DAV Leaders Meet with New Governor, New Legislative Committee Chairs

 

Meetings are Historic Demonstration of Unity between Five Top State Veterans’ Organizations

(davwi.blogspot.com) – Just days after the inauguration, DAV’s leaders united in an historic occasion with The American Legion, AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart to hold a joint meeting in the Governor’s conference room in the state capitol with Governor Scott Walker and his staff.

The large group of veterans service organization leaders and staff were united in expressing deep concerns with state veterans programs and funding, WDVA, and WDVA’s current Board and executive leadership.

The joint delegation also had lengthy, separate roundtable discussions with Senate Economic Development, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee chair Senator Randy Hopper, Assembly Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee chair Representative Dick Spanbauer,  and their committee  staff.

Topics of discussion included deep unified concerns related to the current Financial challenges to all of the trio of WDVA’s managed funds, including the Veterans Trust Fund (VTF), state veterans home loan Mortgage Loan Repayment Fund (MLRF), and the state veterans homes (HOMES) fund.

The delegation was also unified in expressing deep concerns about the an Unaccountable, Unresponsive, and Incapable WDVA Secretary an Unresponsive, Unaccountable Wis. Board of Veterans Affairs (which appoints the WDVA Secretary, who serves at the Board’s pleasure). 

The discussion led into the meat of the discussion, “WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE,” which was a candid, round table discussion. 

There was clear consensus on some solutions where the large delegation was were solidly unified, including calling for removal of the current Secretary.  Of note, The American Legion has not taken an official position on these issues.

Other areas remain to be resolved, but one thing remains clear:  the largest veterans service organizations in the state, representing collectively more than 200,000 members, have come together in unity and intend to continue to do so, speaking “with one voice.”