KEY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES FOR 2015 the Arkansas Veterans Coalition . CALL YOUR STATE REPS AND SENATORS about these issues. Find out if they know about them, how they feel about them, and if they are going to support them. IF NOT, WHY NOT! Remember they work for us, we put them there. There are 220,000 voting veterans in Arkansas with 2.3 voters per household. Thats a full third of the population. WE CAN CHOOSE TO VOTE FOR LEGISLATORS THAT REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS OR NOT!!! 1. Economic Development Issue - Geared to attract retired working age veterans to the state. Key aspect; Arkansas ranks 49/50 as states where veterans choose to retire. Remedy - 100% tax exemption for military retirement pay in Arkansas. 2. In-State tuition rates at all state funded schools and trade schools for any veteran or family member (dependent). Also geared to attract veterans, Family members, and draw federal education dollars into the state. Online student veterans worldwide will get in-state rates even if stationed overseas or residents of another state. May choose to bring themselves after education to Arkansas. Provides pool of educated veterans and Family members to benefit states economy. 3. Statewide access to Veterans Treatment Court - Modeled after, yet separate from Drug Court. Geared to treat the underlying mental health issues specific to veterans that brought them into contact with courts. Requires guilty plea, but provides treatment in lieu of incarceration. 82% success rate for VA treatment. 4. Veterans Homes - Establishes a method for determining need for bed space in Arkansas. Every state surrounding us has at least four homes and a method for determining need. Arkansas has clearly sidestepped the issue which is why we have NONE. Setting the standard for determining need establishes the need for planning future homes beyond the one approved for Ft. Roots without taking 9 years to start up each one. Makes it necessary for planning by ADVA. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR KNOWING ABOUT THESE ISSUES!!!
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 23:03:13 +0000