posted 3/8/10
 

The Time to Advocate Is Now

 
by John A. Scocos
 

Last November I wrote a column sharing my perspective that support for our veterans is essential to help ensure their full reintegration into civilian life.  Unarguably, these individuals have paid a great price for our freedom.

Recently, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Board was briefed on the alarmingly high rate of suicide for our Wisconsin veterans.  Comments by Mr. Black reflect naivety and missed the mark with respect to how to address this serious issue.  While I believe that cooperative partnerships with local and grassroots efforts within communities will help to tackle this issue, it is the responsibility of our state to take the lead and to take action.  That is why we have a state veterans’ agency.  A central purpose of the WDVA Board and the state agency it oversees is to identify the needs of our veterans and to find the right solutions.  Clearly, a combat veteran who is suffering from service-related issues is not likely to go to his/her local community for services.  Yet, this is what the current board and Mr. Black imply is the appropriate choice.

The cut back in advocacy and support for veterans’ programs and services by the WDVA Board and the agency can be traced back to the WDVA Board meetings in July, 2008 and August, 2008.  During these meetings, the current WDVA Board voted down any additional outreach funds and coordinator positions, stating, in part:

 “For the record … If we continue to ask for more and more, at what point does the public say enough is enough and then, instead of welcoming home service members with open arms and support, they’re going to say we’ve given you so much, we don’t care anymore.”

and

“the American public has been very generous and accommodating to all the services that are provided to veterans and during a testy economy with expenses raised everywhere, at what point is it too much.”                

The WDVA Board’s inaction is at the center of another alarming and serious issue for veterans:  the funding and rate setting at the two homes operated by the agency.  Despite being briefed on the relevant issues and the need for immediate action almost 2 years ago, this Board has declined to act.  Prior to my second deployment to Iraq I identified the discrepancies in pay rates at the homes and the different levels of care.  I explained the urgency of this situation and provided options for addressing the issue.  In response, the WDVA Board did nothing.  Now, almost two years later, the Board has still failed to act.

And, ironically, the WDVA Board has voted down outreach, has voted down GPR requests, and has voted down other potential revenue streams. 

With respect to educational benefits, the WDVA Board and agency have been instrumental in reducing the WI GI Bill and are currently taking aim at the VetsEd program offered through WDVA. 

These are real issues affecting real people; people who need our help now.  In my opinion, it is the WDVA Board’s and the agency’s duty to advocate for education, health care, and other services needed for each generation that has served our great country.  With each passing day I see the state of Wisconsin falling increasingly short of its commitment to our veterans. 

If the WDVA Board and agency will not advocate for our veterans, then it is up to us, the citizens and veterans of Wisconsin to do so.  I write this with a profound sense of sadness, but also with a renewed desire to help.  I urge you to tend to your veteran friends and their families, call your representatives and call the governor’s office to express displeasure with the lack of support for our veterans.  Let’s make it happen.