Veteran’s free tuition reports misleading
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- April
- 20
Some Web site have put out reports suggesting that veterans will now be eligible for free tuition in state universities. Those reports are misleading.
State Assemblyman Greg Ball announced recently that his proposal to create a tuition remission program for veterans had been included in the recently passed state budget. While that is correct, it doesn’t immediately follow that the program is now available to veterans.
The bill hasn’t seen any movement in the assembly since May of last year and hasn’t found a sponsor in the senate.
The bottom line is that while the money to fund the program may be available in the budget, it will not become available to veterans until it is becomes law.
Let’s wait and see how that goes.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, April 20th, 2008 at 9:30 am by Hema Easley. 
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The Assemblyman just continues to be unethical.
The bills are S06803 and A 9803. Last action was 4/11/2008 – “DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.”
In other words, it has not yet been actually signed. We understand that it WILL be signed. In any case, it is not supposed to be effective until 7/1/2008.
Excerpt from a Ball Press Release:
April 11, 2008
Assemblyman Gregory Ball (R-Carmel) held two press conferences today in the 99th Assembly District to announce that his landmark program to create a tuition remission program for veterans has been included in the 2008-9 State Budget. The budget was passed by both houses earlier this week.
The 2008-9 State Budget includes $2 million in state funding to create Ball’s tuition remission program for combat veterans. New York State veterans who served in the hostilities of Vietnam, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf will be eligible for tuition assistance benefits equal to the cost of SUNY undergraduate tuition, or the equivalent at any other New York State higher education institution.
Truth and Facts
Assemblyman Ball’s attempt to take credit for an initiative to provide tuition benefits to combat veterans is a slap in the face to all the men and women of our military.
Fact: January 9, 2008 the Governor declares in his State of the State Address the following: “I will send you a bill guaranteeing New York’s returning combat veterans a benefit the covers the cost of SUNY and CUNY tuition.â€
Fact: One week later on January 17, 2008 Assemblyman Ball introduced Assembly Bill #9701 proposing a remission program for veterans.
Fact: On January 22, 2008 the Governor submitted as part of his Executive Budget Assembly Bill #9803 which proposed to appropriate funding to provide tuition to Combat Veterans.
Fact: On April 9, 2008 Assemblyman Ball voted “NO†on Assembly Bill #9803 and “NO†to provide tuition assistance to combat veterans.
Fact: On April 10, 2008 Mr. Ball declares his Assembly Bill #9701 was made part of the budget he voted against.
Fact: Mr. Ball’s Assembly Bill #9701 today remains in the Assembly Higher education Committee, where no action has been taken on it.
Conclusion: Serving in the military builds character and integrity. Assemblyman Ball disgraced the military when, during a time of war, he left before the end of his service commitment. Today he continues to use our veterans and the military for his own political purposes.
[from Page 1, Putnam County Times, 23 April 2008 edition]
Here is a letter from Ball:
BALL ANNOUNCES LANDMARK PROGRAM
TO PROVIDE VETERANS WITH FREE COLLEGE TUITION
There is an old saying that no good deed goes unpunished. The recent letters to the editor attacking my legislation and successful efforts to get a combat veterans tuition reimbursement program included in this year’s executive budget seem to bring that quote to life and make us all remember that the fall campaigns are just around the corner.
I have been given no greater honor than serving as the ranking Republican member of Veterans Affairs. We have the finest fighting force the world has ever known and it is my honor to fight for our active duty and reserve troops as well as our veterans to make sure they have the world class services they need, and were promised. Even as a member of the minority party in the Assembly, I have leveraged my position on that committee to deliver for New York’s veterans statewide.
While this is an election year, and some would rather attack than applaud, the tuition reimbursement program that was included in this year’s executive budget was a direct product of a bill I introduced, lobbied and fought for now, for over a year. Working with and reaching out directly to the Governor and the Lt. Governor’s staff for over a year, I made this bill and it’s inclusion in the executive budget my top legislative priority as the Republican ranking member on the Veterans Affairs Committee.
After introducing legislation last year, my bill was supported by the entire Assembly Republican Conference, a rare legislative victory for a freshman Assemblyman, and made part of their 2008 legislative agenda, ReNew New York. These are the facts. Supported by a variety of veterans’ advocacy organizations, including the New York State Council of Veterans Organizations, this landmark program was included in the Executive Budget proposal, as well as in the budget plans submitted by both houses of the Legislature. Once again, these are the facts.
This year, and after a year of delicate handling, that landmark program to create a tuition remission program for veterans has been included in the 2008-09 State Budget at a $2 million dollar level of funding. This was a great victory and one I was proud to announce, not for the credit, but to get the word out to the thousands of veterans from past and future wars and conflicts that it will help. Indeed, it is incumbent upon all of us to get the word out to all of New York’s combat veterans to take advantage of this historic program!
It is sad to see such blatant political divisiveness on such an important and historic legislative issue. They say you can’t just let negative attacks sit, so I decided to reply to the negative rants recently, and justifiably, published by your paper. In summary, the recent letters attacking the genesis of this proposal are not only mean spirited, but factually incorrect and it would be nice to see a story on this great program in your paper soon.
Greg Ball
Member of Assembly
Somers, Yorktown, North Salem, Carmel, Patterson, Southeast, Pawling
Once again the Journal News screws up a story for their politically biased benefit.
Here is a website with the facts:
http://www.NYCOMBATVETS.com
I filled out my FAFSA and I received $4,350 under the new bill that was passed. It clearly said on my FAFSA that the money was from the Gov’s newly signed bill paying 98% of state tuition.
I have to laugh when I click on a ku=ink labeled NYCOMBATVETS and go to a page that is actually part of Greg Ball’s Ball4NY website. What combat did Greg Ball see? maybe his superior officer had a desk drawer that was stuck and GB fought to get it open.
I would like to point out that the original Journal News article was technically incorrect. The TAP money from HESC is not just for SUNY. I go to a private school. I did my FAFSA online and and I am receiving $4300 for the fall semester from New York State (which is up from $1000). I assume that is also the cost of SUNY tuition. The JN should publish another article to let vets know that this program is actually in effect and is not just for SUNY schools.