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Vet denied in-state tuition because he spent too much time in Iraq
WND. More reliable than CBS, but...
Despite being a Texas native, a registered voter and holder of a state driver's license, a decorated Marine has been denied lower in-state tuition at a community college because they need to make room for illegal aliens he spent too much time out of the state while serving two tours of duty in Iraq.

Carl Basham says he was shocked when personnel at Peoples Republic of Austin Community College told him a few weeks ago that he didn't qualify as a Texas resident "for tuition purposes." Basham was born in Beeville, Texas, registered to vote in Travis County in 1998, holds a Texas driver's license and does his banking in Austin, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. "They told me that I have to physically live in the state of Texas for at least a year," Basham told the paper. "It kind of hurts."

According to the report, Austin Community College officials were unable to specify why Basham isn't considered a Texas resident, only that he didn't meet state requirements as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. A spokeswoman said privacy laws prevent a discussion of Basham's case.
Heard on local radio here in San Antonio this morning that they said "if you enlist in any other state, you loose your Texas citizenship". He joined Marines in Shreveport, LA. This is not going to go over well here.
In-state tuition at the college is $500 per semester, compared to $2,600 for non-Texas residents.
"Mr. Basham has gone to war for us, and I intend to go to war for him!" said state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, in a letter to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. "We owe it to our returning service men and women to make it as easy and uncomplicated as possible for them to resume their normal lives." The higher education board is reportedly investigating the case. Crap! We got caught.
Basham, 27, says that while his college costs eventually will be covered by the federal government, those benefits won't be available for several months, so he'll need to come up with the higher tuition cost plus cash for books in the meantime. The Marine's wife, Jolie, could hardly believe her ears when, after presenting multiple pieces of evidence proving his Texas residence, her husband was turned down.
"[The admissions officer] said, 'It's really your military service that's holding you back.' I couldn't believe that those words came out of her mouth," Jolie Basham is quoted as saying.
I can.
She hasn't spent much time in Austin, has she?

Basham was honorably discharged from the Marines on Jan. 31 and hopes to work toward a degree in emergency medical care.
Anyone here wanna make some calls to Limbaugh or Savage or someone?
Posted by: Jackal 2005-08-18
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=127106