The game is on, budget hearings before the Appropriations Committee. Legislators will be asking many, many questions during public hearings which will take several weeks.

“We The People” will be standing on the sidelines waiting. Will we win or will we lose? Will we cheer or will we frown? My opinion is that we can all come out winners if we do our part by letting our Legislators know how we feel.

Remember folks — we pay the bills. Now it’s up to those we elected to help us out and save us some money. Hey, they pay also. It’s up to them to make the right call.

This morning we will be testifying before the Appropriations Committee on Legislative Document LD-280: An act to exempt Military Pensions and Survivors Benefits from Maine Income Tax. We’ve been told we have an estimated 13,000 military retirees in Maine. We also have many survivors of military retirees. It’s also been said that an estimated 300 of our new retirees from Maine are retiring to other states that do not tax Military Retirees Pensions. Maine is thereby losing out on what these retirees would contribute to Maines economy as well as their talents and work ethic.

This week — Tuesday, Feb. 25, and Wednesday, Feb. 26 — House and Senate Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committees sessions:

. LD-43, an act to make false claims of military service a crime. (Workshop)

. LD-170, an act to remove the 180-day requirement for the Property Tax Exemption for Vietnam veterans. Committee voted to send to workshop.

Last Monday, Feb. 16, we met with the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee. Our Mid-coast Veterans Council was well represented with five members: David Patch (Boothbay), Steve Jarrett (St. George), Micky Devin (Damariscotta), Matt Jabaut (Topsham) and myself (Brunswick).

We also had a group from Litchfield (Iraq and Afghanistan veterans). We introduced our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to the members of the committee and urged their participation. Legislative matters were the main topics discussed. We need to involve our 21st century veterans with issues affecting veterans.

Veterans legislation on the federal level includes:

. HR-454 — Full months retired pay. It authorizes surviving spouses ( or other designated survivors) to retain the full months retirement pay for the month in which a military retiree passes away. Retirees are urged to contact Rep. Pingree and Rep.Poloquin to support this legislation.

. HR-22 — Passed the House Jan. 6, Hire More Heroes Act of 2015. The Senate introduced a companion Bill, S-12. Veterans are urged to call Sen. Collins and Sen. King and ask them to support this legislation. This measure is aimed at encouraging companies to hire more veterans by allowing veterans who are covered by VA Health Care or Tricare to not be counted as employees for the purpose of triggering the so-called “Employees Mandate.”

. United States Congress — House and Senate passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Bill for American Veterans. The bill awaits President Obama’s signature.

We have had many people thank us for this column, and numerous people have been helped.

Paul Loveless, who is the Veterans Service Officer at the Mid- Coast Veterans Resource Center, assists an average of 15 veterans, their families and survivors, each week. We all thank Paul for what he does. By the way, Paul is a volunteer. Need help with a veterans issue? Call Paul at 406-4103.

We need some help at the Resource Center. Anyone wishing to volunteer some time to answer the telephone, receive people and help with small tasks are asked to call the Director Read Rich at 406- 4103. The coffee is always fresh. They are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For those needing tax help, AARP is providing tax aid in Brunswick from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and 1-4:30 p.m. Thursday at People Plus; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday until March 2, and 12:30-4 p.m. Friday at Curtis Memorial Library; call the library at 725-5242 ext. 510 for an appointment. There also will be free tax assistance at the Topsham Public Library from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday until March 2; for an appointment, call 725-1727.

Upcoming events include:

. Wednesday, Feb. 25 — General Membership meeting for the Brunswick American Legion Post 20 at 6 p.m. at the Veterans Resource Center (former Naval Air Station).

. Friday, Feb. 27 — Mid-Coast Veterans Council meeting at 6 p.m., Mid-Coast Veterans Resource Center. All Mid-coast veterans welcome.

. Saturday, Feb. 28 — at 11:30 a.m. the Winter Softball Class will take place at American Legion Post 202, located on Foreside Road in Topsham. Registration costs a minimum $100 donation per team; proceeds are donated to homeless veterans. The first game will start at noon; games last six innings. Free cocoa and hot apple cide will be provided. For more information, conact Nick Hamlin at 213- 7077 or 729-9870.

From the Coffee Crowd — had a visit from Marty, who is still in training for his new job. Gil is a little under the weather — still talking politics.

Please call our Congressional delegation and ask them to help us — also, your local legislators.

’Til next time, keep the faith.

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