Thompson, Baldwin say more aid to veterans a priority
APPLETON — If Senate hopefuls U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin and former Gov. Tommy Thompson want the votes of Wisconsin’s nearly 400,000 military veterans, streamlining the benefits claims process must be a priority.
But that’s not all veterans want. Veterans say they recognize the fiscal challenges government faces today, but more dollars are needed to improve medical care for those injured in combat and for transitional services — including job training and counseling — that help soldiers adjust to civilian life.
“Shortening up the waiting time in claims processing is one of two major things,” said Bill Crowley of Baraboo, one of more than 100 veterans who attended the Disabled Veterans of Wisconsin Conference at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, where Baldwin and Thompson separately addressed the group.
Baldwin, a Democrat, and Thompson, a Republican, are vying for the U.S. Senate seat that became open following the retirement of Democrat Herb Kohl. The election is Nov. 6.
Crowley, a former Marine, who has 32 cumulative years of military service, also served six years as the commandant at the veterans home in King. He said the process takes too long when disabled veterans file claims.
“It’s very important to shorten up that waiting time,” Crowley said. “A veteran is entitled to getting that compensation quickly for suffering an injury in combat and it’s disappointing that it can take 1½ to 2 years to process a claim.”
Baldwin and Thompson both pledged to streamline the filing processso veterans could get the help they need quickly, though neither offered a solution during their remarks.
Merrill Cornell of Appleton, who served nearly four years in the Air Force during the early 1950s, said more veterans clinics and hospitals are needed, along with specialists to help veterans with physical and mental injuries.
Baldwin said she supported legislation that gives incentives to businesses that hire veterans and provides financial assistance to veterans who want to continue their education to improve their jobs skills.
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20121006/OSH0101/310060178/Thompson-Baldwin-say-more-aid-veterans-priority?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1
= new reply since forum marked as read
#Senate%20Republicans%20kill%20veterans%27%20jobs%20bill
going to mail old mitch pictur out to a few freepers..
thank's for the article.