STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES MAJOR CALENDAR DEADLINE

As of this date, the State Legislature has passed a major calendar deadline in that both the Assembly and the Senate must have completed action on the bills that were introduced in their respective houses since last January.

The following is a summary of some of the bills that have successfully completed this initial stage:

AB 1814 Veterans claims. (Chuck DeVore, Irvine and Paul Cook, Yucaipa)
VFW sponsored bill to permit California Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with veteran service organizations. continue reading

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MEDICARE/TRICARE PHYSICIAN REIMBURSEMENT RATES

As we honor the brave men and women of America’s Armed Forces this week, their health care providers are facing a major battle of their own. On July 1, doctors who care for the millions of active duty and retired military personnel and their families will be hit by a staggering 10 percent Medicare cut. Since the military health care program for these veterans and active duty service members is tied directly to Medicare, these cuts threaten their access to health care.

This month the Patients’ Action Network is introducing you to real doctors from around the country through a series of two-minute videos. Last week you met Dr. Wehby. Now please meet Dr. Alan Routman of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Listen as he describes how these cuts will affect veterans, seniors and their families. Then tell your own story .

Call or e-mail Representative Bono, Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer. Urge them to support our troops and stop these cuts. Use the Patients Grassroots Hotline at (888) 434-6200.

Veterans, active duty personnel and their families have all sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms. Make sure Representative Bono, Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer understand they shouldn’t have to sacrifice their health care at home.

Submitted By: Judity Tilt/Palm Springs Chapter

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NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL PERSPECTIVES

What I am going to say is that to work legislation properly, one needs to be alert and in touch every day. One must have email and web access, and these tools must be used regularly. Without email and web access, one is operating in the dark ages.

That said, let me give our worthy leaders some suggestions.

The most important task we (MOAA) have is to influence public policy. Our combined efforts protect the earned benefits of our members, all who wear or have worn the uniforms of our seven uniformed services, their families and survivors. This effort must be across the board, regardless of rank or branch of service or status, regular, reserve and guard.

The process is much too difficult to attempt to work all issues and all constituencies alone. We must work in concert with others, whether they be other Veterans organizations, our own members, our legislative advocates and those volunteers whom we trust. None of us can stay on top of all the issues alone. continue reading

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THE COUNCIL’S LEGISLATIVE PLAN OF ACTION

MOAA National from time to time has issued legislative alerts and we have often been quick to forward them to members by e-mail and/or post them to the web log. The intent was and continues to be to encourage members to contact legislators and urge appropriate action.

The Council’s state legislative effort is made through the California State Commander’s Veterans Council (CSCVC) and in turn the lobbying/legislative advocate firm of Pete Conaty & Associates. CAL-MOAA’s state legislative platform essentially is the same as the one developed by CSCVC. By attending quarterly meetings, two (2) in Fresno since the beginning of 2008, we have every right an opportunity to present and recommend what we’d like to see in the way of state legislation.

In the recent past, CAL-MOAA has paid its $100 CSCVC dues, made a $1,000 donation toward Pete Conaty’s retainer, and made an additional $350 donation toward funding of a legislative event in Sacramento. continue reading

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ASSEMBLY AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES ACTIONS

The following action was taken yesterday in the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees on the veterans bills listed.

Pete Conaty and Associates
Governmental Relations

AB 1758, as amended, DeVore. Postsecondary education. (held in committee)

AB 1809, as amended, Saldana. Pupils: military families. (held in committee)

AB 2055, as introduced, Salas. Military personnel: Combat Stress Support Team Program. (held in committee) continue reading

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SB 1680 PASSES SENATE 40-0

Senator Wyland’s bill would authorize the California Community Colleges and California State University, and request the University of California, to coordinate services for qualified students who are veterans and members of the military by clearly designating Military and Veterans
Offices and individuals to provide specified services .

The bill would authorize the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and would encourage the University of California, to report to the Department of Veterans Affairs, on an annual basis, specified information relating to Military and Veterans Offices.

Dana Nichol
Pete Conaty and Associates
Governmental Relations

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AB 190 FREE PARKING FOR SOME VETERANS

This is an update on our effort to secure a much deserved recognition to the veterans who gave so much while serving in the armed forces protecting this country.

The California Assembly recently passed 72-1 Assembly Bill 190 (Bass) allowing those Veterans whose automobile license plate shows they received the Medal of Honor, Legion of Valor, American Prisoner of War, Pearl Harbor Survivor, or Purple Heart, free parking at all curbside meters.

A heartfelt thanks and expression of gratitude to those individuals and organizations/associations that sent letters, faxes and email to one of the following addresses:

Speaker Karen Bass Fax: (916) 319-2147 Email: Torch.Sathienmars@asm.ca.gov
Attn: Torch Sathienmars CA State Capitol Room 319 Sacramento, CA 95814

To those who might have missed writing or faxing to one of the addresses above, we really need your correspondence immediately as the bill will be heard in the State Senate Transportation Committee on June 17. Only with your help will we be successful.

Clint Steed - UVC News

Submitted By: Bob Butcher

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SUPPORT REQUESTED FOR SB 381

SB 381 (Calderon)My military & veterans clients have been asked to support SB 381 by Senator Ron Calderon. I recommend we support this bill. Please see the attached information from the Senator’s office.

Pete Conaty
Pete Conaty & Associates

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Mr. Conaty,
I have attached some background information from our informational hearing on this subject. This bill will implement online voter registration similar to the system that has been used in Arizona since 2002 and Washington since the beginning of this year. continue reading

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