http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20121005/APC010402/310050400/Thompson-Baldwin-say-more-aid-veterans-priority-story-photos-?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs
Thompson, Baldwin say more aid to veterans a priority
US Senate candidates push records to target group
Written by
Larry Avila
Post-Crescent business editor
Michael Robinson listens as U.S. Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Tommy Thompson speak to Disabled American Veterans members at the group's fall conference at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, Wis. on October 05, 2012. Wm. Glasheen/The Post-Crescent
APPLETON — If Senate hopefuls U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin and former Gov. Tommy Thompson want the votes of Wisconsin’s nearly 400,000 military veterans, streamlining the benefits claims process must be a priority.
But that’s not all veterans want. Veterans say they recognize the fiscal challenges government faces today, but more dollars are needed to improve medical care for those injured in combat and for transitional services — including job training and counseling — that help soldiers adjust to civilian life.
“Shortening up the waiting time in claims processing is one of two major things,” said Bill Crowley of Baraboo, one of more than 100 veterans who attended the Disabled Veterans of Wisconsin Conference at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, where Baldwin and Thompson separately addressed the group.
Baldwin, a Democrat, and Thompson, a Republican, are vying for the seat that became open following the retirement of Democrat Herb Kohl. The election is Nov. 6.
Crowley, a former Marine, who has 32 cumulative years of military service, also served six years as the commandant at the veterans home in King. He said when disabled veterans file claims, the process takes too long.
“It’s very important to shorten up that waiting time,” Crowley said. “A veteran is entitled to getting that compensation quickly for suffering an injury in combat and it’s disappointing that it can take 1½ to 2 years to process a claim.”
Baldwin and Thompson both pledged to streamline the filing process if elected so veterans could get the help they need quickly, though neither offered a solution during their remarks.
Merrill Cornell of Appleton, who served nearly four years in the Air Force during the early 1950s, said more veterans clinics and hospitals are needed, along with specialists to help veterans with physical and mental injuries.
Baldwin said she supported legislation that gives incentives to businesses that hire veterans and provides financial assistance to veterans who want to continue their education to improve their jobs skills.
“(Veterans) have more on-the-job training than most people,” she said. “But because of red tape, some of the training and practical experience they had while in service just doesn’t translate well.”
For example, existing bureaucracy makes it difficult for a military medic to get the certification needed to get a job as a paramedic, Baldwin said. This is something she wants to fix.
Thompson cited his decade of military service and his later accomplishments as Wisconsin governor and U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, which included opening more facilities to care for veterans and expanding Medicare, which helped seniors pay for prescription drugs.
If elected, Thompson said he would do whatever he can to give returning veterans what they need. During his tenure as president and board chairman of Logistics Health in La Crosse, which provides health care support services, Thompson said the company pushed for hiring veterans. Active reservists who worked for the company received full salary and benefits when they were called to duty.
“My responsibility is to give my best to those individuals across state of Wisconsin and America, if I can lessen your burden one bit or promote policy to help you and your fellow veterans, it’s my responsibility that I embrace enthusiastically,” he said. “I’ll always be there for you, if you support me or not.”
— Larry Avila: 920-993-1000, ext. 292, or lavila@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @LarryAvila
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