Editorial: A great way to say thanks

Monday, May 29, 2006 | 6:58 a.m.

The state of Wisconsin has hit upon a plan that all states should consider. The Legislature there has passed a law making the state's honorably discharged veterans eligible for free tuition at the University of Wisconsin as well as the state's 16 community colleges.

The governor of Wisconsin, Democrat Jim Doyle, has promised to sign the bill.

Just this school year the Wisconsin higher education system began paying half of veterans' tuition fees, and the full costs for family members of veterans killed in action. The new law, scheduled to take effect with the fall 2007 semester, is an expansion of this program.

The state estimates the program will cost $9 million. Officials with the university and community college systems said that other students may have to pay higher tuition for the cost to be recovered.

Even if that proves true, we believe the program is worth it. A small financial sacrifice on the part of fellow students is small indeed compared to the sacrifices most veterans made or were prepared to make.

Most veterans who attend college do so after finishing their military service. Although the services are now paying bonuses to those who enlist, the truth is that most veterans, after serving three to six years, do not have enough money saved to immediately enroll as students. They must work a year or two, which further delays their after-service careers. Many veterans then find themselves struggling to get ahead when they reach the workplace, as promotions are apt to go to those with seniority.

We believe that it is only right that veterans, who were willing to take time out of their lives to serve their country, should be awarded the chance to go straight into college, with a grateful state picking up their tuition fees.