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Compromise sought on veterans tuition measure

By Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 15, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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Gallegos is sponsoring the bill for wounded veterans.

Gallegos is sponsoring the bill for wounded veterans.

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A bill that would grant free tuition to decorated combat veterans has survived an attack by the Colorado Department of Higher Education - for now.

Bill sponsor Rep. Rafael Gallegos, D-Antonito, met with the department's director in Gov. Bill Ritter's office Thursday and agreed to work on a compromise the state's colleges and universities would find less costly.

Also at the meeting were a representative from the Colorado Department of Military Affairs and Cathy Wanstrath, a lobbyist for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. In an e-mail Monday to two dozen state Capitol lobbyists, Wanstrath had laid out a plan to kill the measure when it was heard by the Appropriations Committee.

"I think you all agree we need to kill this bill, and (the Colorado Department of Higher Education) has been happy to take the lead," said the e-mail obtained by the Rocky Mountain News. "However, we need your help in the next couple of days to count the votes to kill it in committee."

The bill sailed through the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on a 9-2 vote last week and was headed for its next committee hearing today.

Gallegos said he agreed Thursday to push that hearing back a week, until next Friday. Gallegos said he agreed to use the time to look at narrowing the eligibility requirements to include only those veterans who received the Purple Heart or a higher combat service medal after being injured in combat.

Gallegos will also work on nailing down how much the bill might cost the state. The Legislative Council staff has said that accurate information does not exist on how many potential medal recipients might benefit from the bill.

"I'm going to run the bill - let's get that straight," said Gallegos. He said he had received more than two dozen phone calls since a story about efforts to kill the bill appeared in the Rocky on Wednesday.

"The calls and the e-mails have been tremendous in support, wondering what CU is thinking about in not trying to find funding," he said.

Gallegos said that the e-mail flap should serve as a cautionary tale about what can happen when lobbyists and lawmakers take adversarial stances before communicating with each other.

"Unfortunately, it's how things often work here," he said.

David Skaggs, director of the Department of Education, said that both sides made strides at the meeting.

"I certainly am hopeful that we're going to work something out that leaves everyone feeling good," he said.

Gallegos said he too felt good about the meeting, but still believes that more must be done for veterans.