August 2010

3rd AUGUST UPDATE

honorandremember.org is a web site worth visiting. Started by Chesapeake, VA resident George Lutz as a way of remembering and honoring his son, George Anthony Lutz, who was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq, on December 29, 2005, he designed a flag that would commemorate all those who have fallen in the defense of our freedom including those lost as a result of the 9/11 attack. It’s his goal to get all fifty states to adopt the flag and fly it along side the American flag. A visit to his we site will explain further his goal and objectives.

Mrs. Debra Argel-Bastian, of Lompoc, CA, met this man at Arlington National Cemetery during ceremonies for the annual Iraq Liberation Day. Debra lost her son, Derek M. Argel in Iraq in 2005. Since then she has spearheaded local efforts for the flag and has gone as far as organizing a dinner to be held on September 11, 2010, at the Elk’s Lodge in Lompoc. Dennis Miller will be the master of ceremonies and Bo Derek is the honorary chairperson. Both of these people are strong supporters of our veterans.

If you are in the area and want to attend you can contact Debra, either by phone, 805-588-8848, or mail to Argel-Bastian, 121 North W St., Lompoc, CA 93436. Tickets are $50.00. If you can’t make it you can always make a donation either to Debra or through their website honorandremember.org.

As I mentioned before, we are still working on the non-handicapped, disabled veteran’s license and the getting donations for the Gold Star license plate. Along with that we continue to help veterans in their dealings with the VA and their struggle to readapt to life in the civilian world.

The Gold Star plate is something that is well worth a donation. These people have suffered a tremendous loss that has left them with a void in theirs lives that can not be filled. The plate will honor them and help in trying to accept life without a loved one.

The non-handicapped, disabled veteran plate needs help but not monetarily. We need assistance in getting in to meet those who can help speed this project along and people, groups and companies who are willing to endorse our work.

2nd AUGUST UPDATE

Because of an embarrassing mistake on my part, namely believing what I read in an article I found on a website; it was a copy from CBS Channel 13, news in Sacramento, and not properly researching it I emailed State Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, 75th Dist. (R), and expressed my disproval of his bill, AB 1942. I also included positive support for another bill he introduced that will help handicapped veterans applying for the DV license plate, AB 1944. That article, and both my comments can be found at, cbs13.com.

And that is when the surprises started. After I sent the email I went about other tasks. Mr. Fletcher however, was more attuned to what people have to say about his work and within about five minutes, responded to my email. He responded, not someone in his office. If I would have caught the email before my phone rang about four minutes after the email arrived, I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear him on the phone. I should note that as a matter of procedure, I include my phone number when I email members of our legislative body.

Mr. Fletcher defended AB 1942, and I agreed with him once he pointed out several salient facts the news report failed to mention. Facts I should have caught when I skimmed the bill on the legislative web site. That failure on my part caused me to go back to his web site, and take a closer look at the man. I invite every reader to do the same because what you’ll find is nothing like the babbling you find on some other legislators sites. He is actually working at helping veterans!

I’m going to be at Travis AFB during September and I’ll be visiting his office to formally apologize to him for failing to take the time to research a news article before I put my mouth in gear. Mr. Fletcher deserves my apology and I am more than willing to give.

1st AUGUST UPDATE

We are continuing to solicit donations for the Gold Star License Plates. As you probably already know, this license plate will be the states way of honoring the wives and mothers who have lost a loved one in combat. It’s a simple way for California to express gratitude and respect for those who have suffered such a great loss. The Vet Fund Foundation is handling the collection. If you go to their web site and click on Funded Projects and then click on Gold Star License Program, you can read about the project and how to make a donation. All that we ask is for you to send us a brief email stating that you made a donation. So please take the time, and if you can afford it, make a donation to this worthwhile cause. This link, and others, can be found on our links page.

People keep asking me about the VA and the quality of care I receive. The sad thing is no one seems surprised when I rate it as just okay. I frequently tell people to visit, vawatchdog.org to get an understanding of the problems, tricks and back stabbing the VA is up to. Everyone seems to forget that this is an over sized bureaucracy with far to many people too interested not in what they are suppose to be doing, but what they can get around not doing. A Naval Commander compared them to seagulls. You figure out what that means.

With Obama schedule for ending the fighting in Iraq coming soon this committee is worried about what these returning men and women will face. A greater burden on the VA and the military and we are concerned about the results it will have on this, our most deserving segment of our population. Thanks to too few combat commanders and too much civilian interference, our military has had to carry out their objectives with far too many worthless restrictions. With the fighting in Afghanistan still going on, along with the afore mentioned restrictions our fighting men and women face, the problem facing these people upon their return will be horrendous. And now we may be facing the same problems in Iran and North Korea.

And if that isn’t enough; how about the efforts being made to deny out active duty the right to vote. Go to Google and enter, “denying active duty voting.” Even the Department of Justice is trying to do that. So, there you are, trying to help our country by putting your life on the line and some clown sits over here working at denying you your right to vote. The old saying, “Going to hell in a hand basket.” has taken on a whole new meaning. Now is the time for all us to make it clear to our government representatives that this is something we will not tolerate.

June 2010

As our updated home page states, we are taking a more active role on the things that affect not only our veterans, but our active duty men and women and their families. Part of the problem is indifference. Some people just don’t want to rock the boat because they fear someone will actually listen and they would then be portrayed as some sort of rebel or trouble maker. Others are just too tired of making a beneficial suggestion only to have it shot down because it would make someone higher up look bad or possibly save time, money or paperwork. We are all familiar with the sort of obstacles any worth while idea faces. Our intention is to tackle problems that can be fixed with just a little reasonable arm twisting.

The Gold Star license plate bill was signed into law in 2008, thanks to the Herculean efforts of State Senator Dave Cogdill of District 14. Without his tireless effort the bill would never had made it. The only problem is the fact that it has to be funded privately. Forty-six states have the Gold Star plates as a way of expressing the appreciation and sorrow for a wife or mother who has lost a loved one in combat and California has escaped funding this program by hiding behind budget constraints. And that is where the VetFund Foundation (http://vetfund1.com/index.html) has stepped in. They are actively seeking donations from the private sector. We are stepping in to help them by reaching out to both the private sector and businesses. Please visit their site and, if you can, make a donation for this most worthwhile cause.

Our own license plate campaign is on hold until the elections are over and the dust has settled in Sacramento. We would like to see these plates issued for free but we realize that won’t happen. The alternative is to have the plates sold at the actual cost of production, without the usual unfathomable cost increases that DMV is famous for. When you look at this in a reasonable light its easy to see the reasonable rationale behind the actual cost approach. Texas charges $3.00 for the plate and an annual $3.00 fee.

Numerous men and women, both retirees and active duty, have complained about the greatly expanded sale of beer, wine and liquor at the base gas stations. Here’s the military trying to combat drunk driving and other alcohol problems and AAFES appears to not care. The AFFES official reply to that issue is it’s a convenience for its customers. I guess that’s why the majority of the snack products they carry are of the non-healthy variety. We are working to generate a greater interest in this issue with the hopes some sort of rational settlement can be reached. Even AFFES employees who have been on the job for any length of time agree that the trend seems to be maximizing profits and minimizing true service.

There are other issues we are working on that, for now, we will refrain from mentioning. We can only say they involve cost saving measures that would benefit the military.
In closing we once again ask that, if you can, please make a donation the VetFund Foundation for the Gold Star license plates. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email us. We answer every email we receive.

April 2010

I’ve been asked, who among the candidates running for governor is my choice. My answer has always been the same; none of the above. Not one of them has said or done anything note worthy concerning active duty military men and women or veterans. In fact each one of them has said the same thing about how they are going to get California back on its feet. These are the same promises made every election year, with the same results. My suggestion is for each individual to do their own research, using more than what the news media reports, and decide who to vote for based upon your own findings. In fact most everyone in Sacramento is avoiding taking a position only anything that would benefit the residence of this state. Of course Assemblyman Pedro Nava introduced a bill that would raise taxes on wine to $5.00 a bottle, claiming it will help the state. Oddly enough he said absolutely nothing about removing mandated funding for such critical things such as breast enlargements for male prisoners. Yes, I said male prisoners. Amazing!

As you may have noticed we are no longer backing away from issues and politicians who have lost sight of what they are suppose to be doing. We are going to continue to bring to your attention those things we can verify that are happening in the state capitol. Its time we be made aware of just how casual our elected officials are when it comes to doing what is right for our state, and in particular our veterans.

The volunteer work that was being done at Edwards AFB has come to a halt thanks to a complete lack of support form the Outdoor Recreation management staff. The best way I can describe it is by using the phrase, “No good deed goes unpunished.” They needed to make one very simple repair/adjustment to the Kubota tractor that was being used at the campground. I even provided them with all of the information they needed: Information that was given to me by professional mechanics. I visited the base about three weeks later and nothing had been done. The excuse they gave was they hadn’t been able to get their mechanic to look into it. Their mechanic isn’t a mechanic, he’s someone who does minor maintenance when he can fit it in with his other jobs. This indifference on the part of the staff showed to me just how disinterested they are when it comes to putting the least bit of effort for the betterment of a facility that can actually make money while providing a service to active duty and veterans.

This committee is not going to give up in our effort to get a distinctive license plate past for our non-handicapped, disabled veterans. However, while the state is in such turmoil nothing can be accomplished at this time. We are, however, continuing to gather supporters who are willing to make their voices heard in Sacramento.

An alarming number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are not taking advantage of VA services and benefits that are rightly due them. While I understand the reluctance, qualified veterans need to apply for these benefits if for no other reason than to help make it easier for other veterans to understand the procedure. Everything the VA offers is owed to you and you should step up and claim it. It isn’t a sign of anything but a well deserving person collecting what is rightly owed to them. If you need help either contact this committee or someone else who can help.

February, 2010

You have to hand it to California’s state legislators. While the state is in deep financial trouble, the governor just signed a bill that would provide legal services for those who can't afford an attorney when faced with a civil suit. Now, add that to the list of mandated costs the state refuses to cut, along with the Democrats blocking Senator Maldonado from being appointed Lt. Governor, and you have a clear picture of why we are in the mess we are in. In our last update I mentioned Senator Abel Maldonado being appointed Lt. Governor. Seems I spoke to soon. The state assembly, for reasons known only to them, decided Mr. Maldonado is not the person they want in that position. Naturally enough they would rather have a Democrat in that seat. The only problem with that idea is the clear fact that the voters do not want more of the same money wasting gimmicks we are now faced with.

Seems very few people at the state capitol want to that a serious look at our problems and then take equally serious corrective action. And it’s carried over when it comes to providing our non-handicapped, disabled veterans with a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices they made.

At present they are willing to go with a decal style license plate that the qualified veteran would have to pay for annually. We could accept an annual administrative fee to cover actual yearly costs to maintain the paper work. Texas charges a $3.00 annual fee along with a $3.00 drivers license renewal cost. The problem with the decal solution is the fact that anyone can receive this plate. We haven't given up though. At some point we will either hit the right combination of people, or become such a nagging problem, they will give up and agree to our request.

The final phase of our volunteer work at the Edwards AFB FamCamp is near. The approximate 58,000 yards of brown decorative rock, the fifteen boulders and delivery will cost about $1,000 total. CalPortland has opened its quarry in Mojave to us for free. Steve Brown, the quarry manager, has been very helpful. The owner of Summit Trucking, Dave Ogorchuck, provided free hauling of the 19 tons of mini-boulders we selected from CalPortland to use as a boundary around the courtyard. By the time we are finished, the FamCamp will have a neater and cleaner look that will be reflective of the desert landscape that surrounds Edwards AFB. Already campers have voiced approval of the changes.

While the license plate project is priority one, we will continue to volunteer when and where we can. Our objective is to help in providing whatever help we can for the betterment of both our veterans and active duty. This means we will not hesitate to voice our opinion and take whatever action we deem fit any time we discover problems that will affect our military and veterans.

December/January

As expected the state legislators are busy trying to keep California out of total financial ruin and therefore have little time for anything else. For some reason I see a relationship to AIG and the Federal deficit when I look at the problems California has given us the taxpayers.

About the only bright spot I see is the fact that Senator Able Maldonado has been appointed Lt. Governor. He co-authored the first bill I had introduced and authored the second bill. His support for our active duty men and women and veterans is well documented. Hopefully he will be able to cut through some of the problems that we face. However, due to the pending holidays nothing much can be expected soon.

Part of my committee work involves going beyond the usual and acting as a facilitator and cheap labor. Such is the case with the FAMCAMP at Edwards AFB. Due to a limited staff and funding restrictions I decided to help. One of the major projects is the laying of rock in the courtyard area. With 82,000 square feet to cover the cost was high. I managed to get the rock at no cost along with free loading and a very low price for delivery. Along with it come fifteen boulders, also free. So, for the entire month of November, I spent my time at Edwards setting this up and then spreading the rock using a smaller Kubota tractor. The work isn’t done so I’ll be back in January to finish. Other projects are in the works and I’ll no doubt have some labor intensive part in them.

They are also working to get WiFi for the campers and cable TV in the dayroom. This place, located in the Mojave Desert, next to the town of Mojave is both a stopping point and destination for campers. The usual amenities are available on base and local shopping is noteworthy. It’s a good staging point for off roaders and interesting attractions are fairly close. All in all, Edwards AFB is worth a visit.

Christmas is coming and with it, for some of our active duty men and women and veterans it’s not something they look forward to. You can do your part in any number of ways. Perhaps the easiest way is to contact local veterans groups and ask what you can do to help. If a military base is close to your home call and ask to speak to the Public Relations officer. Tell them you would like to do something to help our service members and they will direct you to the right person. These people deserve far more than they are getting. Your participation will help make the holidays a little bit brighter for them.

In closing I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. Keep the faith.

August/September 2009

The current California budget problems have been given new Band Aids and the Legislature is off and running working on newer and more costly ideas. Suspiciously absent from this "to do" list is the Non-Handicapped Disabled Veterans license plate issue; an oversight that will soon be corrected. Currently we can get a decal licenses plate approved that will require the veteran pay for it along with a possible annual fee. It will take ten people to apply and after that anyone can order one. We don't feel this is right because we want qualified veterans to be the only ones to have them. We would like to see a new series plate issued with, at the most, an administrative fee added to cover ongoing actual costs. If you have any comments or ideas, please feel free to let me know.

Dan Walters is a columnist, based in Sacramento, for Scripps-Howard News Service. His column appears in the Sacramento Bee and it's worth reading. I don't always agree with what he writes but I have to admit he doesn't pull any punches. To read his columns go to (www.sacbee.com/opinion) and if he isn't on the page, hit the search option at the top of the page and enter his name. If nothing else can be said for him, he does tell you what is going on behind the closed doors.

While visiting Edwards AFB I met with a retired Naval Commander who spent a year working in the Pentagon. The most disturbing thing he told me was the fact that they are redoing the requirements for the Medal of Honor. In order to save money they want it only given to those who died. And that explains why there is a call for answering why so few Medals of Honor have been issued; it cost too much in benefits. You have to hand it to the Pentagon, they know how to generate and instill dedication.

But then Obama, in order to generate the money needed for the 15,000 Army troops he wants to add, has asked Congress to divert $862 million in the Pentagon's fiscal 2010 budget. He wants the money to come from weapon systems programs. He also wants to take $700.6 from the Army, $156 From the Navy and Marines and $156 million from the Air Force for this project. I would suggest clearing out a few thousand bean counters from the Pentagon, stop the F-22 program, install some old school retired Marine senior NCOs and tell them to trim civilian jobs and reduce paperwork in all the branches of the military.

A meeting with a local DAV honcho confirmed the DAV is heavy on bureaucracy. Seems they have far too many administrators and not enough doers. Kind of like the VA, but without tons of money to squander. However, they do try to help veterans and active duty whenever possible. So, as I've said before, when you are going to deal with the VA, do your homework. Search the Internet for relevant information and someone to possibly represent you. Make sure whoever you choose as a rep is well versed with your problems and has successfully dealt with the VA before. And get copies of everything. Also check to see if your Washington legislators can help. Just remember nothing will move quickly.

We've received complaints about DMV still making qualified veterans jump through hoops when they apply for the DV handicapped parking plates. If it has happened to you, or is happening to you, ask to speak with the supervisor and have them explain to you what is needed. Too often the counter staff has too liberal of an attitude and couldn't care less about our veterans. Another option is to check with your state representative(s) for help (http://www.cpfa.org/legislators.html). Also contact those legislative members who are on the Transportation and Veterans Affairs Committees. If you are qualified, don't take no for an answer. Don't get mad, just be persistent. You can also try another DMV office and see if you get any better service. Please let us know if you are having problems. Just tell us which DMV office is giving you problems and what they are demanding and we will try to help.

May 23^rd 2009

The fund raiser, "A Tribute to Our Troops," was held at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Building and hosted by Bo Derek. The purpose was to honor all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve America’s freedom. I had a chance to speak with Miss. Derek and present her with what we are trying to do to honor our veterans here in California.

When I first approached her I half expected to hear just word candy designed to give me a gentle brush off; that feeling lasted and five seconds. She not only listened, but I could tell by the set of her jaw and the look in her eyes that she was already thinking about how to make this idea into a reality. Her questions and suggestions where to the point, leaving no doubt in mind that she felt this is something that should have been done a very long time ago. Miss Derek asked the question that has been asked of me time and again, "Why hasn’t this already passed?" Believe me when I say I was sorely tempted to give my stock reply and say that too many people in the State Capitol aren’t truly interested because they don’t think there is any political gain for them. Instead I gave my polite answer that I’m certain she read between the lines. For more on what Miss Derek is doing for our veterans I suggest you Google, "Bo Derek+veterans." This is one amazing lady.

Deb Argel-Bastian, organizer of the event, lost her son, Capt. Derek Argel, USAF, on Memorial Day of 2005. He was KIA in Iraq. The groups, Family United for Our Troops and Special Operations Warrior Foundation provided guest speakers.

Take the time to Google these groups and Ms. Bastian and find out exactly what they are doing and what you can do to help them.

May 2009

Thanks to California's inability to correct the current budgetary debacle, we are doing nothing in Sacramento at this time. We are, however, still working at making people aware of what we are doing. Once there is some sort of light at the end of this tunnel of financial gloom, we are going back to Sacramento in full force.

In my travels I've been privileged with meet with and talk to a number of active duty and veterans who have had deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the world. Without exception they are soft spoken while they down play the traumatizing sacrifices they have made. Each in his or hers own way has the classic 1,000 yard stare when they talk about their deployment. In each one I see another unsung hero trying to gather up their life and move on. A prime example is one young man, a disabled veteran; I met at Edwards Air Force Base here in California. After a tour in Iraq, he insisted on being sent back. His request was granted with a deployment to Afghanistan. That in its self is note worthy and is made even more so when you learn he was a team leader in EOD. As expected, he seriously down played what he did, with one exception; he was proud of the fact that not one member of his team was either killed or wounded. The license plate on his vehicle is a specialty plate that shows the Bronze Star he was awarded and lettering that clearly shows he was EOD. Not surprisingly, he said nothing about what he did to earn that Bronze Star and I respected his privacy by not asking. Meeting with and talking to these men and women is a truly humbling experience. They have pride in what they have done for our country and almost all of them would go back again.

However, once they face the mind numbing bureaucracy in an effort to get help, reality sets in and they discover that while everyone talks wonders, they encounter one demoralizing blunder after another. The people of California can help through a variety of small efforts. Write to the politicians, local, state and federal, demanding that they knock off the words games and hunker down and make things work for our veterans. Ask any civic group or organization you belong to what they are doing and can they do more. If you are an employer, hire veterans. These are people who know how to work. We continue to waste money on illegal aliens, frivolous projects and mindless issues. It needs to stop and the people of this state are the ones who can make it happen.

January 2009

Again, my apologies for not being more conscientious with updating the web site in a timelier manner. When SB1229 was held in committee, I started the third, and I hope final push to get a bill written and passed that will benefit our disabled veterans. However, with the ever increasing state budget deficit and the sad condition the economy is in, it will take a tremendous amount of work on our part to get it passed.

The passage of the Gold Star license plate came about because of the dedication and determination of Senator Dave Cogdill (14th Dist). We will be borrowing heavily from his innovative approach. Through the years we have learned one very important lesson; anything that will benefit veterans will have its opponents and obstacles. Because of that, we will now be identifying those legislators, problematic issues and regulations that stand in the way of honoring this important segment of our veteran population. Time and again, when I presented my idea to some people in Sacramento, they sited what rule, regulation or policy that would prevent any progressive movement. Maybe job security in based upon not trying to make things happen but to find and hide behind anything that will keep them from doing something constructive. However, there are a lot of legislators who want to help because they see this license plate as a positive acknowledgement to our veterans.

I'll be making a four or five minute CD/DVD that will be sent to selected groups and organizations throughout California asking for there support. Another will be made for legislators with the same purpose in mind. We feel this will give better coverage to a larger segment of the population.

Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino has once again stepped up and pledged his support. This time around I'll be asking for more help and direction from him in the hopes of developing an even stronger united front. You'll recall he made possible the renaming of streets in Santa Maria for those Armed Forces men and women residents of this city who have died in combat.

Major General David Blackledge and Lt. General Carter F. Ham, both U.S. Army, active duty, have something in common with an ever growing number of veterans and active duty; they admitted to having PTSD. Both men admitted this in the hope of dispelling the false stigma associated with this serious problem.

Before the next bill is introduced, we hope to have a very large and very strong support base both within the political and civic sectors. News media coverage will be very important to obtain this objective.

SECOND MAY, 2008 UPDATE

Before I start I would like to remind everyone of the change we have made to our email. Because of the huge amount of SPAM we had been receiving, it is now necessary to fill in the subject line. Any email that doesn’t have that line filled in will be deleted.

Everything is in place to petition DMV for our plates. We have three different designs will be submitted in order to eliminate any objections based upon plate design.

What will happen is our three plate designs will be submitted with at least ten applicants to DMV. They will review the designs, approve one of them and start the process. Though we don’t like it, applicants will have to pay the usual veteran plate fees until the state budget is settled. At that time we will push for either the elimination of the fees or have them greatly reduced.

If you are interested in applying for one of the non-handicapped, disabled veteran license plates email us with your name and address. We will, in turn, email you progress reports. Please review the requirements listed on this site to see if you qualify.

In other news, we have found two websites that are truly dedicated to our veterans and active duty; Soldiers’ Angles and Military Connections offers the help and support that these men and women need. We ask that you visit these sites and do whatever you can to help. As time permits, we will provide more information about both of these very helpful sites. In the meantime they can be reached through our links page.

MAY, 2008

E MAIL: Due to the amount of SPAM we are receiving, we now require that you fill in the subject section. Any email received without that will be deleted unopened.

NEW LINK: The Wounded Warrior Project has been added to our list of links, www.woundedwarriorproject.org. As everyone knows, there are numerous web sites devoted to providing veterans with all sorts of help. The Wounded Warrior Project is just such a web site. We ask that you visit the site and do what you can to help these men and women.

DV LICENSE PLATE UPDATE: Senator Able Maldonado introduced SB 1229, calling for the license plate. Right now it.s in the Senate.s Transportation and Housing Committee with no expectation of moving forward. Seems there are rules prohibiting any new plates from being introduced because it.s felt we have too many already and some them, according to administrative types, are too hard to read.. It would take major political influence to get the bill past.

However, we do have a positive side to this problem. A consultant to the committee discovered a way to make the license plate a reality without having to go through committees. It requires cooperation from the Cal. VA, DMV and the CHP. What would happen is an additional decal would be added to the list of veterans. plates that are already being used. Once this concept is agreed upon, it will only take ten qualified veterans to apply for the plate then the decals would be printed and issued.

We are working hard to make this happen and we need your help to make it so. We ask you to contact you state representatives and the Cal. VA and urge them to quickly move this through. These deserving men and women have waiting long enough for California to show some respect and gratitude to those who are deserving of such an honor.

February Update

I apologize for being late with this update but; so much was accomplished during my month long visit to the state capitol that I.m still working at categorizing it. Add to that a serious case of some sort of flu and my productivity dropped to near zero.

Senator Able Maldonado (R. Dist 15) introduced SB 1229, our license plate bill. The Senator coauthored the original bill (AB 445) without being asked. All I did was explain to him what it was I wanted to do and he immediately volunteered. In regard to SB 1229, I visited his office on a Monday and I was told Mr. Maldonado was very interested and they would do the usual research needed. On the following Thursday I walked into his office and the Legislative Director looked at me and said, .Yes..

We have about forty-two potential coauthors and at least one sponsor.

I met with senior consultants from both the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees and ironed out all of the things that would prevent the bill from moving forward. Unfortunately, the changes made do not benefit the veteran. Though no one liked the idea, the qualified veteran will have to absorb all costs for the time being. On the upside is the fact that everyone is more than willing to remove or reduce these costs when the state budget settles down.

Progress reports will be posted as needed.

12/17/07

Today, Assemblyman Nava’s staff advised me the he will not be reintroducing the bill this session. Because of the lack of enthusiasm on the part of his staff when I met with them in September, I suspected this would happen. In preparation for this, I contacted other Assembly members and asked them to consider authoring the bill on the Assembly side. On my January trip to the state capitol I will be meeting with them to iron out any problems that may exist.

In the mean time, Senator Able Maldonado is seriously considering authoring the same bill on the Senate side. The idea here is to be able to move it quickly through both houses.

I was told that CALTRANS may oppose issuing a new plate because they feel we have too many already. A meeting is being setup with them so I can explain that this plate isn’t a vanity plate, but a show of gratitude and respect.

Because of the current budget problems we have been forced to remove from the table just about every additional benefit we would have liked to see attached to the plates. And we are well aware that other, far less worthy bills, will be passed that will cost far more than ours. And when you look at the cold hard realities you will see that this is one of the reasons why this plate is so important. Our veterans need this exposure in the state so they too can receive better attention in our state government.

November 21, 2007

January is fast approaching and with it the next trip to the State Capitol and, once again meet with all of our legislatures with the objective being the gathering of additional supporters and the finial resolution to the funding problem. The visit in September resulted in the gathering of additional legislative supporters and several constructive suggestions and ideas.

The governor has asked for voluntary cut backs in state spending because of the looming financial problems. A portion of the problem is the result of what appears to be frivolous spending, the failure to institute logical cut backs in areas that are over funded and a lack of financial control over various other programs. Because of this, we are once again forced to consider reducing the cost to the state for the non-handicapped veteran.s license plate by having the qualified veteran pay some of the fees that we want to state to absorb. At a later date we can address either the reduction or total elimination of these charges. Our first objective is to get the bill passed and funded.

The news media reports citing the fact that one in four homeless people are veterans, and that includes veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan fighting, makes clear the fact that help is sorely needed. Health care, job assistance, education and training and, in some instances, housing are the areas of concern. While there are agencies already in place that can help our veterans in need, many are either not aware of them or too removed from the social mainstream to try and get help. Our non-handicapped, disabled veteran.s license plate is the first step in correcting these problems. Our license plate is the first step on the road to correcting these problems. The plate will receive at least state wide news coverage and that will lend itself to a raised public awareness to just how serious the needs are for our veterans. And that.s when we will be joining with other like minded groups in a united push to correct these problems.

I can not emphasize enough the need to not only tell others about what we are doing and will be doing in the future, but to continually urge your state legislatures to do everything they can to insure the passage of this bill.

10/25/07

We are waiting for the results from the effort to get the funding issue resolved, and that is a slow process. The Appropriations Committee primary staff member, Steve Archibald, has to review the changes we are suggesting and determine if they are feasible. Because of increased spending within the DMV and the CHP, DMV will be in the red by the end of next year. And, naturally enough, they are reluctant to ignore a possible source of additional income this plate would generate if they applied the usual fees charged for vanity plates. We have impressed upon them the fact that these are not vanity plates, but a modest show of support and gratitude to those who have sacrificed so much.

Because the funding is the only stumbling block, we are trimming the cost to the state while keeping any cost incurred by the veteran at a minimum.

You'll notice the license plate posted on this site has changed. Gone are the ribbons that where located on the bottom. We feel that it gives the plate a stark reality that is inline with the reason the plates are issued.

We will keep you posted on the progress we make and what everyone can do to help.

Dave Troescher

10/5/07

I apologize for not updating our web site sooner but I've been pretty busy visiting every California state legislator, explaining who we are, what we are doing and how they can help. And, for the most part, things have gone well. Numerous members of both Houses have pledged to vote for the bill while others are seriously considering coauthoring.

Several legislative staff members went so far as to recommend having the bill introduced in the Senate at the same time it's reintroduced in the Assembly. I've been told this action would help insure the bill would receive serious consideration and a united support base here in the capitol. And, to that end, I've asked every Senator to consider taking the position as the Senate author. About four are going to review the issue and make their decision by January.

As you already know, the bill was held in the Assembly's Appropriations Committee. For the most part there were two reasons it was held; the asking for the plates to be free for life and DMV's demand for the annual "vanity" plate fee. We removed the free plate for life and have two people in Sacramento working on rescinding DMV's request for the "vanity" plate fee. However, because of the projected financial problems facing DMV in 2008, we may be forced to remove even more and work on cost reductions at a later date. Because of these obstacles, Mr. Nava's office asked that we amend the bill and present it to them. The primary consideration now is to get the bill passed and enacted.

On another note, I met with Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia's legislative director Sharon Gonsalves, and she informed me that Ms. Garcia had introduced AB 540, a bill calling for a one time $1,000.00 "welcome home" payment to every California veteran returning for Iraq or Afghanistan. AB 540 is based on what the state of Massachusetts is already doing. The bill met some opposition and she has asked us to review it and see if we can be of any help in the matter.

In closing I want to remind you that your participation is still a critical factor. A number of legislatures said they received the form letters on our web site and they were helpful in making the decision to support our bill. Both the Senate and the Assembly introduce a large number of bills each session and many of them are nothing more than fluff designed to appease a segment of their voting constituency. We need to make it perfectly clear that our bill is not "fluff" but in fact a serious commitment to our veterans.

Dave Troescher
Founder and Chair

8/14/07

A few days after Labor Day, Dave Troescher will be traveling to Travis Air Force Base, near Sacramento, and staying at their FAMCAMP for about a month while he visits the offices of Assembly and Senate representatives. He will also be visiting the cities in the area and asking the city councils, county supervisors and other civic and business groups for there support in getting this idea reintroduced in the next secession. We want to get as many legislators as possible to coauthor this legislation.

If you live within the Travis AFB area, and want him to make a presentation, just email us and we will do what we can to accommodate your request.