SERVING OUR VETERANS IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS

A Column from the Desk of Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C-Deerpark)

The negotiation period for our state’s annual budget continues in Albany this month, and for the past number of weeks, I have been working to highlight important issues in pieces of legislation that should be supported in the state’s spending plan. I am here to do that once more by writing and highlighting New York’s obligation to take care of our veterans—the ones who defended our nation, served our country and are back home to supposedly enjoy the life they’ve earned but have unfortunately been left behind in many regards. We must fix that. I have a number of proposals I think will provide a net benefit to the veterans of New York, starting with a measure that would provide veterans returning home with civil service credits as they retire from the armed forces. The civil service credits that veterans would be entitled to would act as bonus points for these veterans when they take civil service exams. In an age where our veterans are often unsupported when they return home, I think this small gesture does a good job of helping them back on their feet and finding them meaningful work at the same time. Another proposal I am supporting is providing further real property tax breaks to disabled veterans, regardless of what time they served in uniform. Current law stipulates that only veterans from specific wars receive these breaks; those wars specifically being World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama and the first Gulf War. But we’ve had many veterans since then, particularly following the end of organized conflict in the Middle East, who also deserve the same benefits. To exclude them from veterans’ benefits simply because the bill did not account for future wars is an oversight we can and should correct. Each and every veteran of New York deserves a show of thanks for their service, no matter when they served. I’ve only discussed two important issues I believe deserve attention, but I’ve backed more than 35 proposals in this legislative session alone that set out to ensure New York’s veterans are taken care of. Many of them have made sacrifices most of us could not imagine making. The least we can do—as communities, as a state government and as a society—is show our gratitude through support and thanks. I will always support New York’s veterans in any way I can. Assemblyman Brabenec represents the 98th District, which includes the city of Port Jervis, the towns of Deerpark, Greenville, Mount Hope, Wawayanda, Minisink, Warwick, Tuxedo and portions of the towns of Goshen, Monroe and Ramapo. For more information, please visit his Official Website at www.yourfavoriteassemblyman.com.