Lawmakers: Funding education for Texas veterans is too high

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AUSTIN, Texas —

They signed up to fight for their country, and the state of Texas promised to pay for their education.

For decades, veterans went to public universities and colleges under the Hazlewood Exemption, which kicks in after federal benefits under the G.I. Bill are exhausted. But the price tag has increased sevenfold since 2009, when legislators in Texas — which has the country's second-highest veteran population, 1.7 million — allowed the benefit to be passed on to veterans' children under a legacy provision.

"Everybody's heart was in the right place when we added all the other beneficiaries," said Republican Sen. Kel Seliger, chair of the Senate's higher education committee. But, he added, "it just got too high of a price tag."

Now, amid rising legacy costs and concern that a federal lawsuit over residency could push the benefit's annual figure to $2 billion, policymakers must carefully balance state politics and fiscal conservativism with commitments made to veterans during World War II.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article16011932.html#storylink=cpy

[Downwinder]

1. Going to have to rip all those "Support The Troops" ribbons

off their pickups and humvees.

[DhhD]

2. Republicans promised tax cuts for weathy Texans and double dip in state pay. To give these tax

cuts, they have to take money from programs of veterans, working people, the ill, public education and many other programs that serve the people.

Hope the Red State Extremist, pay for this by being removed from office at the next election, 2016.

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3. and take promised benefits from

our finest,,,, Disabled Veterans, POW, KIA, and MIA