As lawmakers gear up for a special session of the legislature on Monday, the details of the governor's new budget are still unclear.
Black River Falls Republican Terry Musser says he still hasn't see the plan, and he certainly can't read the estimated "1700 pages" in an hour and then turn around and vote.
Governor Jim Doyle has been trekking around the state discussing some of the contents of his new budget plan. Musser, who is the Chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs committee, says Doyle is telling veterans groups that "extreme Republicans" want to dramatically cut veterans programs.
Musser says that's simply not true.
Doyle continues his support of our veterans, and has removed restrictions on free tuition for veterans, such as the proposed limit to just undergraduate credits.
Also, Doyle opposes having a ten-year cutoff to make use of that Tuition Remission Program, but he's not opposed to some limits. He says it was never meant for anyone to go to school forever.
Due to the unanticipated amount of vets wanting to go to college, Musser agrees there needs to be some reasonable limits, but emphasizes that ten years is not enough time to get that education. And he says a 128 credit limit is OK, but it should not be limited to undergraduate credits because some returning GIs might already have their undergraduate degree and need more schooling.
The University of Wisconsin System maintains, the proposed funding for the Wisconsin G.I. Bill will not cover the full costs of this program, and that will leave a gap of at least 18-million dollars for students to absorb.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (2:12 MP3)
