From the Halls ….

Marines,

Today the VSO’s and our Legislative directors found a member of a sub committee, Rep LeBlanc to listen and understand the situation.  The House sub-committee reported SB 250 to the full Appropriations committee with the following recommendations.

1.  If there are inefficient VSO Offices then the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is required by law to deal with the organization and it’s inefficiencies.  Senator Garcia wants the Commanders Group to do this, but according to State protocal it is up to the Department issuing the grant money to police that grant money.

2.  The 1 million dollars removed from this years budget by the Govenor would remain out.

3.  The recommendation by the sub-committee is for the VSO grants be budgeted at the 2008 level, meaning the 3% increase given last year would be removed along with the 3% infusion last year.  That number is a number our VSO offices have been working with for 8 years prior to that.

What’s next?  The House bill and the Senate Bill now are different so they must come up with an agreement.  We have time to contact our Representatives.  Please do this immediately.

If you have any questions please email Doug Williams willi183@msu.edu

Semper Fi Marines

I met with Representative Richard LeBlanc today in his office and he informed me that Senate Bill 250 would be reported with recommendations to the House on Thursday June 25,2009. He refused to elaborate on what those recommendations would be when asked.
    He also stated that it was his intent to hold hearings on the bill in August and that he would inform me of the dates for the hearings when they are set. I believe it is still imperative that we have our membership contact their representatives and voice dissatisfaction with this Bill. The House leadership has directed that all Bills be moved and that is the reason it will be reported with recommendations. Reporting the Bill out does not mean that it has passed. The recommendations could be anyone of eight.
1.    Favorable recommendations.
2.    With amendments with favorable recommendation.
3.    With recommendation that a substitute be adopted.
4.    Without recommendation.
5.    With amendments but without recommendation.
6.    With the recommendation that the bill be referred to another committee.
7.    Take no action on a bill.
8.    Vote to not report the bill out of committee.
   
    In any event we will have an opportunity to offer our comments when the hearing dates are set.
 
    I would like to advise you of another problem we have in the Senate.
 
    In the journal of the Senate proceedings with regard to Senate Bill 250 on page 916 Senator Olshove offered an amendment to the bill that if accepted and passed would have returned our funding to as it was in 2008.(That would have effectively killed section 707) On page 917 under Roll Call Vote we see that this amendment was defeated by a vote of 17 yeas to 18 neas. That’s one vote! There were two Senators not present excused. Senators George and Scott. We need to find out where they were and what was more important than our veterans needs.
DO THEY LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT.
 
Marine Doug
Legislative Director
Marine Corps League