I want to thank the Times Record editorial staff for printing my article last week, “LePage Shows Support for Veterans.” I did receive many comments from readers, mostly good — but as expected, some bad. Interesting.

In the July 9 paper, the editorial “A Call for Cordial Conversation” was right on. Wouldn’t it be nice if people would pay attention and try some of the things suggested — especially our elected officials. Which leads me to the following statistics from the June 15th bimonthly online RAO (Retiree Assistance Office) Bulletin:

At present, our “Do-nothing Congress” has introduced 8,640 bills and resolutions (containing 4,102 amendments) during their current 2013-2015 legislative session. Of those, on average only about 5 percent will become law…they must be enacted before the end of the 2013-15 session — before January 3, 2015. To date (June 15), only 121 laws (1.4 percent), of which only a few are veterans related, have been passed by both chambers and sent to the President for signature — of which he has vetoed one. Thus, the 113th Congress is often referred to as a “Do-nothing Congress.”

I want to address the editorial “A Tap Dance” (Monday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 1), which stated that ‘personal transfer receipts’ include veterans benefits. The writer stated “In Maine, when a vet leaves the armed services he or she is eligible for a benefit of up to $386 per week until he or she is working full time in the civilian workforce.” …I’d like to know the writer’s source about this weekly benefit. I checked with state officials, federal officials, and VA officials — nobody seems to know about this benefit. Maybe that’s why the Governor didn’t mention it. Someone please let me know about this $386 weekly benefit. Who pays for it? How does a veteran apply for it? Can it be collected while the veteran is working part time? Etc, etc. …Could that statement be one of those times when the mouth contains at least one foot?

From my coffee crowd of veterans, its politics as usual. One thing talked about this week is “Why are things so quiet in Augusta?” Answer: The legislature is in recess. My suggestion is to send all 186 of them a copy of that July 9 editorial, “A Call for Cordial Conversation.” On the voting side in the coffee crowd, Gov. LePage picked up 4 more votes, Mike Michaud 3, and Eliot Cutler 1. By the way, this is an unscientific poll.

A lot of our coffee talk has been about the alleged comments from Gov. LePage about social security, unemployment benefits, etc. The Governor has since been to the people about social security. Our oldest veteran in the crowd, Dante (91 years), suggests that our governor talk to the people instead of the politicians and media. He’s right. After all, the Governor is responsible to the people and should talk to them more. Note: according to the dictionary, unemployment is a form of welfare. In truth, most of our coffee talk lately has been Red Sox, Red Sox.

I wonder how many readers think it is fair to charge Maine state sales tax on the sale of the American flag? Maine is the only state in New England that does so.

…Finished my coffee. ‘Till next time.

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Chick Ciciotte is the legislative chair of the Mid-Coast Veterans Council. He lives in Topsham.