I guess Texas really is 'Bush Country'…

…because it looks like Texas hates veterans, too…

A Marine trying to enroll at the University of Texas was surprised to find he was no longer a state resident -- even though he had a Texas drivers license, car registration, and bank records.

The University says he spent too much time outside the state -- serving two tours of duty in Iraq.

That means his tuition shoots up from $500 to $2,600. (FOXNews)

I know it's been a long time since my discharge, but I think Washington still honors your home of record for resident tuition, regarless of how long you may have been posted abroad. Certainly every state should. It might be worth checking on the rules where you are, and rattling the cage of a legislooter or two if your state seems to hate vets, too...

Hat tip to Terry Turner.

UPDATE: (Not quite a) pal o' Upper Left (his choice, not mine) Analog Kid offers some helpful information (and a less useful argument) in comments. The school in question is apparently Austin Community College, not UT. The Marine's military home of record is apparently in conflict with his other residency documentation. The school says it would support a change in the statute to allow returning vets in this situation to enroll as residents.

Like most things, there are bits that are more complicated than a few sentences can really summarize. There's a simple principle involved, though. Should we, as a society, make every reasonable (and maybe the occasional extraordinary) effort to honor and assist returning veterans?

It's a matter of morality, really, and the question is simply 'which side are you on?'.