NGAMN Legislative

NGAUS LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP

2010-02-16T20:42:00.004-06:00

AFTER ACTION REPORT (TRIP REPORT)
TO: NGAMN BOARD
FROM: CAPT BRIAN WINTER
SUBJECT: NGAUS LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP, WASHINGTON DC
DATE: 1 - 2 FEB 2010
CC: NONE

NGAUS LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP
Attendees: Capt Brian Winter, NGAMN Legislative Rep, Brig Gen Cossalter, COL Ahlness

Purpose of Trip: To obtain knowledge of the political process and legislative rep role, current NGAUS legislative priorities.

Day 1:
- NGB-LL FY2010 Strategic Overview, NGB-LL, LTC Bob Priess
---Discussed what's being called the "Guard and Reserve Initiative"
---Current priorities are MILCON and additional authorizations for NDS techs
---Current strategic environment -
- Election year
- QDR - released 01 Feb 10
- HASC/SASC rejected DoD increase in ARNG NDS techs - need to sell why this is needed to the hill
- Comments by General McKinley, Director of the National Guard
---We need to remember that we are the militia - a constitutionally based organization
---ANG needs to realize that the age of manned aviation is coming to an end - "it's time to wake up, time to play ball."
---Technology will need to be the driving force in the ANG
---Think about what our ANG, AF will look like in 5 years, the biggest adjustment in the NG will be in the ANG
---ARNG is currently in great shape, big Army acknowledges the value of the ARNG - not the case with the Air Force and the ANG.
---Currently thinking about how we reset the ARNG post-OIF, OEF; equipment is in marginal shape
---The QDR is a "take it or leave it" budget - not like the past where interests could be cut out or propped up.
---ANG "Way Ahead" -
- Space and cyber field is wide-open, need to get in front of this
- Need to be very active/valuable community, state asset through:
- EMEDS
- State emergency support
- Need to think about how we build our market share, think of the Air Force as GM, ANG as Chrysler
---The budget deficit is the #1 security crisis
- Georgetown Government Affairs Institute presentation, Dr. Marian Currinder and Dr. John Haskell
---Two professors from Georgetown gave a mini-seminar on the legislative process
---Dr. Marian Currinder covered the following:
- Authorizations process = establishes policy
- Appropriations process = how we are going to pay for policy
- 10-14K bills are introduced in a session, only 3-5% become law
- The framers designed it to be a cumbersome system
- House needs 218 of 430 members to pass (majoritarian house)
- Every state gets only 2 senators (100 total), one senator can hold up progress
- Prior to 19th century, senators were appointed by the state legislatures
- The legislative process is more like a tree than a ladder - no direct way to the top (end result), but multiple ways
- Most bills start as ideas, drawing from legislators' past experiences or constituents' letters, etc.
- Defense appropriations is different, happens in committee.
- Hearings are conducted to make research public, "on the record." They are to put on display all the work committees have done.
---Dr. John Haskell:
- "Follow the Money" - how to keep track of your legislative initiative(s)
- Congress is looking at both appropriations and authorizations at the same time - easy to lose track of where a bill is at
- Legislation can move back and forth between these three areas repeatedly: Policy <> Budget committees <> Appropriations
- Presidential Budget - it is not a law, prez submits at the start of session.
- Congress' response is due by 4/15
- Minority party has little impact on the budget
- 302(a) allocation = the amt of $ spent on discretionary spending
---Budget resolution dictates how much is going to be spent
- 302(a) is the entire pie (total discretionary spending), 302(b) is the pieces of the pie shared by the 12 sub-committees (defense, milcon/VA, Ag, homeland security, etc.)
- 2010 Budget Outlook - similar to mid-late 1980's
- PAYGO rules applied, became law in 1991, (1994, 1997)
---Increases in mandatory spending must be funded from somewhere else - figure out how to pay for them
- Middle of cold war
- 2010 - country at war, economy starting to perk up
---Need to deal with deficits again
---Senate re-enacted PAYGO
---Government entering an era of restraint
- Defense spending categories: Procurement/Acquisitions, Personnel, O&M, other
---5 reasons why Republicans/Democrats will do well in the next election
- The Guard and Reserve Initiative
---$30M to the ARNG and ANG to address critical unfunded requirements
---NGB-LL website: www.ng.mil/ll to track points of action throughout the year
---Earmarks happen during the appropriations process (hearings phase)
---ARNG is the most earmarked account in the DoD
- Visits/Q&A with congressional staffers
---Debra Wada, Senior Staffer
---Erin Reif, Sen Lamar Alexander, R-TN
---JP Dowd, Sen Patrick Leahy, D-VT
---Staffers do 90-95% of the work
---Need to know who your state's MLAs are
Day 2:
- NGAUS Legislative Update and Priorities - Richard Green, NGAUS Legislative Dir.
---NGAUS Legislative tools
---Why Lobby Congress? It's in the constitution!
---Who we work with
---Task forces, resolutions committees, legislative process
---Resolutions start with the state associations, Jan-May
---Mandatory vs Discretionary spending
---Top FY10 Legislative Accomplishments
---FY10 Strategic Priorities
- EANGUS Legislative Update
- Congressman Loebsack, D-IA, 2nd Dist and staffer Megan Linn
- AGAUS update, MG Greg Wayt, TAG-OH
- Sen Kit Bond staffer - Mike
- COL Ahlness
---MILCON
---QDR
---Work with National Governors' Association
---Make the staff heroes, tell the truth, don't withhold information
- Kevin McColaugh, NGAUS staff (ARNG programs)
---Make sure to thank legislators for what you have gotten
Recommendations:
- NGAMN should send a minimum of one to two people annually to this conference to hear the information presented, learn the legislative process, build relationships at the national office and on the hill
- NGAUS has a great space available at no charge for hosting legislative events. Several states host thank-you events there for their staff on the hill annually.

In closing:
- Although it was a quick trip, it was a valuable use of time. I learned an immense amount about the legislative process and how things get done on the hill. It's also a great opportunity to meet ARNG/ANG folks from other states to learn about how they are doing things and to meet MN staffers/legislators.

//SIGNED//
Brian C. Winter, Capt NGAMN Legislative Liaison

2011 Budget Proposal Includes Air Force Plane Grab

2010-02-04T06:24:00.004-06:00

NATIONAL GUARD ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES, INC.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ONE MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001 (202) 789-0031

Contact: John Goheen at (202) 408-5882

2011 Budget Proposal

Includes Air Force Plane Grab

WASHINGTON (Feb. 2, 2010) - Air Force officials have found a new source of inventory to replace their aging aircraft: the more experienced, less expensive and often more heavily tasked Air National Guard.

The plan, which is included in the president's 2011 budget proposal (please see attached budget document), would shift 12 C-130 Hercules cargo planes from Air Guard bases nationwide to replace older active-component models at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.

The same scheme would also eliminate the only flying unit in the Puerto Rico Air Guard. In all, 21 Air Guard C-130s would be affected.

"This continues the slow but steady grounding of the Air National Guard," said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, NGAUS chairman of the board. "At a time when we should be leveraging cost-effectiveness, the Air Force wants to gut its component with, by far, the lowest operating costs.

"We're cutting muscle when we should be cutting fat-excess personnel and infrastructure not involved in today's missions," he said. "This is bad for America and, ultimately, will be bad for the U.S. Air Force."

Air Force officials said the plan is based on the findings of the Mobility Capability Requirements Study; however, this most recent look at the U.S. military's airlift needs is yet not complete.

In addition, Air Guard leaders in the states and the nation's governors were never consulted or advised of the scheme's significant provisions.

The plan continues an effort that began when Air Force leaders used the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process to cut the Air Guard instead of-as BRAC was intended-to divest excess infrastructure.

"The Air Guard is the last place to look to save money," Bunting said. "Most of our bases are on state or municipal airport property. We have minimal infrastructure and overhead. We have a mostly part-time force. We also have some of the most experienced air crews and maintainers in the Air Force.

"When you cut the Air Guard you're not cutting costs," he said, "you're cutting capability."

# # #

About NGAUS: The association includes nearly 45,000 current or former Guard officers. It was created in 1878 to provide unified National Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by petitioning Congress for more resources. Today, 132 years later, NGAUS has the same mission.

Internet Availability: This document and other Guard and NGAUS news and information are available at www.ngaus.org.

Legislative Alert #09-07: Army National Guard Black Hawk Modernization

2009-03-25T09:14:00.001-05:00

> LEGISLATIVE ALERT #09-07
> March 25, 2009
>
> ________________________________
>
>
> The Issue: Army National Guard Black Hawk Modernization
>
> Immediate Action Required: Contact your Senators and urge them to
> sign on to
> Sen. Landrieu's letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the
> Armed
> Services and Appropriations Committees requesting additional funding
> for the
> National Guard to help modernize the National Guard H-60 Black Hawk
> fleet
>
>
> ________________________________
>
>
> The National Guard operates the oldest "A" model Black Hawks in the
> fleet.
> The average age of Army National Guard (ARNG) "A" model Black Hawks
> exceed 24
> years. When all shortages in Army National Guard formations are
> filled, more
> than 500 of the 786 Black Hawk helicopters in the ARNG will be older
> "A"
> models. "A" model Black Hawk helicopters have 1000 lbs less payload
> than
> newer "L" and "M" models, they are less effective operating at high
> altitudes, and more costly to maintain. High operational tempos in
> ARNG
> units, coupled with shortages of H-60 Black Hawks across the nation,
> are
> wearing out the National Guard H-60 fleet much faster than planned.
>
> Until last year the Army had no program in place to address the
> sustainment
> and modernization issues for the "A" model Black Hawk helicopter
> fleet.
> Thanks to the support of Congress, in April of 2008, the Army
> approved a
> program to fund UH-60A-A to UH-60L conversions at a rate of 38 per
> year over
> the next five years. However, even with this program in place, and
> with
> continued fielding of the new "M" model helicopters in accordance
> with the
> Army's plans, the Army will not divest itself of "A" model Black
> Hawks until
> 2023, when the average age of "A" model Black Hawks still flying
> will exceed
> 30 years.
>
> The ARNG wants to accelerate the pace of both the UH-60A-A to UH-60 L
> conversion and "M" model fielding to Army National Guard units. To
> facilitate
> this effort, Senator Mary Landrieu has initiated a letter to the
> Chairmen and
> Ranking Members of the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees
> requesting additional funding for the National Guard to help
> modernize the
> National Guard H-60 Black Hawk fleet. Urge your Senators to
> demonstrate their
> support for the National Guard's efforts to fund these critical
> modernization
> efforts by signing on to this letter.
>
> TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION:
>
> By using the "Write to Congress" feature on the NGAUS Web site at
> www.ngaus.org
> <http://capwiz.com/ngaus/utr/1/EVIQKDESWD/OMLSKDESYO/3097336411> ,
> you can
> immediately e-mail your Senators or Representative. A sample letter
> is
> included in our "Write to Congress" feature. You can e-mail the pre-
> written
> message or edit the sample letter as you desire. This is the
> quickest and
> most effective method of expressing your views to Congress. Also,
> contact
> your friends and family and urge them to "Write to Congress" as
> well. For
> more in-depth information and background visit our web site at: www.ngaus.org
> Please direct any questions concerning this issue to Rich Green, NGAUS
> Legislative Director at 202-408-5881 or via email: richard.green@ngaus.org
> .
>
>
> If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here
> <http://capwiz.com/ngaus/lmx/u/?jobid=120267735&queueid=3097336411> .
>
>
> <http://capwiz.com/ngaus/utr/i1/EVIQKDESWD/3097336411/img/capwizlogo.gif
> >
>

three key issues

2009-03-23T18:26:00.008-05:00

The three key issues that MAG is working on this legislative session are as follows:

* House File (HF) 557-- Preference for Veteran Owned Small Businesses
* House File (HF) 558 -- 2nd Career Military Tax Subtraction
* Bill Draft for the Veterans' Preference in State Hiring/Firing

Minnesota continues to fall behind other states when it comes to supporting Veteran owned small businesses, 2nd career military tax subtraction and the veterans' preference in state hiring. The champion for HF557, HF558 and Veterans Preference is Rep. Severson. He has been very supportive on veteran issues and continues to work with MAG to correct Minnesota's stance on veteran legislation.

HF557 - Current law allows state purchasing authorities to give "targeted groups" up to 6% preference in bidding state contracts. Veteran owned businesses is one of those targeted groups that should be considered for state contract bids. Minnesota is not very supportive and does not give veteran owned businesses a fair chance to bid and receive state contracts. This bill will change the language of the law to give veteran owned businesses a leg up when it comes to state contracts. It would allow veteran owned businesses the opportunity to compete for state contracts they way the federal law was intended.

HF558 - Minnesota is one of only 5 states that taxes second career military pensions. Wisconsin is much more veteran tax friendly than Minnesota. We are losing many retirees to Wisconsin each year because they give veterans a much better tax break on their military pensions. HF 558 is designed to give 2nd career military professionals in Minnesota better tax breaks so that they stay in Minnesota. Wisconsin's 2nd career military population has increased at a rate 130% greater than in Minnesota from 2001-2007. Wisconsin's tax exemptions for 2nd career military have created a gap between Minnesota and Wisconsin. It has grown 10 million dollars to over 31 million dollars per year. MAG is trying to mirror the Wisconsin model in Minnesota and make Minnesota a more attractive state for military retirees.

Bill Draft for the Veteran Preference - Veterans' preference for Minnesota state jobs is not doing what it was originally intended to do. Veterans are supposed to get a preference when it comes to applying for state jobs. A veteran resume is supposed go to the top of the pile in the state hiring process. Veterans many times are not even having their resumes considered when they apply. Veteran employment in state agencies is declining more and more every year. This bill would guarantee veterans receive an interview by the hiring authority of state agencies and the Department of Administration would be mandated to collect the data and track the progress of the veterans' preference our state hiring process.

MAG Update

2009-02-27T04:35:00.006-06:00

MAG Meeting Notes 26 Feb 09, 1200-1240 hrs, State Office Bldg, Rm
500N, Chip Laingen presided.

Short meeting, only about seven people in attendance. No talk of
National Guard issues directly, but indirectly through discussion of
veterans issues.

- Hiring of veterans for state jobs is decreasing by about 16%
overall since 2004 (see attachment)

o Why? Are there fewer veterans overall? But there should be
more National Guard veterans and they tend to stay in the state.

o Veterans coming off of active duty often go to school to use
their education benefits - do state educational institutions give
preferential tuition pricing to veterans like other students do? No.
Are we losing veterans to other states because of that?

o Anecdotally, someone asked the question of employers about
hiring veterans and at least one employer said, "where are they? We'd
hire them if they applied."

- There are currently two bills in the system to give veterans
preference in state contracts, HF 557 (Severson) and HF 715 (Newton).
HF 557 is the "good" bill because it gives preference to all veterans,
not just disabled veterans, and uses existing federal databases to
determine eligibility, eliminating the need for the State to set up
its own administrative process to do the same thing. Sponsors of the
two bills have been talking. It is likely that the wording of HF 557
will win out, but under the HF 715 label.

- Rep Dettmer is introducing a bill that will allow all disabled
veterans, not just MN citizens, to free entrance into MN State Parks.
Opposition is expected to be light, if any.

- There is a "Special Forces" training meeting Friday, Feb 27th
at 1000 hrs, Rm 300N, State Office Bldg

- UVLC meeting minutes are attached (and I think they're also on
their website - http://www.mnuvlc.org)

Scott Chambers

scottchambers@bigfoot.com
UVLC-Meeting-MInutes.pdf
Veteran-Employment-in-State-of-MN-Jobs.pdf

Contact your Representative

2009-02-17T15:46:00.001-06:00

Support House Bill HF 0557 NOW!

Representative or Senator XXXXXXX

-Minnesota Veterans are returning home to the business they left
behind. Or they are starting new businesses. Yet they receive no
preference in competing for State contracts.

- Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service Disabled Veteran
Owned Businesses (SDVOSB) come from every part of our society.
Military service crosses all racial, gender and ethnic lines. But
these veterans have one common bond – they willingly sacrificed to
serve our country. And some will carry scars with them for the rest
of their lives.

-Helping veterans is nothing new. Federal law has given preference on
Federal contracts to VOSBs and SDVOSBs for several years. Why does
Minnesota continues to fall behind other states that are friendly to
Veteran-Owned Businesses? Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, Florida,
California have taken action to support Veteran-Owned Businesses.

-Please support the House Bill HF 0557 to bring us into the post-9/11 world.

-Currently, minority and woman-owned businesses receive a preference
when competing for contracts with the State of Minnesota. State law
allows purchasing authorities to give these 'targeted groups' up to a
six percent (6%) preference in bidding. Adding Veteran-Owned
Businesses will support this effort because minorities and women
comprise such a significant part of our military.

Not only is House Bill HF 0557 the right thing to do, it will boost
our economy by making Minnesota more competitive for billions of
Federal procurement dollars.

House Bill HF 0557 will create jobs.

Thank you. Minnesota's veterans look forward to your support.

Name
Address
Telephone number

MAG Special Forces Team

2009-02-13T12:48:00.001-06:00

The MAG 'special forces' team is a group of MAG members that commit to meeting with representatives face to face at the state capital. Today, our special forces team member, 1LT John Hobot, had this to report:

We met today and went over our strategy on how we are going to get support
for the bill. There will be talking points and themes put together for the
next MAG meeting.

Basically we are going to sell HF 558 as:
- A great way to create economic development and jobs for Minnesota.
- Creates an environment to create new opportunities for veterans.
- Veterans bring new skills and talents to our Minnesota workforce.
- Wisconsin is far more veteran friendly than Minnesota and we should model
HF 558 off of what Wisconsin is doing.

MAG Talking Points

2009-02-09T16:12:00.000-06:00

Please use these talking points as a basis for conversations with your
legislators.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcsvpd86_118dwbr6pcb

MAG Meeting 8 Jan 09

2009-01-08T14:18:00.006-06:00

Next MAG Meeting is 22 Jan 09 at noon, please email carl.madsen@gmail.com if you are considering attending.

Minutes of 8 Jan 09 meeting - sorry these are rough, email me if you want more information:

MAG (Military Action Group) Meeting 8 Jan 09 - Chip Laingen
History of MAG - started 4 years ago
3 original pillars of MAG
1 - traditional issues
2 - new veteran issues - coming back from current conflict
3 - business issues reintegration

Main purpose is to feed ideas into governor and legislative body.

Chip received feedback from chief of staff / governor's office- Three groups are untouchable in governor's perspective as far as decreases-veterans are one of those groups. Others in attendance are Rep Dan Severson, Rep dettmer - minority lead on veterans committee, Rep Wardlow. Michael Baumann is new administrative contact. Veterans and Military affairs hold harmless status in the governor's perspective.

How are we going to improve the state veterans initiatives? It's important in legislation to stay where you are at; don't loose ground in difficult times.

Rep Dettmer introduced his wife Colleen and his son CPT Rob Dettmer - Deploying to Afghanistan on his 2nd tour.

MAG is still sticking with the 3 pillars; use the term 2nd career military - don't use term retired.

Chip Laingen discussed 2nd career military tax exemption; 10 percent per year for first 3 years - get up to first $1000 - income pays for implementation of that 30percent; 40, 50, 60 percent - until $2000 - paid for itself, then the last 40 percent.

The numbers from Wisconsin are the basis for this idea.

Veteran's preference - negotiated a study on the number of veterans working for the state legislation which is due Jan 15.

There was discussion on making a protected class for veterans.

Rep Severson spoke with a person at social services who doesn't want to hire vets because they are 'broken' and have issues.

Introduced where LT john anderson of 1st Bde works for veterans affairs on the federal side, and another recent veteran Becky ____ also works for the dept vet affairs and is in the army reserves.

Jim Clarey is a House staffer and will be drafting the veterans benefit bill - need to feed key points to him.

John Baker - attorney and ret marine - vet pref doesn't apply at Dept of Vet Affairs.

We should be using the people on the MAG to educate members of house/senate on veteran's abilities and MAG's priorities.

What the preferential hiring law did for state and county level - identify obstacles that will effect state level.

Before 1975 you had to hire a qualified veteran that made the final round of inverviews, when competing with non-veterans. Today's law is not worded as strongly.

We are all spokespeople for the MAG - the 2008 platform brochure will be updated for 2009.

Is was stated that if a veteran has a rewarding job other issues melt away because they are employed.

John Baker mentioned that the chance of domestic violence rises when veteran is unemployed.

It was noted that current conflict veterans come back with a horizon broadening experience and are perfect to be hired at a higher level, to become community leaders; they focus on community and youth; they have dedication to nation and state based on their deployment experiences.

What is the MAG's strategy to get these laws passed?

The best method is a floor vote on an individual bill; better than omnibus bill which often gets reduced at the end.

How can we get a specific veteran hired in a specific job? It's hard based on resume alone.

It might be better to have percentage based requirement in different agencies - then they will have to show how they are targeting veterans.

Is there a clearing house where a veteran can go to see what jobs are available? - yes the workforce center. The DOL has a priorty of service - show that they are giving priority of service - no directive on how they are done. The veterans they are concerned about are the ones that have barriers to employment. Those veterans get intensive services over other veterans without barriers to employment.

It was mentioned there are problems with a quota based system - the navy tried one for women and had problems with the quota. Also, it implies that we are happy with only 5 percent of the workforce is veterans; is what we are shooting for? It would be better if it was 50 percent.

It's one thing to pass laws, and it's another to make the laws work.

We need a new law to make veterans preference to work. Should we do a review on why bills die - go to committee chair and ask why - should we do it this year? Should we have people assigned to sit there to help get these bills through - visit the committee chair on a number of occassions - we have never done that in past.
Action items -
learning how to lobby - get a list of names - add to those names - figure out how to train quickly - veterans don't have to register as lobbyist.
publish 2009 brochure.

3 key pillars - long term impact in the state; there are other issues outside of the 3 key pillars - add those to our platform as well.

We should change the wording of the bill so that the first thing listed isn't tax relief but instead it's one of the bullet points further down.

Service disabled should be a protected class but currently isn't in Minnesota - there is an agency that certifies that, subject to audit - 10 percent disablity and above.

Jack Scharrett of the Victri center is delaying the grand opening ceremony until the second quarter - the 23 jan event is cancelled.

Kathy Vitel - she's looking at a 75pct cut in her department - serves 870 veterans - her bill is considered "new money" and she has to reintroduce it.

Others in attendance: Jim Cleary House staffer, Rod Erickson - DAV, Ron Lussmen, Mike Moran - need younger veterans to do lobbying - Ralph Denay - TREA - email for breakdown of military in US and income coming to minnesota.

Jan 22nd - next meeting - noon

---------email from Chip Langen:

Information & Agenda

1. Governor's Initiatives: I had a lengthy conversation with the
Governor's Chief of Staff in late December. Unlike past years, there
is not (currently) a plan in work for the Governor to convene a press
conference to lay out his initiatves for Veteran legislation. This is
due to the ongoing fiscal crisis, and an unwillingness to signal even
the perception of new, or additional spending in any area, including
Veterans. Having said that, the Governor's office also made it clear
that Veterans are among just a handful of "special interest"
categories of state spending where the Governor will insist there be
no cuts. Given the economic situation, and the large number of
"special interest" categories in this state, this can be seen as very
good news, and we should integrate that "holding of the line" message
in our own language while looking for creative ways to enhance current
funding initiatives (*). This is a clear signal from the Governor
that Veterans are an important investment for our future.

2) MAG Philosophy: As you are all well aware, the MAG is a
relatively loose conglomeration that is meant to be a "think tank" of
sorts. It is a non partisan way to vocalize the continuing need to
vitalize the state's impressive, but "at-risk" resource that is its
Veteran community; and to recommend doing so in unique ways, or to
communicate traditional needs in new ways.

Our overarching premise is that Minnesota doesn't just owe its
Veterans, it needs its Veterans because they represent a vital,
generally young resource to fuel Minnesota's economic future, thanks
to their diverse, disciplined, well-educated and high technology
backgrounds. They represent a unique demographic of people who have
experienced a way of life that equips them well for the future, with
creativeness, the abilty to integrate complex situations, cultural
sensitivity and even entrepreneurial skills. They are also,
increasingly, re-integrating througout nearly every community in the
state, thanks to the heavy use of Guard and Reserve service members in
recent years. Also, I would remind everyone that the original premise
of the MAG group was to do so by organizing our communication in three
areas:

i. "New" Veterans Issues: The Global War on Terror and Minnesota's
extensive role in it (through its Guard and Reserve members primarily)
has created returning Veterans who have needs that are sometimes
different than those of Veterans from previous eras - because of the
nature of the conflict, and the nature of a different generation of
young people. We need to pay particular attention to those needs,
which include re-integration challenges, education and health care
issues.

ii. "Traditional" Veterans Issues: This and previous generations of
Veterans face challenges that are similar and enduring, and these
require attention as well. But again, many of these issues have
become "tired" from a communications standpoint; in other words, the
same messages have been sent in the same way, by the same people, for
many years, and there is a danger that these needs are not truly heard
any longer as a result. The challenge is to "re-package" and
re-invigorate those needs.

iii. Veterans "Business" Issues: This category plays extensively to a
central premise the MAG group has adhered to: that Veterans are a
vital resource for the state's continued economic prosperity, and we
should look for creative ways to attract and retain them in Minnesota
as a key element in securing our economic future

3) MAG Key Initiatives: We have begun to develop a lengthy list of
topics that the MAG intends to support for the new legislative
session. I propose that we stick with the top 3, as follows:

1. 2nd career military tax exemption
(* As stated above, this may be an area where we can, as Rep. Severson
proposed, ask that already-legislated funding can be re-directed to
begin a multi-year, graduated funding path for this initiative)
2. Veteran's Preference for State Hiring
3. Veteran-owned small businesses designated as targeted group
businesses for purposes of awarding state and metropolitan agency
procurement contracts

This is not to say that the other 5 or 6 issues that were added during
the last several meetings are not important, but it is starting to
look like a re-iteration of what is already on the dockett from other
groups, or from the Governor himself. I think we can add a statement
that we support the continued funding of ongoing state programs, and
those advocated by the UVLC and others.

4) Scorecard: this still needs work, as discussed during the last
several sessions, and several of us are continuing to explore ways to
package this tool.

MAG Meeting 4 December 2008

2008-12-04T16:40:00.003-06:00

I attended the Military Action Group meeting today (4 DEC 08) at the State Capital Building. During the meeting we covered what the priorities of the group were.

1) 2nd Career Military Tax Exemption
2) Veterans Preference for State Hiring
3) SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses) State Contracting Mandate
4) Veterans Paramedic Apprenticeship Program
5) Private Firm Incentives for Contracting with SDVOSB's - VICTRI have any update?
6) CDMRP (Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs) - VICTRI have any update?

We are trying to get word from the Governor's office regarding any pending release of an agenda for Veterans issues; will pass that along as we learn more.

OJ Doyle, a lobbyist from the Ambulance Association, spoke on getting Paramedics Apprenticeship Program to accept military training and experience. The out-state ambulance crews desperately need these highly experienced individuals in their ambulances. Spoke about $100K in funding for a full time executive director and office costs that was nearly approved last year but wasn't, and the wanted to get the MAG's support in moving this legislation forward.

Discussed how the military tax exemption can only be awarded to veterans who make less than $37,500 a year. It is believed that the legislation needs to be re-written to help a larger group, as most veterans earn more than that.

Discussed the widows of veterans and providing tax relief, and how the department of veterans affairs has addressed that issue.

Discussed the gap between Wisconsin and Minnesota regarding Veterans in Minnesota with Military Pensions. The research, conducted by The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) Ralph Donais, concludes that implementing a tax exemption status on veterans would bring money into the state.

Received a document showing the number of non-elected veterans working for the MN Senate, House, and other non-elected positions. 8 of the 208 Senate employee are veterans, 7 of the 253 House employees are veterans. This is important information for our number 2 priority, Veterans Preference for State Hiring.

Next meeting is January 8, 2009, at 1300 hrs.
Respectfully submitted,

Carl Madsen
MAJ, (RET) NGAMN Legislative Rep (Alternate)

Monthly Premiums Decrease for TRICARE Reserve Select

2008-11-21T03:17:00.003-06:00

November 19, 2008
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Effective Jan. 1, 2009, TRICARE will reduce the rates for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS).

Monthly premiums for TRS individual coverage will drop 44% from $81.00 to $47.51, and TRS family coverage will drop 29% from $253.00 to $180.17.

To view the entire news release visit: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=480

To view Tricare's website visit: http://www.tricare.mil

This reduction is a direct reflection of the efforts of the associations, especially the Enlisted Association, for the past several years. DoD refused to adjust the premiums for health care insurance despite ample evidence that the premiums were far higher than they needed to be.

Our Congressional Delegation supported the change, The 2009 NDAA required DoD to change actual cost for premiums, and now we can provide even more affordable health care coverage to our service members. This is another great news story that will help get and keep members in boots.

Colonel Eric D. Ahlness Government Relations Officer Minnesota National Guard

Military Action Group 13 NOV 08

2008-11-13T15:56:00.003-06:00

Today (Nov 13) we had a meeting at the Military Action Group, a bi-partisan work group to support economic development issues of the veterans in Minnesota. We discussed the topics that we need to bring to the governor: 1. Support for veterans that are entering their second career, to keep these valuable people in Minnesota; 2. A state initiative on preferential hiring of veterans; 3. Helping Veteran Owned Business get started (incubator). Several other topics may be added to the list; Support for paramedics to use their military training to count for paramedic training; support of the PTSD state and federal programs, with something called the CDMRP (Congress Directed Military Resource Program); some sort of incentive package to give preferential treatment for companies that sub contract or buy from veteran owned businesses.

Additional topics included a scorecard on Minnesota politicians and their support of veterans issues. The scorecard presented to the group needed refinement, with more emphasis on how to make the scorecard useful when talking with these politicians.

Additionally, Jack Scharrett, CEO of the non-profit organization VICTRI (http://www.victri.org) spoke about his new organization that helps veterans start, build, and sustain sucessful businesses or initiatives through education, services and support.

Spoke with Nancy Gertner, Associate Chair of the DFL Veterans Caucus, about some of her projects, including a homeless veterans center she is working on in Sauk Centre.

Next meeting is at 1pm on December 4th in Room 300 of the State Office Building.

Respectfully Submitted,
Carl Madsen, MAJ, (Ret)

legislative news

2008-10-23T00:35:00.000-05:00

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