Another liberal Democrat, another stupid policy stance

[Highwayman]

This time it’s former Congressman David Skaggs from Colorado. Please remember not to question his patriotism.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education has quietly called on lobbyists for the University of Colorado system to persuade lawmakers to kill a bill that would grant free tuition to decorated combat veterans.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Rafael Gallegos, D-Antonito, sailed through the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on a 9-2 vote last week. But opponents say the state's colleges and universities can't afford it.

Veterans tuition bill targeted : Colorado Government : The Rocky Mountain News

It goes on the say;

David Skaggs, director of the state Department of Higher Education, said that as a Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, he has empathy for what veterans who have been decorated for combat action have gone through.

"Our position on this is taken with enormous regret because of this, but we simply have no idea what the price tag on that would be," Skaggs said.

How nice. Skaggs is concerned about taxpayer dollars. This might be refreshing from a Democrat but look what he said last August;

Colorado higher education director David Skaggs says he will try to remove legal barriers to in-state tuition for Colorado students whose parents are in the country illegally.

Skaggs seeks tuition break for kids of illegal immigrants : Education : The Rocky Mountain News

Does Skaggs have any idea about the price tag for this? Does he care? Apparently not.

[jeezeweeze]

I love this response from one of the bloggers


Posted by Marshdale on February 13, 2008 at 8:46 a.m.

I am a democrat, I am anti-unjustified war, but damn it, give these guys what they deserve. A chance to recover their losses at home. They need the help. Numerous tours of duty. Sand shoved up their wazoo. Loss of income and jobs. Emotional hardship. Stress on their families. How much more crap do they have to take. They have earned the right to recieve some extra help from US!!!! If you agree or disagree with the war does not matter. The personal sacrifice of these soldiers supercedes everything else. If we as Coloradans and Americans can't do this for our young men and women in the services, then shame on us.

[wordsmythe]

Originally Posted by jeezeweeze

I love this response from one of the bloggers


Posted by Marshdale on February 13, 2008 at 8:46 a.m.

I am a democrat, I am anti-unjustified war, but damn it, give these guys what they deserve. A chance to recover their losses at home. They need the help. Numerous tours of duty. Sand shoved up their wazoo. Loss of income and jobs. Emotional hardship. Stress on their families. How much more crap do they have to take. They have earned the right to recieve some extra help from US!!!! If you agree or disagree with the war does not matter. The personal sacrifice of these soldiers supercedes everything else. If we as Coloradans and Americans can't do this for our young men and women in the services, then shame on us.

Good find Weeze

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by jeezeweeze

I love this response from one of the bloggers


Posted by Marshdale on February 13, 2008 at 8:46 a.m.

I am a democrat, I am anti-unjustified war, but damn it, give these guys what they deserve. A chance to recover their losses at home. They need the help. Numerous tours of duty. Sand shoved up their wazoo. Loss of income and jobs. Emotional hardship. Stress on their families. How much more crap do they have to take. They have earned the right to recieve some extra help from US!!!! If you agree or disagree with the war does not matter. The personal sacrifice of these soldiers supercedes everything else. If we as Coloradans and Americans can't do this for our young men and women in the services, then shame on us.

Emotional hardships...definitely....Family stress...most assuredly. Sand in their wazoo...undoubtedly..... Loss of income? I would make more money if I was in Iraq...a LOT more.

I may be mistaken but I thought military people went to school for free anyway. We have 100% tuition assistance while on duty and can use the GI Bill after duty. The GI Bill is only 39,000 so it might not be enough. The TA and GI Bill also covers lab fees, apprenticeship programs, tech schools and a host of other things. A lot of schools will also give you a break on tuition if you are military. I just enrolled for an online class through Devry and it's 500.00 PER credit hour (3 cr hour class) and the Army is paying for it. Soldiers can still go to school though with their GI Bill and TA.

[jeezeweeze]

Thanks Wordie

I like what he said " I am anti-unjustified war". Sure do wish I had said that.

The very notion that Democrats are somehow Un-American, just gets me in a defense mode. That if you dare buck the powers that be then you are somehow classed as a traitor, and you HATE THE TROOPS.

That is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo lame or should I say WHACK.

I think you said in a post that If Bill could run again you would vote for him.....

Well so would I. Considering the choices we are stuck with.

I know that will bring out the OH MY GOD SHE IS A DEMOCRAT crew. But that is not it at all. And trust me...If he had have authorized a unjustified war, he would be on my sh*t list.

In defense of Bush I will say ( several minutes have passed ) UHHHH I can't think of anything.

[aft_lizard01]

Originally Posted by Army_of_One

Emotional hardships...definitely....Family stress...most assuredly. Sand in their wazoo...undoubtedly..... Loss of income? I would make more money if I was in Iraq...a LOT more.

I may be mistaken but I thought military people went to school for free anyway. We have 100% tuition assistance while on duty and can use the GI Bill after duty. The GI Bill is only 39,000 so it might not be enough. The TA and GI Bill also covers lab fees, apprenticeship programs, tech schools and a host of other things. A lot of schools will also give you a break on tuition if you are military. I just enrolled for an online class through Devry and it's 500.00 PER credit hour (3 cr hour class) and the Army is paying for it. Soldiers can still go to school though with their GI Bill and TA.

Not quite Army. If you are Reserves or Guard your benefits are less than the Regular Army. If you don't use your benefits within a certain time period you lose them, forever(Ten Years). Now the VA has a back up plan for those who have exhausted their benefits or their benefits don't account for all of your tuition, but your disability has to exceed 20% and be of a nature that prevents you from seeking and holding a job. The Chapter 31 program(or Voc Rehab as it is otherwise know) is the usually perfect back up plan however their is usually a case or two that slips through the cracks of both systems. I got into the Ch.31 program because I foolishly never used my GI Bill. While I have personally never met someone who doesn't fit either, I am sure thre is an exception to either case.

[aft_lizard01]

Originally Posted by jeezeweeze

Thanks Wordie

I like what he said " I am anti-unjustified war". Sure do wish I had said that.

The very notion that Democrats are somehow Un-American, just gets me in a defense mode. That if you dare buck the powers that be then you are somehow classed as a traitor, and you HATE THE TROOPS.

That is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo lame or should I say WHACK.

I think you said in a post that If Bill could run again you would vote for him.....

Well so would I. Considering the choices we are stuck with.

I know that will bring out the OH MY GOD SHE IS A DEMOCRAT crew. But that is not it at all. And trust me...If he had have authorized a unjustified war, he would be on my sh*t list.

In defense of Bush I will say ( several minutes have passed ) UHHHH I can't think of anything.

I will get into this later with you, because their are absolutely alot of leftists in America that are absolutely anti-American, anti-troop and of course anti-war(Medea Benjamin for one who spit on me in Washington D.C. no less). There are actually some on the far-right(the neo-Nazis for one, they are more though in the thought that we are part of some grand Zionist agenda but nonetheless they believe their views match alot of the anti-American leftists when it comes to foreign policy)

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by aft_lizard01

I foolishly never used my GI Bill. While I have personally never met someone who doesn't fit either, I am sure thre is an exception to either case.

Right..there are always exceptions and people that "slip through the cracks" with any program. But the thing is that there is a program, actually many, available to soldiers during and after service.

It's true you only have 10 years after you get out to use your G.I. Bill. If one doesn't do that they can only blame themselves. A lot of soldiers don't use it and that's a shame.

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by aft_lizard01

I will get into this later with you, because their are absolutely alot of leftists in America that are absolutely anti-American, anti-troop and of course anti-war(Medea Benjamin for one who spit on me in Washington D.C. no less). There are actually some on the far-right(the neo-Nazis for one, they are more though in the thought that we are part of some grand Zionist agenda but nonetheless they believe their views match alot of the anti-American leftists when it comes to foreign policy)

I didn't know you were prior service military. Come by my office and grab some army stuff.

[Bubba]

Also, about that pay. Let's say you are a Reservist who lives somewhere where you make a decent living of say $60,000/yr. That is $5000/mo. gross pay. Now, let's look at what he will make in the military as an E6 with over 10 years of service, that is assuming that his reserve years count toward years of service. An E6 with over 10 makes approx. $34995/yr or $2916/mo. I would think that might cause a little financial hardship, but that is just me.