Statutory Adjournment Date April 20, 2016. The 127th session of the Maine Legislature worked to finish the legislation still on the agenda. The week of April 11- 15 was a very busy week for the State Legislature, both House and Senate. They worked late into night on some occasions. Much was accomplished to the satisfaction of some, disappointing to others. But all in all the results were satisfactory. Maine’s veteran population made out fairly well. It was the best I’d seen in many years. The door has been opened and we now all have to work hard and make sure it doesn’t close on us. The Commission to Strengthen and Align the Services provided to Maine Veterans has done much to get things started. They still have many recommended goals to fight for. They are Veterans Courts, Resource Recovery Centers, transportation problems facing veterans and their families, continued modernization of our veterans services at Camp Keyes. I’m confident that, with an aggressive team effort led by Commission Chairman Jared Golden, we can reach successful results. This combined with the efforts of Rep. Sheldon Hannington, Lincoln, subcommittee chairman, and LD 74, an act to clarify laws governing certain benefits provided to veterans and military service members. These two groups, working together will bring about the needed changes to bring our services to Maine veterans up to date and in line with the 21st century. During the final days of the 127th session many veteran bills were passed and signed into law by our governor, Paul LePage.

LD1612 — an act to implement the recommendations of the Commission to Strengthen and Align the services provided to Maine’s veterans regarding enhancements to the Bureau of Maine’s Veteran Services. An amendment to this legislation was sponsored by Rep. Kinney (Limington). This included:

• An act to improve the delivery of services and benefits to Maine’s veterans and provide tuition assistance to members of the National Guard.

• An act to exempt from sales tax and use tax sales to certain veterans organizations funding direct supportive services to veterans and their families.

• An act to establish an interagency council to co-ordinate services for homeless veterans.

• Employ two additional Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) who are not assigned to a particular place, but are directed to where service needs are greatest and makes a current temporary position of Outreach Worker permanent. This is a super bill for veterans of Maine.

Other legislation signed into law by our governor were:

• LD1658 – an act to reform the veterans preference in hiring and retention.

• LD1642 – an act regarding stolen valor.

• LD1524 – an act to update the laws governing the Maine Veteran Homes.

• LD1504 – an act to establish November 1st as Veterans in the Arts and Humanities Day.

Maine State Income Tax exemption for military retirees started Jan. 1, 2016.

Not a bad session for veterans.

Washington scene

If you have been watching TV and reading newspapers you may have noticed that our military strength has been cut by sequestration. The most critical task facing Congress regarding force strength is recognizing the security the United States needs in the face of global extremism and the rise of the Islamic State. Congress cannot allow U. S. military forces to enter a weakened condition, especially at a time of war.

In fiscal 2018 and beyond, the budget proposes an end to sequestration, and increases in defense resources must be made to ensure the U. S. military is capable of defending and defeating any aggressors against U. S. and allied interests. Congress needs to work to ensure that sequestration ends, without extensions, particularly when veterans entrust their care to the VA.

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) believes maintaining military manpower, replacing and upgrading weapons and equipment worn out by years of war, and treating military people fairly are not mutually exclusive. A nation still in conflict must meet funding needs for both people and weapons, rather than sacrificing one for the other.

There is a proposal to privatize VA health care. The proposal would call for the transfer governance of the VA from the Federal government to an independent entity, such as a government-chartered corporation, similar to Amtrak of the U. S. Postal Service. This would mean that management of the VA would go unaccountable, independent entity driven by corporate considerations, with no oversight by Congress or veterans themselves. It is the responsibility of the government that veterans who were sent to war by our nation have proper access to care for their service-related injuries and illnesses.

A logical solution is to transfer more of the VAs nonmedical support services like construction, maintenance and development of IT infrastructure to the private sector, and create an integrated veterans health care system that allows the VA to focus on its core mission of providing high quality, accessible, comprehensive and veteran-centric medical care.

Upcoming events

• Agent Orange Information Seminar to be held Saturday, 23 April from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 26, 508 Elm St., Biddeford, ME. For further info call Jim Davis (603) 312-2979.

• American Legion Post 20 meeting to held Wednesday, April 27, at 6 p.m. Post 20 is looking for sponsors for Boys/Girls State. for further info call Joe Donahue at (207) 725-8431.

• Acupuncture at the MCVRC at 6 p.m. All veterans and their families are invited. Participants are asked to arrive by 5:45 p.m.

Coffee crowd

Baseball is back and Jim’s wearing his Red Sox socks again. He was also very thoughtful and brought a never worn Mustang hat for friend Ben. Dante coming back in a week. Big question is he Mr. Money Bags, I wonder!

Keep the faith.

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Chick Ciciotte is the legislative chairperson for the Mid-Coast Veterans Council. He lives in Topsham.