This is a time for Minnesotans to speak up and call for action on the first Veterans Omnibus Bill in the Minnesota Legislature. Year after year, veterans, their family members, and survivors have watched as important pieces of legislation have failed to pass the Minnesota Legislature. This isn’t because they are actively opposed, it is because our lawmakers wrap these issues into monstrous omnibus bills where they are put together with hyper-partisan issues from both sides. The fact is that our Veterans, their families, and survivors see benefits delayed, programs unfunded, projects delayed, and other negative impacts because of unrelated partisan fighting. This call to action is to let your elected officials know that enough is enough. We want Veteran’s issues considered on their own merit. Veterans are not a bargaining chip, a political tool to embarrass your “opponent”, an “also-ran” issue, and should not be relegated to a small portion of an unrelated bill. Complete the automated form and send a message to Minnesota legislators to support our Veterans at https://www.votervoice.net/DAVMN/campaigns/93963/respond
What will a Veterans Omnibus do? Here’s a list provided by Trent Dilks, Foundation Executive Director at Disabled American Veterans, Department of Minnesota:
Separate Veterans issues from other hyper-partisan debates being held in St. Paul.
Ensure that action is taken this year on issues like Veterans’ homelessness, suicide prevention, caring for surviving spouses, funding Veterans’ priorities, and more.
Allow for accountability of our legislatures, now they don’t have to vote “Yes” or “No” on Veterans issues. Veterans’ bills die without anyone ever voting against them in the current system.
Make Veterans, their families, and survivors a clear priority throughout the legislative process.
Allow advocates for Veterans to clearly distinguish between the rhetoric and the actions of our legislature.
Streamline all future Veterans legislation into “Veterans Omnibus” making a lasting impact for Veterans for decades to come.
“The fact is this is the perfect year to make this call,” observes Dilks. “We can all see the fight that is building in St. Paul, with a massive surplus, elections looming, and partisanship at an all-time high. Our lawmakers have the ability to ensure we take care of Veterans this year.If you add up all of the provisions, we are calling for in a Veterans Omnibus, it accounts for less than 1% of the budget surplus. Less than 1% of the surplus for the 7% who served seems like a reasonable ask. They can have their fight over the 99% left, after taking care of our Veterans. If you add up all of the provisions, we are calling for in a Veterans Omnibus, it accounts for less than 1% of the budget surplus. Less than 1% of the surplus for the 7% who served seems like a reasonable ask. They can have their fight over the 99% left, after taking care of our Veterans.”
https://www.votervoice.net/DAVMN/campaigns/93963/respond
