Bailout needed for veteran's groups with state cut backs

In a time when the need is greater and increasing daily, are these states out of their minds? How about a federal bailout for veterans? Looks like they are in an ever growing crisis situation and need help today! While I'm prepared to do this work 70 hours a week for free until I either die or end up homeless, these budget cuts are not only hurting veterans but the people just as committed to them as I am. I know I'm helping veterans but I'm suffering for doing it financially. I thought by now I'd be making a living wage doing this but the money has not come in and now hope of finding a paying job or grant doing what I've been called to do has evaporated to the point where I'm embarrassed to talk about any of this. I'm not the only one struggling to help our veterans at the same time finding a financial crisis increasing the stress of doing this. The VA budget has been increased more than ever but the money does not seem to be getting to the states or service organizations. This is crisis time because if the advocates go away the veterans burdens will increase on their shoulders and they have had already too much weight to carry. Where do they go if we go away?

Recession brings cuts to state groups for vets

By David Eggert - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday May 28, 2009 8:37:47 EDT

LANSING, Mich. — The wail of bagpipes at Memorial Day events honoring servicemen killed in Iraq and Afghanistan rang hollow for some military veterans this year.

In Michigan and elsewhere, once-sacrosanct veterans’ programs are no longer safe from the knife as tax revenues continue sliding in the recession.

In a recent budget-cutting order, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and legislators slashed $1 million, or 25 percent, of funding for 11 groups that help veterans through a maze of paperwork and bureaucracy to get disability and pension benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The cut is forcing layoffs and likely will be carried over to the next budget, too.

“It’s a travesty,” said Daniel Crocker, Michigan service director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which had to eliminate four jobs. “The greatness of a nation will be judged by how it treats its veterans.”

South Carolina plans to cut aid to the VFW, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans in the next budget. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn recently outlined a “doomsday” budget that would close all four of the state’s veterans’ home if an income tax increase is not passed, leaving more than 1,000 veterans without care.

Thirteen veterans’ groups in Ohio got 10 percent less than promised this year after state cuts.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/05/ap_veterans_groups_cuts_052809/