Allowing veterans to receive in-state tuition immediately at state universities and community colleges would provide a faster transition to civilian life, a state lawmaker said.
“Veterans are eager to get on with their lives, and waiting a year for in-state tuition is a problem,” said Rep. Ted Vogt, R-Tucson, who is an Air Force veteran.
Joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, Vogt authored a bill that would allow honorably discharged veterans to receive in-state tuition at any state school regardless of how long they have lived in Arizona. HB 2410 would apply to all branches of the armed forces, including the National Guard and reserves.
The House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety unanimously endorsed the bill Wednesday, sending it to the Higher Education, Innovation and Reform Committee.
The bill is one of several proposed this session that aim to improve the lives of Arizona’s veterans. Those include bills to provide property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and spouses of those killed on active duty and to require the state to set a goal for a certain percentage of contracts to go to veteran-owned businesses.
Vogt said his bill would allow veterans moving to Arizona the opportunity to begin re-educating without the additional challenge of paying out-of-state tuition or having to wait a year to enroll in school.
“This bill will send a message to our men and women in uniform that Arizona honors them and welcomes them to come here and begin their next phase of life,” he said.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, is sponsoring similar legislation. SB 1223 has won committee approval and was headed to the floor by way of the Rules Committee.
Sinema said the change isn’t merely a goodwill gesture. She said it also would help the economy by attracting veterans and the money they receive through the GI Bill and special home loans.
Corey Harris, former veterans outreach coordinator for former U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz., and a founding member of the ASU Alumni Association’s veterans chapter, told the committee it’s smart to recruit veterans into the university system and help see them through to graduation.
“Veterans are willing to move where they know they will be taken care of,” said Harris. “If you take care of them, they will contribute greatly to your society. If you don’t, you’re paying for it on the back end.”
rrjenn posted at 8:49 am on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Sure, why not. They deserve a few perks, and that's not going to break us.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:11 am on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
But how does this bill match or interface with existing Federal Active Duty education benefits? Let's get the full story.
Dale Whiting posted at 9:26 am on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
You know, in the 70's the benefit I thought was the most valuable to those enlisted men working for me was the acceleration of the time needed to apply for US Citizenship for those who enlisted. Even my native born career NCO's thought that was a great idea. How does such a program stake up with today's Neo-con majority?
Fascist Nation posted at 9:41 am on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Sure there is plenty of taxpayer loot for everyone in these times of plenty. And lawmakers love giving your hard earned dollars away to show how thoughtful,kind and magnificent they are. They even hold a press conference for their slavering corporate media to get their message out to the masses. What a guy!
gmansez posted at 10:40 am on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Fascist Nation:
I suppose you would rather give free tuition money to illegals instead of our service men and women, who actually have done something to deserve it? They are risking their lives so morons like you have a right to express your opinions without fear of prison, or worse.
You and your type never cease to amaze me with your assinine assumptions and uninformed comments.
If you disagree so much with our state government , please leave the state. Nobody will miss you, that's for sure.
Cerulean posted at 11:35 am on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Fascist Nation,
I agree, and BTW your avatar reminds me of an Earl Linderman painting. Very sinister.
I also think Dale Whiting has raised good points. IF the State will be reimbursed at a later date through the GI Bill benefit funds, then I think this is a good idea. Sometimes benefits take a while to reach recipients. It is true that beginning Aug. 1, 2011 the GI Bill pays for all public school in-state tuition and fees for veterans.
http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary/Post911_changes.html
Slabside posted at 11:37 am on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
You know, when I clicked on this news story to read I wondered as to how the site jack-wad would spin this into a pro-illegal issue. Douche Whiting claims to be ex-service but I'm leaning to think he is nothing but an illegal with a stolen computer. I'm quite surprised lettuce and 33 round magazine didn't find it's way into his ridiculous post (neo con was a given). I'm all for this bill as our service men and women deserve all we can provide to them.
davidflucier posted at 1:34 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Based upon some of the comments above, I'd like to clarify some misunderstandings. First, the educational benefits are earned as part of the contract our country signs with its military personnel. Should you survive, you can then utilize the Post 9-11 GI Bill to help finance your education or training. The funds come from the federal government and are paid to the college or university. In the case of an Arizona institution, it's between $8,000 to $8,500 per year per student veteran and those funds are paid to the educational institution. A housing allowance is also available while the veteran is in school. Put another way, if 1,000 veterans go to school here in Arizona for four years, they generate upwards of $76 million that go into the university system and the community.
On a personal note to FascistNation...you're the kind of person that makes me sometimes wonder why I fought three wars across 5 countries for your sorry as*. And I suspect you are a cowardly, mouth breathing moron who hides behind a website and wouldn't dare to say anything like this to a returning veteran's face...you know...man to man.
The bill referenced in the story entitles any veteran, honorably discharged, regardless of residency, to recieve the Arizona instate tuition rate...it's NOT free...it make that veterans eligible to pay the $8,000+ yearly fee versus the out of state tuition rate. It encourages our veterans, who have served honorably and who SURVIVED, to come to Arizona and make it their home and become a productive, highly educated member of our community.
EmperorSmith posted at 2:28 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Remember 3 decades ago when service personal where fight for the politics. They served honorably yet when remember the stories when they came home?
I support this bill will to serve willing to die then you have my respect.
I am not a Demorat
Cerulean posted at 2:48 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
davidflucier,
because I agreed with Fascist Nation, I felt as though you could have been directing your criticism of Fascist at myself as well. I interpreted Fascist Nation remark as sarcasm directed to our legislature for their priorities. So, what you are saying is that this bill is MORE about veterans moving to Arizona from another state getting in-state tuition rates. OK, fair enough. How is that not giving away dollars? (This irks me especially because we, collectively, are so stingy with people who have lived and worked in Arizona their entire lives, but because they have the wrong citizenship definition they are discriminated against.)
The article said "to require the state to set a goal for a certain percentage of contracts to go to veteran-owned businesses." Did the voters recently approve a ballot measure to eliminate affirmative action? Yes. I, personally, think that to require the state to set hiring goals to a specific subset of society flies in the face of what the public recently voted against. Or is affirmative action only bad when it relates to racial minorities and women? But we are so "thoughtful and kind".
Anyway, that was why I agreed with FN.
Cerulean posted at 3:17 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
P.S. davidflucier,
Your service to the United States is appreciated. But maybe you forgot the Oath of Enlistment? You pledged to defend the Constitution. I don't think I need to tell you what that means.
EmperorSmith posted at 3:37 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
tuition break and property tax break for disabled but special treatment on contracts. That is a crossing over the line.
EmperorSmith posted at 3:40 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Not unprecedented though, look at the post office.
davidflucier posted at 4:05 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
If it's sarcasm a person wishes to convey, than they should state it as such or learn to write so that it becomes clear to everyone.
The education benefit is Deferred Compensation...not an entitlement or a handout. That's the contract...if you serve and should you survive, you can collect on your deferred compensation package by exercising the option for educational benefits.
I never challenged the persons right to say whatever the person wants to say, but there is nothing that says they are protected from being challenged for what or how they say it.
I also think that if a person goes to defend an entire country, they are entitled to go to school anywhere in the country they so choose...without a penalty.
Let's be clear, these veterans are going to pay the FULL INSTATE TUITION based upon their deferred compensation package...they earned it...it's NOT Free as many perceive it to be.
BTW, goals for Veterans on contracts has nothing to do with affirmative action whatsoever. Making that comparison is fallacious...legally and in equity.
Cerulean posted at 4:10 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
Emperor Smith,
I believe that the post office awards points for prior service but that does not guarantee that the service-person will be hired over a non-service person.
EmperorSmith posted at 4:53 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
I love it! reverse stroke job.
EmperorSmith posted at 5:00 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
vote, I do think that more things should be on. THE WILL OF T THE PEOPLE. Oh and I mean that seriously, since I am one
Cerulean posted at 5:05 pm on Thu, Feb 3, 2011.
davidflucier,
The GI Bill is deferred compensation, yes. But the GI Bill does not cover the higher cost of non-resident tuition. So the state is saying we will forego the difference between resident or in-state and out-of-state or non-resident tuition fees. Sinema said that this goodwill gesture "would help the economy by attracting veterans and the money they receive through the GI Bill and special home loans." OK I agree, this part is a good idea. Maybe the money ends up in the wash or even-steven, as they say.
I respectfully disagree with your assessment of affirmative action. The words used to label the act are different but the only difference with the 'intent' is who receives the benefit. The State would be setting a percentage of jobs that can only go to veteran-owned businesses.
Poorman posted at 2:21 pm on Fri, Feb 4, 2011.
Why not?,a lot of people want to give all kinds of education help to illegals,i guess we sure as hell should help our servicemen.