Griffin stands up for Veterans

Concord resident Larry Root makes a great case for electing Rep. Martin Griffin, D-Jackson, to the Michigan Senate in a letter-to-the-editor that appears in the Oct. 22 edition of the Jackson Citizen Patriot.
Root is also the Michigan Coordinator for the Missing in America Project, a nationwide effort with a mission to locate, identify and inter with honor every veteran languishing on a mortuary shelf. Root writes:

Griffin a true friend to our military veterans

I am writing to urge you to vote for Marty Griffin for State Senate. I am the state coordinator of the Missing in America Program, a national group that works to ensure our unclaimed veterans receive an honorable burial.
I contacted Marty's office to urge him to support legislation this state needed to make sure every veteran is properly taken care of. Marty went further; he introduced the legislation, which passed in the House last session. It has been reintroduced and is now in the Senate.
Marty Griffin listens to his constituents' concerns and is a true friend of veterans.

The bill in question was House Bill 6200, introduced by Griffin on June 4, 2008 and approved in the House with a vote of 107-0 on Sept. 18, 2008 and sent to the Senate. The bill would simply require funeral directors to screen for veteran status when a cremation order is signed. It died because the Senate refused to take it up before the two-year Legislative session expired; not a single committee hearing was held, nothing.

He reintroduced the bill on Feb. 17, 2009, and it was approved in the House on Feb. 24 by a vote of 106-1. Chuck Moss, R-Birmingham, cast the lone no vote. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs where it is stuck again.

First, we need to elect a stand up guy like Griffin for who “Support the Troops” is more than a bumper sticker, and Democrats need to take control of the Senate so good Legislation can at least be considered. The special election to fill the vacant 19th District seat in the Senate is Nov. 3.

Public pressure forces Board of Commissioners to do the right thing and support the troops

It’s amazing what a little public pressure and embarrassment can do, and the pressure of Livingston County veterans made the County Board of Commissioners do the right thing and approve a tax levy for one-twentieth of a mill to provide money for a fund for the relief of honorably discharged indigent members of the military and their families.

The measure was approved unanimously Monday night, despite the all-Republican board initially balking at doing the right thing and even trying to pass the buck to voters. Pressure from the daily newspaper and citizens moved the board to act. The Livingston County Veterans Committee had been seeking only half of what the law allowed the county to levy.

According to the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, the tax will amount to about $7.50 a year for the owner of a $300,000 home – considerably less than the price of an average home in Livingston County that goes for around $200,000, and it should raise more than $400,000 for the fund annually.

However, the veterans will most likely not see an increase in funding, and long-time Commissioner Jack LaBelle said the millage will almost certainly mean the Veterans Affairs department will see its general fund allocation reduced, according to the paper.

That means the county’s general fund will actually see a tax increase. I’m also a little confused because the article says “Veterans Affairs officials would like to use some of the money to convert some of the office's part-time positions to full-time roles.”

I’m certainly not a lawyer, but my reading of the statute says the levy is supposed to create and supply money to a fund to be used for the emergency relief of indigent veterans in need. The statute says it is to be used “…for the purpose of creating a fund for the relief of honorably discharged indigent members.”

The definition of indigent is based on income, and according to the article, 65 percent of the county’s more than 13,000 veterans fall into that category.

My understanding of the state law allowing the levy, is that it is to used for a dedicated fund for grants to veterans and their families in need; not for office furniture or the funding of positions and not to reduce the county’s duty and obligations to fund the county's Veterans Affairs office so they can use the money for the general fund. Now, it may be that the law allows for things that directly benefit veterans like counselors, but it doesn’t seem like that from the law.

Editorial tells the county GOP to care less about billboards and more about veterans

Writing headlines is a lost art, and the copy editor at the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus responsible for the headline of Sunday’s editorial deserves an award for this one, “Quit making veterans beg for small tax.”

The excellent editorial takes the all-Republican Livingston County Board of Commissioners to task for their refusal to levy a required millage to provide money for a fund for the relief of honorably discharged indigent members of the military and their families. The 1899 law mandates that each county levy one-tenth of a mill for the fund, and the Livingston County Veterans Committee, consisting of five members appointed by the Board of Commissioners to oversee operations of the Veterans Affairs Department, is only asking for half of that. It would cost the average homeowner in the county less than $7 a year.

The Board of Commissioners’ Human Resources Committee decided it needed further study, and they kicked it down the road. Apparently, support the troops is just a campaign slogan for the Republicans, and the Livingston County Republicans care more about their billboards claming the county has the lowest tax rate in the state than veterans.

American Legion Post 141 in Howell sent out a mass email asking the more than 13,000 veterans living in the county to attend tonight’s meeting of the board’s Finance Committee. The email said, “Veterans Office traffic is up. Contacts with the Veterans Office rose over 40 percent between 2003 and 2008, and are up an additional 15 percent in the first three months of this year. The combination of increasing veterans, the bad economy and an aging veterans population is creating a lot of pressure for helping veterans.”

The newspaper’s editorial said it pretty clearly, “the Livingston County Board of Commissioners should do the right thing and levy a small tax that will guarantee a fund to provide support services for indigent military veterans and their families. To do otherwise — or to pass the buck by holding an unnecessary election on the matter — is not only a slap in the face to those we relied on to protect our freedoms, but also disregards a clearly stated law.”

The editorial also picked up on the county GOP’s decision to worry more about appearances than doing the right thing, “but the county board has been balking. In so doing, it gives credence to critics who believe the all-Republican board is more interested in protecting its low-tax status — trumpeted by the county Republican Party before last fall’s elections — than in providing services for veterans.”

The Finance Committee meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday in the commissioners chambers at the courthouse annex, 304 E. Grand River in downtown Howell next to the Historic Livingston County Courthouse. The meeting is open to the public.

All GOP county board balks at $7.50 a year to support the troops

It seems like a no-brainer: who wouldn’t mind spend $7.50 a year to help military veterans and their families out of a financial hardship? The answer is, apparently, the all-Republican Livingston County Board of Commissioners.

The Livingston County Veterans Committee, consisting of five members appointed by the Board of Commissioners to oversee operations of the Veterans Affairs Department, wants the board to authorize a levy, required by law anyway, to fund the depleted Veterans Relief fund. Public Act 214 provides that a county shall levy one-tenth of a mill to fund Veterans Relief.

Livingston County has not been levying the required millage like the surrounding counties of Shiawassee, Washtenaw, Oakland, and Ingham do. The veterans committee took their request to the board’s Human Resources Committee last week, and the committee said they want to study it further. The committee was asking for half of the levy they can ask for.

The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus has an editorial advocating for the levy. According to the paper, “the one-twentieth of a mill would cost the owner of a home with a market value of $300,000 about $7.50 a year. It's peanuts to the taxpayer, but it would raise $400,000 a year for the veteran’s office.”

The last time I checked, the average market value of a home in Livingston County is just over $200,000. This is a small sacrifice to make for those who defend the country.

I’m a little tired of right-wingers calling people who didn’t support the Iraq fiasco traitors, and co-opting the slogan “Support the Troops.” For most right-wingers, it’s just a campaign slogan, and they refuse to put their money where their mouth is.

The concluding line of the editorial is great, saying “The ball is in the commissioners' court. They need to step up to ensure that veterans' needs are met. Otherwise, the Memorial Day ceremonies are, to them, more sham than substance.”

However, they also say “the all-Republican board likes to boast of its low tax rate. It need not compromise that stand. If it imposes a tax levy for the veterans, it need only reduce its county tax by the same amount. That way, the veterans are served and the county's tax rate is unchanged.”

I don’t think that is incorrect.

The statute says the “…purpose of creating a fund for the relief of honorably discharged indigent members of the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and women's auxiliaries of all wars or military expeditions in which the United States of America has been, is, or may hereafter be, a participant.”

It also says, “Funds raised in accordance with the provisions of this section may be expended for the relief of indigent wives and children of active duty soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, coast guardsmen, nurses, and members of the women's auxiliaries during the continuance of present hostilities and prior to their discharge.”

What that is saying to me - and I am not a lawyer - is that the millage should be used to establish a fund to provide money to help indigent vets and their families. Funding of the Livingston County Veterans Affairs Office is separate from the fund.

Just one more example of Republicans giving lip service to supporting the troops

HOWELL -- Like many people on Memorial Day, I took in a Memorial Day parade, and I watched the parade in downtown Howell with some of my grandchildren.

It was uplifting to see people cheering the veterans groups and the color guard. We can only hope that same support materializes Tuesday when the Human Resources Committee of the all-Republican Livingston County Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. May 26 in the commissioners chambers at the courthouse annex, 304 E. Grand River in downtown Howell.

The Livingston County Veterans Committee sent out a mass email to all veterans in the county urging them to attend the meeting, and the plan to ask the committee to meet its obligations and properly fund the depleted Veterans Relief fund.

The committee consists of five members appointed by the Board of Commissioners to oversee operations of the Veterans Affairs Department. The committee says Public Act 214 provides that a county must levy a millage to fund Veterans Relief, but Livingston County has not been levying the required millage like the surrounding counties of Shiawassee, Washtenaw, Oakland, and Ingham do.

The committee is asking the County Commissioners to approve a 1/20th of a mill levy, but so far the County Commission has refused to take a vote on authorizing a Veterans Relief Fund millage.

Veterans Committee Chair John Colone is asking all of the more than 13,000 veterans who live in Livingston County to show up at the meeting and show their support. The Veterans Committee met several weeks ago, and the committee declared an "Emergency" because Veterans Relief Funds have been exhausted for 2009. The downturn in the economy and the war in two countries has increased demand on the fund and for help.

Republicans have a long history of doing little but waving the flag and saying they support the troops, but they refuse to support them where it really counts.

Last January the same Board of Commissioners declined to replace the director and the administrative assistant at the Livingston County Veterans Affairs Department when they retired at the end of February.

For Republicans, support the troops is just a campaign slogan. If the Board of Commissioners fund the Veterans Relief like they are required to, the Livingston County Republican Party may not be able to put billboards up along I-96 that brag the county has the lowest county tax rate among Michigan's 83 counties. Of course, as this illustrates, the county has the least amount of services.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the commissioners chambers at the courthouse annex, 304 E. Grand River in downtown Howell next to the Historic County Courthouse.

Rightwing blogs misrepresenting veterans protest

LANSING – Veterans groups will rally on the Capitol steps at 3:30 p.m. Thursday to protest cuts made to the Veterans Service Organization (VSO) grants in the current budget and the complete elimination of the VSO in the 2010 budget that begins Oct. 1.

The House and Senate Appropriations Committees approved an Executive Order earlier this month that cut $389 million in spending from the current budget. The cuts include across the board cuts to every state department of at least 4 percent, cutting more than 200 state jobs, requiring at least six unpaid furlough days by state workers and cuts to local governments of more than $41 million. What made the cuts so difficult is that there are only four months left of the fiscal year and most of the funds have already been spent.

Local veterans groups are upset that $1 million was cut from the $4.1 million VSO budget, and they are also protesting Senate Bill 250 that appropriates the money for the department for the fiscal year 2010. The Governor’s proposed budget allocates $4 million for the VSO grants, but SB 250 completely deletes that money and it transfers it to the Veterans Affairs Directorate that is responsible for managing the administrative functions of the Michigan Veterans' Trust Fund.

Rightwing groups and blogs are spinning the story as a protest against Gov. Jennifer Granholm while completely ignoring the role of Sen. Valde Garcia, R-Howell, the sponsor of SB 250 and the chair of the State Police and Military Affairs Appropriations Sub-Committee. It was his idea to delete the money for the VSO grants and transfer it to the Veterans Affairs Directorate.

I would ask why are they going after the Governor and not Garcia, but I know the answer to that one.

I personally know Garcia, and like me, he is a veteran. I know he believes he is doing the right thing that will benefit veterans, and he may be right. But it makes no sense to attack just the governor.

The VSO grants are used to fund benefit counselors in the county veteran’s offices, and these councilors help veterans wade through the complex rules to get the benefits they deserve. Apparently, Garcia wants more control over how the money is spent, and that is the reason for the move.

SB 250 was passed favorably out of the Appropriations Sub-Committee on April 1 to the Senate floor and it is awaiting action. Apparently, Sen. Dennis Olshove, D-Warren, is planning to intruding an amendment to the bill when it is debated on the Senate floor that will restore the money to the VSO.

Many veterans will already be in town for the 14th Annual Veteran's Memorial on May 21 to mark Memorial Day, and it should be well attended.

County GOP gives lip service to Support the Troops slogan

I wish I had a dollar for every time a Republican accused anyone who opposed the unnecessary Iraq invasion of not supporting the troops.

But when it comes down to actually supporting the troops, it's just a campaign slogan for the GOP. The recent action by all Republican Livingston County Board of Commissioners demonstrated that fact. Because of budget constraints, the board of commisioners is not replacing the director and the administrative assistant at the Livingston County Veterans Affairs Department when they retire at the end of February. The VA county department only has three employees; the third one being a counselor.

Current director Bob Heinel presented a plan earlier this week to the board's Health and Human Services Committee to replace him, and a very emotional Heinel said the office is “headed towards catastrophe." I, like Bob Heinel, am a veteran, and I worked with him when I covered the county for the county's daily newspaper. I know how dedicated he is, and how involved in veteran's affairs he is. Not just officially, but he is at the ceremony to add new names to the Veteran's Memorial in downtown Howell, presides at the annual awards dinner and at the Veterans Day ceremony.

The department helps veterans and their families and survivors in the county in filing out the sometimes complex claims for all federal, state, county and other benefits to which they may be entitled. It also administers the county operation of the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund and county Veterans Relief Fund to assist veterans and their dependants with financial emergencies, and the county Veterans Burial Fund to help provide an honorable burial for veterans and their spouses. Some of this complex paperwork and appeal process to get the benefits veterans are entitled to can take months and even years.

In 2007 alone they provided assistance to some 5,000 veterans. The Iraq war has really increased the workload. Those veterans need readjustment assistance, including claims and treatment for PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other disabilities. Livingston County has had a soldier killed in Iraq every year since 2003 up until 2007 and 2008. We have lost more soldiers in Iraq than the 12 years of hostilities in Vietnam. The downturn in the economy, layoffs and foreclosures means veterans need help even more. This decision comes on the heels of news that suicides among soldiers in the U.S. Army rose to its highest level in decades.

When these services are most needed, why are we cutting back on them? Perhaps it's so the Livingston County Republican Party can put billboards up along I-96 that brag the county has the lowest county tax rate among Michigan's 83 counties. That is true, but we also have none of the services that other counties enjoy. The heavy snowfall this winter has really demonstrated what kind of havoc cutbacks in snow plowing can cause.

The Board of Commissioners has floated a couple of options to keep the department going. Those include partnering with neighboring Washtenaw County, shifting duties to other departments or raising taxes. We know the third option is out of the question.

Let's look at partnering with Washtenaw. Michigan is losing population, but not Livingston and Washtenaw. According to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), Livingston has a population of 184,000 people. Since the 2000 Census, the population of Livingston County has grown at a rate of 17 percent. That makes it the fastest growing county in the state. Washtenaw County has a population of 352,000, and it has grown 9.3 percent since the last Census.

The bottom line is when the need for help for veterans is growing and the population is growing, we are cutting back on services and limiting access. So much for supporting the troops, and all so the GOP can lay claim to the title of lowest county taxes in the state so the local GOP can put up billboards touting that fact.

The Board of Commissioners will meet at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 to discus the issue.

Mid-Michigan military veterans back Schauer

State Sen. Mark Schauer picked up the endorsement of a group of mid-Michigan military veterans in his race for U.S. Congress from the 7th Congressional District.

According to the press release announcing the endorsement, “Veterans for Schauer" is a constituency group committed to electing Schauer. The group, co-chaired by Brigadier General Bob Secrist and U.S. Navy Submarine veteran Fred Strack, will reach out to current and former members of the armed forces and mobilize support for Schauer's campaign.

"When the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base was facing closure, Mark Schauer helped rally the community and worked with people like Carl Levin and Joe Schwarz to keep the base open," Secrist said. "Mark has a strong record of standing up for our men and women in uniform, and will be a powerful voice for veterans as a member of Congress."

This is in sharp contrast to his opponent, who voted against the expanded GI Bill. Apparently, Tim Wahlberg supports the war but not the troops. Perhaps his healthcare plan for returning veterans is the same one he prescribes for the 47 million Americans without healthcare: go to the ER.

"Mark understands the serious challenges facing Michigan veterans, and has a strong track record of fighting for military families," Strack said "When it comes to jobs, affordable healthcare and keeping people in their homes, veterans can count on Mark Schauer to stand up for our values.”

Senate Republican budget proposal cuts $6 million from Veterans budget

LANSING - Senate Republicans sent a mixed message to military veterans in Michigan the last two weeks with both a huge cut to the Veterans Affairs budget and an ambitious package of bills addressing veteran’s affairs.

Last week the Senate Republicans rolled out a package of 33 bills aimed at supporting Michigan military personnel by offering programs and incentives for health support, financial and economic incentives and educational opportunities. But on Tuesday, the Director of the Senate Fiscal Agency briefed the Appropriations Committee on Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop's, R-Rochester, proposal to balance the budget that begins Oct. 1 with $1 billion dollars in cuts and one-time revenue fixes.

That proposal cuts includes $2.2 million from the Michigan Military and Veterans Affairs Department, and it reduces grants for Veteran Service Organization by $3.9 million. At a time when more and more U.S. Army combat troops and Marines are returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq with both physical and mental health problems and National Guard call ups are the highest since World War II the veteran's budget is taking a $6 million hit.

At this point it’s unclear how much the proposed measures in the 33-bill package will affect the General Fund budget. Many of the measures will affect other budgets, like higher education. However, higher education is also suffering from cuts under the current Senate budget proposal. In addition to cuts already suffered by colleges and universities to fix a deficit in the current budget, a 2.5 percent increase for higher education and eliminating a similar increase for community colleges is proposed in the budget that begins on Oct. 1.

According to a press release from the Senate Republic Caucus, the package of bills from the Senate “would eliminate a one-time service fee from the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code for honorably discharged veterans who are totally disabled, providing them with a special registration for private passenger vehicles. The disabled veteran would continue to receive subsequent registration plates and tabs free of charge.”

The bills would also allow children of active military personnel who are transferred out of state to keep their in-state residency status for determining college tuition; allow spouses and children of an active duty member of the armed forces stationed in Michigan to be considered a resident when determining college tuition; prohibit the lapse of life insurance policies for active duty military personnel; and ban foreclosure or seizure of the property of an active duty member while they are deployed and for six months after they return.

On Wednesday the Senate Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs Committee began hearing testimony on of some the first bills in the package with an overview. Hearings are to begin next week on specific bills. Expected to be presented to the Committee next week is Senate Bill 751, which sets aside state contracts for veteran-owned businesses. Additionally, SB 732, SB 733 and SB 734, which designates certain veteran-owned businesses as Michigan patriot businesses, will also be before the committee.

It’s unclear how the cuts to the Michigan Military and Veterans Affairs Department will affect any of these bills.