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State Rep. Pillich says legislature needs to make veterans a priority
SEE ALSO: New legislation gives disabled vets a tax break
STRUTHERS
State and federal elected officials need to make spending money to help veterans a priority, said state Rep. Connie Pillich, who hosted a veterans roundtable discussion at AMVETS Post 44, 305 Elm St.
Responding to reports of delays in medical service by the Veterans Affairs Department, Pillich, an eight-year Air Force veteran who served during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield achieving the rank of captain, said Friday that veterans should have access to care when they need it.
Pillich, of Cincinnati, D-28th, ranking minority member of the state Legislature’s Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, said she has introduced and supported several bills that would help veterans and their families.
Her House Bill 166 would connect Ohio veterans to the Department of Veterans Services through income-tax returns.
According to her website, the bill would provide a much-needed linkage of services to armed-forces personnel. By promoting the identification of veterans through income-tax returns, the Department of Taxation and the Department of Veterans Services can work together to ensure service members are connected to resources.
Jan Brown, commander of AMVETS Post 44, urged Pillich to seek funding of service officers for VA medical centers to help guide veterans to their services and benefits.
“It’s not a lot of money, but it goes a long way,” said Brown, a 26-year Air Force veteran.
“Ohio has a budget surplus. We could fund a lot of things. It’s a matter of priorities,” said Pillich, who is the Democratic Party candidate for state treasurer.
Another veteran asked why military personnel are not always returned to the jobs they left when they were deployed.
Pillich said Ohio law requires that military members be returned to the jobs they left when deployed; but there is no penalty if the law is ignored and attempts to remedy the situation have failed.
The veteran suggested revoking tax rebates afforded companies that break that law.
Pillich said the unemployment rate of veterans and their spouses is much higher than that of the general population. One of the biggest barriers to veterans’ finding work is translating skills gained in the military to civilian jobs, she said.
“We have to advocate for veterans and make it a priority to fund issues that help them. It’s the right thing to do,” Pillich said.