AUGUSTA — Legislation to increase funding for the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services and provide free tuition to members of the Maine National Guard has hit a political brick wall at the State House. The bill was tabled Wednesday after more than 90 minutes of debate in the House as lawmakers sharply disagreed over how […]
veterans
Posted inOp-Eds
Don’t gamble with the fate of our veterans
Supporting those who have fought for our country must be a clear priority for policymakers. The Commission to Strengthen and Align the Services Provided to Maine’s Veterans released a report in January outlining necessary improvements to help Maine’s veterans. The report led to the introduction of four bills, LDs 1602, 1611, 1612 and 1625, championed by […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage promotes veteran hiring
AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage took new steps Thursday to promote the hiring of veterans in Maine, particularly by state departments and agencies. LePage introduced to the Legislature a new bill, LD 1658, which would give military veterans preference when applying for government jobs, in the form of guaranteeing them an interview if they meet […]
Posted inLocal & State
Bills to boost services to Maine veterans advance unanimously
AUGUSTA — A pair of bills that would add three staff members to Maine’s Bureau of Veterans Services sailed through the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee on Wednesday with unanimous approval. The bills, one of which seeks to make the bureau the lead agency on tackling the issue of homeless veterans, were the result […]
Posted inLocal & State
Bills meant to bolster services and access for Maine vets get hearings
AUGUSTA — A slate of bills aimed at helping more Maine veterans get access to the services and benefits available to them are set for public hearings at the State House next week. The bills, all the result of recommendations from a special legislative commission that worked over the summer to review the state’s Bureau […]
Posted inLetters
No property taxes for veterans
During the past 10 years, I, and others, have attempted to get elected officials to acknowledge and act for the totally disabled, service-connected disabled veterans. We always get the same runaround, such as the recent response from elected official Bill Diamond: “I will take your comments under advisement as we consider legislation in the next […]
Posted inLocal & State
Report: Maine’s Bureau of Veterans Services should be upgraded, expanded
AUGUSTA — A new report released Friday is recommending Maine’s Bureau of Veterans Services be expanded and revamped so it can better serve the state’s estimated 140,000 military veterans. The report shows it’s been more than 15 years since the bureau has received any updated policies or targeted funding, and that younger veterans — those from […]
Posted inLocal & State
Legislative panel supports arts day for veterans in Maine
AUGUSTA — It may seem like a small gesture, but it’s a meaningful one for Maine veterans who are also artists. On Wednesday, the Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee voted unanimously in support of a bill that would establish Nov. 1 as Veterans in the Arts and Humanities Day. The committee moved the bill from […]
Posted inLetters
Veterans deserve to be honored
Evidently veterans in the local cemeteries don’t deserve to have a wreath. Why are the deceased veterans at the national cemetery more deserving than the local veterans? Gracelawn Memorial Park in Auburn has a section of grounds for veterans but nothing to show where it is. When my husband passed away, he wanted his ashes […]
Posted inLocal & State, sj-web
Paul LePage: Help veterans before Syrian refugees
Then the governor brought up the president’s desire to move ahead with plans to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into the U.S. He says the White House should be more focused on helping veterans. “Mister President, let’s take care of our military that you sent over there to fight to keep our freedoms,” LePage said. “Let’s […]