Wis. Veterans May See Cut in Benefits

Source: N.Y. Times/Associated Press

Wis. Veterans May See Cut in Benefits

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 13, 2007
Filed at 2:57 a.m. ET

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Lawmakers have moved to scale back tuition benefits once lauded as some of the nation's most generous to veterans, saying they proved far more popular and costly than expected.

The state Legislature's budget committee voted 16-0 last week to approve changes to the benefits, including eliminating a promise of free graduate school tuition for veterans and setting a limit on how much time they would have to apply.

The changes would take effect if approved by the entire legislature and Gov. Jim Doyle, who will consider them as part of his budget this summer. They would leave the program underfunded by millions of dollars, forcing universities and technical colleges to cover shortfalls by raising tuition or making cuts.

Signed into law by Doyle to much fanfare on Memorial Day 2006, the program guaranteed free tuition to any Wisconsin veteran enrolled at a public university starting this fall.

The benefit was to apply regardless of whether veterans served in combat, how long after their discharge they enrolled and what type of degree they sought. It was restricted to state residents who entered the service in Wisconsin and were honorably discharged.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Veterans-Tuition.html?_r=1&oref=slogin