Senator Lembke Calls Missouri's Unemployed Freeloaders

By now, most people have read reports of our State Senator Jim Lembke referring to the unemployed as freeloaders and lazy asses.He has blocked passage of a bill to get millions of federal dollars just for the sake of cruelty. To top it off, this action won't save any money as it will just flow to other states. Lembke lives in his own little world. I ask you Jim, with veterans returning to civilian life facing even higher levels of unemployment, are they lazy asses.


Veteran Unemployment

December 28th, 2010
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By Lynn Goya

I just watched White Christmas last night. I’d forgotten that the plot was about a World War II military hero facing bankruptcy. Veterans know that those well-touted military skills perfected while in service often don’t translate to civilian jobs. As a November NY Times article notes, unemployment rates are higher for recent veterans than for the general population. With the general unemployment rate the third highest since WWII, veterans are finding it extremely difficult to land on their feet.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America summarizes a recent committee hearing on unemployment among vets to the House Veterans Affairs committee where veteran Tim Embree testified that,

“civilian employers who do not understand the value of [veterans’] skills and military experience. As a result, unemployment rates for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are staggering. Additionally, the National Guardsmen and Reservists who leave behind their civilian lives to serve alongside active-duty troops, are inadequately protected against job discrimination. The experience of previous generations of veterans who faced similar situations suggest that today’s veterans may continue to struggle for years to come.”

The government and some private employers are trying to help. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided funds for a two-year tax credit for employers who hired unemployed Iraq or Afghanistan vets. Hiring a disabled veteran gives the company a credit worth up to $4,800. The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) helped over 850,000 vets through grants to state and local agencies. In addition, in November 2009, the Obama administration issued and executive order that enhanced employment opportunities within the federal government.

Still, that isn’t enough. Veterans who are unemployed can seek employment help through various – perhaps too many – veteran-specific agencies geared specifically to help veterans make the transition into the civilian job force. IAVA advocates the Veterans Administration coordinate and vet job creation organizations so that veterans can turn to a single jobs-for-veterans portal. If you are a vet looking for work the VA is the best place to start.

Here are some others: Warrior Gateway.org; Vet Jobs; Military Hire.com; and Veterans Green Jobs.

Retirees and Vets Allowed to Salute Flag

Traditionally, members of the nation's veterans service organizations render the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization's official head-gear. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 contained an amendment to allow un-uniformed servicemembers, military retirees, and veterans to render a hand salute during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the U.S. flag. A later amendment further authorized hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of-uniform military personnel. This was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which Former President Bush signed on Oct. 14, 2008.

D-Day

Sixty four years ago, men much braver than I, stormed the beaches of Normandy beginning the land invasion to re-claim Europe. I salute their service and sacrifice.
Mike

Kudos to Senator Kit Bond

U.S. must do a better in treating brain injuries of service members:

I share much appreciation for Senator Bond's leadership efforts in this important matter. For more, read the article and letter to the editor in today's Post Dispatch.