This is simply outrageously wrong on many levels but what can you expect from the state that continually sends

Question

Ted Kennedy and Hanoi John Kerry to the US Senate. From the Boston Herald.

Lawmakers have slammed the classroom door shut on Massachusetts soldiers home from Iraq and seeking to go to state college, failing to cough up $8 million needed for crucial tuition waivers.

Army and Air National Guard soldiers expecting to be rewarded for their war duty under Gov. Mitt Romney’s “Welcome Home” bill found the welcome mat ripped out last week by the Legislature as it ended its formal session without approving money for the waivers.

Lashing out at the “wrong priorities” of lawmakers, Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey said, “The Legislature has made the appalling decision to vote on things like tuition breaks for illegal immigrants, but they couldn’t take the time to take a vote to help our Massachusetts war heroes…I find it deeply disturbing.”

National Guard officials say the bureaucratic red tape has left some soldiers scrambling to meet tuition costs.

Providing handouts like free tuition to Illegal Immigrants does nothing more than serve as a magnet and invitation for more illegal activity. Providing free tuition to those who are not even LEGAL residents in the country, and denying the same benefits to US Citizens who live in a neighboring state is ludicrous.. Providing those benefits to illegals while at the same time Denying them to those who wear the nations uniform is outrageous.

Here is some contact info for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, & Senate, Just in Case anyone wanted to let them know where their priorities should be.

Some of the Schools will be honoring the tuition Waivers.

At Framingham State College, where 17 National Guard members enrolled last year, administrators said they plan to honor the fee waiver and petition the Board of Higher Education for reimbursement.

A UMass-Boston spokesman said the school will continue to honor the tuition waiver for veterans, and advocate for better benefits for soldiers.

And some are not…

“We have to comply with what the legislation says and we’re in the process of trying to figure that out,” said Brian Baldwin, a Bridgewater State College spokesman.

The American people run this country and it is about time these elected officials get some stern warnings from the citizens that put them in office in the first place.

Answer 1

This is really appalling that our troops are being treated this way.
I'd like to comment on the last sentence about the American People running this country. I beleive you are wrong. The American people should run our country, but through years of sitting back and not voicing oppinions the majority no longer rules. Our founding fathers would be ashamed of the people in this country right now because they are not standing up for themselves. Keep in mind people like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin Fought to escape the rule of a government that didn't care about the opinions or beliefs of the people. That is also one of the primary reasons for the second ammendment to our constitution, so that the people would be armed if they every had to overthrow our government. In those times most military was millitia so the people would have the government outmanned.
At this point in time, our politicians are not making policies that favor the Majority of people in our country. They are serving whatever minority makes the most noise. Earlier this year, 2 senators from the state of Arkanas voted to stop the protection of marriage act. within the last two years over 75% of the voters in Arkansas voted to ban gay marriage in the state. There is no way that those senators were voting with the citizens they were supposed to be representing. Its not that I'm extremely opposed to gay marriage, but it ticks me off that the 75% of Arkanasans had their faces spat in. I'm sure the majority of people in this country want stricter laws dealing with illegal immigrants, but because the minorities are vocal about what they want, and the majority is silent, because they are afraid they will offend someone, the will of the people will not be carried out in this issue.

Answer 2

Look, all states have governments that mess up and don't pass things that they were supposed to pass on time--New Jersey had to shut down last month, remember?

Look, I think you make a valid point, it's pretty bad that lawmakers haven't gotten this together yet, but do you have to be all angry and miserable at Massachusetts and drag the Ted Kennedy and John Kerry into this? After all, they have nothing to do, really, with state legislature. I think you're just angry at a liberal state for the sake of being angry at a liberal state.

Answer 3

When was the last time you know of that the government kept a promise? Offering college to those who return, is just a ploy to tempt young people to enlist in the military. With a tight economy, many kids opt for this, because they want more than a minimum wage, burger-flippin' job.
They have been doing this for years. Recruiters go to schools all over the country, and tell them that they can have an opportunity to go to college. When it actually comes time to pay for tuition, they go back on their word.
Kids are also told before they sign up, that they get to choose their tour of duty destination.
When it's time to serve, if a person says they want to go to Florida to train, they get shipped to Idaho. If they decide to go to Virginia, they get shipped to California.
They need bodies. They are so desperate for bodies, they lie to these kids and tell them they will get so much money to attend a university.
Elected officials will continue to ignore warnings. Ultimatums may have a better effect. Brute force is all they seem to understand. Push and keep pushing.
Out of the 1 million foreign students studying in the US today, I wonder how many are here to study tuition-free. Yet, men and women who fight for our freedom are seeing the door slammed in their faces. It is not just in Massachusetts, that this is happening.
How shameful. There is not much that is lower than that. Especially coming from a president that spends billions to rebuild Iraq. Billions more to keep the war alive. A man who went AWOL, then probably bought his honorable discharge papers.
Good luck, with your college dream. Maybe one day the dream will come true.
Thank You for all you do and stand for.
Added Aug. 11, 2006
I really do agree with Mike, We the People, do not run our government. They only make a representation of our opinions to get themselves elected.

Answer 4

I go up to boston, wooster, and brockton with my job, and I absolutely hate it up there. The only thing that touched me up there was when a cab driver was taking me from my job to the hotel, we started talking politics. I know that this guy probably didn't even make $35,000/yr, when it costs a lot more to live there, and this guy had a high ranking job at a trucking company before it shut it's doors. He wasn't mad at the U.S., as most people are, he was just upset at the idiot politicians up there, and gave as much money as he could to get the right people in office, and get kerry and kennedy out of there.. I couldn't believe this guy had a family of 3 or 4, and gave money he didn't have to try to make a difference....That's enough to give you hope, even if you live in an area like Boston.

Answer 5

The above references to Ted Kennedy and John Kerry are
simply name calling for the sake of deviciveness.

I agree that letting this issue fall through the cracks is
apalling - but I will not use it to damn the entire state and
every Democrat that ever lived.

That is "sound bite politics" - and those who use it should be
ashamed.

Answer 6

That is ******* outrageous, these people put their lives on the line for this country and have to stand in line behind illegals. These politicians have just spit in the face of these soldiers and America. What will they do next, maybe they can roll out the red carpet for these piece of $hit criminals.

GOD BLESS THE AMERICAN MILITARY, JOBS ILLEGALS WON'T DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

If you were right about the AMERICAN people running the country (instead of politicians and corporations) then those kids wouldn't be returning from a war...or not.

Answer 8

Sorry, I don't feel like reading whole thing. You should've just done a summary.

Answer 9

I totally agree with you on this issue its not at all fair.

Answer 10

THERE WILL BE A KNAWING AND MASHING OF TEETH IN NOVEMBER

I AM SHARPENING MY VOTERS CARD AS WE SPEAK