2016 VEA Passes in Senate (May 5) and Assembly (May 18), on to the Governor

I As promised by the sponsors following the stinging defeat in the budget process, both bills have  rapidly passed  the respective houses:

S07160/A9531 Actions: BILL NO S07160 04/01/2016 REFERRED TO FINANCE 04/11/2016 1ST REPORT CAL.591 04/12/2016 2ND REPORT CAL. 05/03/2016 ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 05/05/2016 PASSED SENATE 05/05/2016 DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY 05/05/2016 referred to ways and means 05/18/2016 substituted for a9531 05/18/2016 ordered to third reading cal.618 05/18/2016 passed assembly 05/18/2016 returned to senate 05/19/2016 DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR

Governor Cuomo will veto, sign or negotiate.

II What we can do right now: Respond to falsities concerning the bill.

  A. When and where it is falsely described as a bill for 'peacetime service' (for example in the April 1 2016 Times Union article, here and again (!) on May 5, 2016 here) respond vigorously. Remind the author the majority of veterans who will be newly eligible for the existing military service credit buyback program  are wartime veterans of the current  Gulf War Era. Not peacetime at all. Further remind the author that combat veterans of Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Somalia (Blackhawk Down) are currently excluded from the existing buyback program and under the new bill will be eligible. Not peacetime either.

  B. When and where it is falsely described as a free benefit, respond vigorously.  Veterans want the opportunity to PURCHASE military service credit as part of the current and well-established  BUYBACK program. Our service in defense of the United States (and New York State) should not disadvantage us vis a vis our non-serving peers in the New York State retirement system.

  C. When and where it is falsely described as a large and expensive new program respond vigorously. It is a modest reform of a current program . Note that the original intent of the law is for all wartime veterans to be included and yet some  wartime veterans of the Gulf War Era are now excluded (and all of these veterans, of course, aided in the war effort). Those who served in active combat in Somalia and Afghanistan are among those excluded. Further, the contributions of peacetime soldiers (including Cold War soldiers) should be honored. 

D. Thank the American Legion for finally understanding the bill and almost correctly describing it (though they still don't seem to get that the majority of those to be covered are wartime vets and many of those served in the war zone and in active combat...they also don't seem to get that this will be a PURCHASE by the veterans.). Kudos on  awakening from a three-year stupor on this important legislation via this inclusion in the American Legion's Legislative Guide:

EXTENDS THE VETERANS SERVICE CREDIT LAW of 2000 TO ALL VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY

The bill offers veterans service credit to ALL veterans, not just Veterans who served "in theater." It will have a big impact on female veterans who served but were not "in theater" for their service. Provides up to three years of service credit to members of public retirement systems of the State for military service rendered during specified periods of hostilities, as well as so-called “peace time.” Requires such members to have at least five years of credited service, not including military service. In 2014 and 2015 the bill was passed by the Legislature, only to be vetoed by the Governor, who cited cost and failed to provide adequate funds in the budget. Sponsors Paulin & Larkin are aggressively pursuing a new Bill to be initiated & passed before the last session in June 2016. – A9531 – Paulin – 04/11/16 – Reported Referred to Ways & Means –

S7160 – Larkin - 04/12/16 – 2nd Report CAL.

  D. Educate yourself. Get to know these three slides intimately so you can explain the glaring inequities in the current military service credit buyback system.