LEGISLATIVE REPORT
October 4, 2012
Ken Kooyman
Senior Vice-Commander/Legislative Director
DAV Department of Massachusetts
Room 546, State House
Boston, MA 02767
(617) 727-2974
(314) 750-3752
DISABLED VETERANS’ “COLA” HELD UP BY SENATE
Greetings,
As part of my duties, the legislative process doesn’t end with the resolutions and filing and lobbying on behalf of Bills. It also includes reporting on the outcome of legislation and how our congressional delegation voted or didn’t.
In the final hours of the Senate session the COLA of 1.3% was tabled. The Senate according to Senator Patty Murray, Chairman Veterans Affairs Committee, stated “An anonymous Senate Republican is blocking a cost of living increase for America’s disabled veterans.” She also stated this was done with full consent of Senator Mitch McConnell.
The Senate also failed to establish a $1 billion jobs program putting veterans back to work. It would have placed some of these capable young men and women into jobs in local fire and police departments and other federal jobs where much needed staffing for our common good. Please contact our state senators and urge them to take the appropriate actions on these bills and that disabled veterans are not “political footballs.” In order to secure a timely COLA vote. This will have to occur by November 13, 2012, for processing for January 1, 2013 checks. The failure of this both bills was due to partisanship voting and politics.
As we near the November 6, 2012, please remind your membership of the need for voter registration. You will need to check with your local town clerk for the deadlines. The town clerk will also be able to advise you about absentee voting. This is URGENT as deadlines are nearing. PLEASE help your fellow members get out to vote on November 6th.
I am hoping next week we will be able to release a list of bills that we need to monitor. Little has been done by either the House or Senate in the last two years.