merge into bipartisan cooperation. It would be shameful if petty politics prevented service members and their families from getting the help they so richly deserve.

There's another reason why this legislation is important - national security. Since the Iraq war heated up, the National Guard itself has become a war casualty, as recruitment goals are coming up short by 30 percent. With more assistance from taxpayers, the recruitment figures might start climbing again.