Cap the vet tuition benefit
The Rocky
Published March 8, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Rep. Rafael Gallegos is not about to give up. The Antonito Democrat fully intends to pursue his legislation giving decorated post- 9/11 combat veterans free tuition at Colorado colleges, even though Gallegos' House Bill 1068 was tabled last week in committee.
Understandably, the state's institutions of higher education are unhappy about the possibility that they might have to carry an indeterminate number of veterans on their rolls free of charge. And that uncertainty is the sticking point in what might otherwise be a laudable piece of legislation.
As originally drafted, HB 1068 would have required Colorado colleges to waive tuition costs for all recipients of the Purple Heart or "other superior decoration of military combat" (there are nine specified in the bill) provided the veterans are (and were at the time of the military action) residents of the state. In an effort to contain its fiscal impact, a compromise was reached limiting the bill's scope to post- 9/11 combat veterans. But Gallegos resisted when an attempt was made to further limit the benefit to disabled medal recipients.
The state's colleges - as represented by the Colorado Department of Higher Education - argue they can't afford the measure. It's hard to disagree with that assessment because, as the institutions correctly point out, there's really no way of knowing how many veterans would qualify for the free tuition. And Gallegos admits as much.
As the Rocky reported in mid-February, the staff of the Legislative Council has come to the same conclusion, but "noted that if 10 undergraduates took advantage of the tuition waiver at CU-Boulder for four years, it would cost the school $216,720."
It seems irresponsible to put forward legislation whose fiscal impact is so open-ended. We favor the restriction that Gallegos rejected, limiting the benefit to disabled medal recipients. But if that's not possible, a workable compromise might be to cap the number of veterans eligible for the tuition waiver. If the number of those applying for the benefit exceeds that cap, a lottery would determine who receives the tuition break.
This is not an ideal solution - a few disabled vets might actually not make the cut - but it's one that balances the costs against the public's desire to honor those who have so valiantly served our nation.
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March 8, 2008
3:24 a.m.
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I_am_not_fooled writes:
So the Rocky is worried about the cost of providing veterans a free education?? I notice the editorial staff conveniently failed to mention the total annual tax revenue Colorado receives from active duty personnel serving outside of this state. These military members derive absolutely no benefit from claiming Colorado as their home of record. In fact, it will cost them plenty of state taxes for claiming they are Coloradans.
I am amazed that the only way this state can honor its military veterans is to hold a ceremonial resolution and then deflect attention to Doug Bruce’s petty action.
While Rep. Gallegos' bill may be appear costly to some of the state universities, it a very small price compared to the overall monetary benefit this state receives from its military members serving elsewhere.
Colorado, it's time to honor your wounded military members...you owe them more than you know.
March 8, 2008
6:58 a.m.
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roger44 writes:
What happened to the GI bill? Go to school on that....Colorado doesn't do vets any favors, charging extra for vets plates, NV gives a $50 discount to vets on plates, also a break on property taxes. KS does not charge extra for vets plates.
March 8, 2008
2:55 p.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
RMN editors must be scumbags. They say NOTHING about handing out full ride scholarships to "athletes", but if a person has risked his life for the USA, then they should be limited. Typical priorities for scumbag editors.
March 8, 2008
4:39 p.m.
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Castle writes:
It would be better for Colorado and better for America to give the vets free/reduced tuition. A hell of a lot better then all the freebes that they want to give the illegals. Could it be that the vet is more likely to reason and think when they vote, and not just vote for who gave them the most freebes??
March 8, 2008
4:52 p.m.
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vudumom writes:
EXCELLENT point ! rickg19611.That was dead on.
March 9, 2008
9:37 p.m.
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kathyM writes:
The Rocky says: "As the Rocky reported in mid-February, the staff of the Legislative Council has come to the same conclusion, but 'noted that if 10 undergraduates took advantage of the tuition waiver at CU-Boulder for four years, it would cost the school $216,720.'"
That kind of cash is a drop in the bucket for an institution that pays no property tax, little income tax, and sits on a billion-dollar nest egg called an endowment. Paying tuition for our vets--especially our disabled vets!--is the absolute least our universities can do.