Vet Group Demands White House, VA Reject Benefits Cuts for Disabled, Unemployed Vets

Trump's record on military and vets

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Vet Group Demands White House, VA Reject Benefits 

Cuts for Disabled, Unemployed Vets

Stars and Stripes | By Nikki Wentling

WASHINGTON -- A cost-saving proposal that sparked backlash from veterans in 2017 has resurfaced in a new Congressional Budget Office report as an option to help reduce the federal budget deficit.

The report suggests removing approximately 235,000 disabled veterans from a Department of Veterans Affairs program called Individual Unemployability in 2020, projecting it could save $47.6 billion in the next 10 years. Veterans removed from the program would see their monthly incomes decrease by an average of $1,300, according to CBO estimates

One veterans group, AMVETS, is urging the White House and the VA to publicly disavow the proposal before it creates a groundswell of anger within the veteran community.

"We want the White House to immediately make a statement saying this recommendation is out of line and will not be considered," said Joe Chenelly, director of AMVETS. "We understand that the White House is looking to trim costs, but this cannot be an option in that."

The program applies to veterans who have disability ratings through the VA of between 60 percent and 100 percent and are unable to secure jobs because of their disabilities. It allows them to receive the highest compensation rate.

The CBO suggested removing veterans from Individual Unemployability once they reach age 67, claiming those veterans would be eligible for Social Security by that time.

The cut was one of 121 cost-saving proposals included in the CBO report, titled "Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2019 to 2028." The CBO periodically compiles the list of policy options to help inform lawmakers.

The CBO's inclusion of the cut to Individual Unemployability in its report doesn't mean the White House or Congress will consider the proposal. However, now that it's public, it's likely to trigger concern among veterans who would face substantial financial consequences if the idea ever became law, Chenelly said.

AMVETS and other veterans' groups said they heard from thousands of veterans in 2017 when the same cost-saving measure was included in President Donald Trump's 2018 budget.

Then-VA Secretary David Shulkin quickly backed off the proposal, but concerns have lingered.

"We received hundreds of phone calls from veterans and emails and social media posts telling us how devastating this would be and how much anxiety and worry it was causing -- and I'm talking about at dangerous levels," Chenelly said. "We're really worried since this became public again that the worry will come back. The White House can save these vets a whole lot of angst by being very clear and immediate in saying this is something we're not going to ever consider again."

The White House and the VA did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

Released Thursday, the CBO report comes as the White House prepares its budget recommendations for fiscal year 2020. The president's budget is sent to Congress every February.

In its report, the CBO offered an alternative option to allow veterans already enrolled in the Individual Unemployability program to keep their benefit while applying the age cutoff to veterans who enroll after December 2019. The CBO estimated that option would save $6.7 billion in the next 10 years.

Cuts to other VA benefits also were included in the report. One option would stop disability compensation for seven medical conditions: arteriosclerotic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Crohn's disease, hemorrhoids, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis and uterine fibroids.

Another option would reduce veterans' disability compensation by 30 percent once they reach age 67. The CBO also suggested ending VA payments to veterans with disability ratings of 30 percent or lower.

In an October meeting, Trump requested each Cabinet secretary present ideas to cut costs, citing an increase in spending in his first two years as president. He told them to "get rid of the fat" and suggested the cuts could be as much as 5 percent of each department's budget.

Despite that, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said in November that he believed next year's budget could be bigger than the last one. Congress appropriated more than $200 billion for the VA in fiscal 2019 -- another in a series of budget increases during the past decade.

"In the last presidential campaign, the president committed with everything he had to making sure the Department of Veterans Affairs was the most robust it's ever been," Wilkie said at the time. "I am convinced that the budget that gets through both chambers will replace this last budget as the largest in our history."

LINK

RSN: Bill Quigley | Memorial Day - 7 Facts Documenting Our Neglect of Millions of Veterans

27 May 18

It's Live on the HomePage Now: 
Reader Supported News

WE’RE GETTING DONATIONS, BUT NO MONEY - We are getting a pretty good volume of donations, but they are running quite small. We love and appreciate every donation large or small, but the five and ten dollar donations are not moving the progress bar. We have received some larger donations for May - Thank you! But on the whole the average donation size is down sharply. Dilemma. / Marc Ash, Founder Reader Supported News

Sure, I'll make a donation!

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RSN: Bill Quigley | Memorial Day - 7 Facts Documenting Our Neglect of Millions of Veterans 

Bill Quigley, Reader Supported News
Quigley writes: "While flags fly and politicians preach patriotism, millions of our veterans remain neglected. Here are seven examples."
READ MORE 

hile flags fly and politicians preach patriotism, millions of our veterans remain neglected. Here are seven examples.

20 – Twenty veterans die by suicide each day. In fact, the risk for suicide is 22 percent higher among veterans than the non-veteran population, according to the Veterans Administration.

24 – Twenty-four percent of all veterans, about 4.9 million people, have a service-connected disability. Hundreds of thousands more are trying to appeal denials of disability benefits.

40,065 – On a single night in January 2017, over 40,000 veterans were homeless, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Three in five homeless veterans were staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing. Over 15,000 homeless veterans were staying in places not suitable for human habitation.

318,000 – The Veterans Administration estimated there are over 318,000 appeals of veteran benefits pending nationwide, with an average wait time for appeals of 935 days.

370,000 – Over 370,000 veterans are unemployed according to the US Department of Labor. Unemployment is higher for younger veterans between the ages of 22 and 34 than civilians.

1,465,807 – The Census Bureau reports that 1,465,807 veterans live under the official US poverty line.

1,500,000 – Almost 1.5 million veterans live in households with low enough incomes that they receive benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps).

---

Bill Quigley is Associate Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans. He is a Katrina survivor and has been active in human rights in Haiti for years. He volunteers with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH) and the Bureau de Avocats Internationaux (BAI).

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.

---

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VoteVets: There is NO replacement for the VA!

VoteVets.org

There is NO replacement for the VA!

Veterans want to fix the VA not privatize it!!!

Like and Share the Secretary's remarks to Disabled American Veterans.

Secretary tells veterans' group there is no substitute for the VA

Secretary Robert McDonald tells veterans that America needs the VA

WWW.DENVERPO

Today is the third anniversary of the beginning of the disaster at Fukushima.....

Greg Palast

Today is the third anniversary of the beginning of the disaster at Fukushima

http://ecowatch.com/2014/03/09/fasting-fukushima-third-anniversary/

Emails obtained via FOIA request show U.S. nuclear agency hid concerns, hailed safety record as Fukushima melted....

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/fukushima-anniversary/u-s-nuclear-agency-hid-concerns-hailed-safety-record-fukushima-n48561

This past Sunday in Tokyo, thousands took to the streets to protest ahead of Fukushima anniversary.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/Thousands-protest-ahead-of-Fukushima-anniversary-5301223.php#photo-5996789

Meanwhile, Fukushima's operator TEPCO considers dumping contaminated water into Pacific.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/10/fukushima-operator-dump-contaminated-water-pacific

A year on the fallout continues as the toll on public mental and physical health rises.

http://ecowatch.com/2014/03/11/3-years-after-fukushima-mental-health/

The nearby city of Koriyama recommended, shortly after the disaster, that children up to the age of two should not spend more than 15 minutes outside each day. The Guardian published a photo gallery showing the Fukushima children who are forced to play indoors.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2014/mar/10/fukushima-children-play-indoors-earthquake-tsunami-nuclear-in-pictures

FInally, EcoWatch revisits nuclear industry failures on third anniversary of the Fukushima disaster.

http://ecowatch.com/2014/03/11/nuclear-industry-failures-third-anniversary-fukushima/See More

 

God Bless the President of the United States shared Meme GOP's photo.

‪

#‎MemeGOP‬ ‪#‎UniteBlue‬ ‪#‎RenewUI

 

 

 

VoteVets.org

"The Sochi Paralympics are well underway, but for those who were injured in battle overseas, the Games aren’t just about athletic grit. For these veterans, it’s an extension of their service.

This year, the U.S. Paralympic team boasts 18 military members -- 16 veterans and two active-duty servicemen."

Like and share this story.
The can-do spirit of these veterans is a wonderful example of overcoming obstacles to success through focus and hard work.

 

 

Wounded Vets At Sochi Paralympics: 'Representing Our Country In Another Way'

huffingtonpost.com

 

Not even losing both legs above the knee could keep this lifelong hockey player off the ice. Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Josh Sweeney (above) became...

 

 

 

 

Republicans: Food Stamp Cuts to Veterans

Anti-Republican Crusaders shared Crooks and Liars's photo.

(cc)

 

Social Security is not going broke

Please add your name and join with others to oppose the right-wing myths:


They're at it again.

Billionaires like the Koch Brothers, Pete Peterson, Stanley Druckenmiller and others are leading the charge to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

If they succeed, millions of senior citizens, working families, disabled veterans and children will suffer. We must not allow that to happen.

Today, the middle class is disappearing, real unemployment is extremely high, poverty is increasing and working families throughout the country are struggling to keep their heads above water economically. Meanwhile, the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider and wider and the wealthiest people and the largest corporations are doing phenomenally well.

WE MUST NOT BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF WORKING FAMILIES, THE ELDERLY, THE CHILDREN, THE SICK AND THE POOR.

As Vermont's senator, I have the honor of serving on the Budget Conference Committee which will be negotiating a new federal budget over the next few months -- and where I am fearful that a deal could be struck to slash Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

As the founder of the Defending Social Security Caucus, please stand with me, our friends at USAction and our coalition partners in demanding; "No grand bargain in exchange for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits."

Let's be clear. Despite right-wing rhetoric:

Social Security is not going broke. According to the Social Security Administration, Social Security has a surplus today of $2.8 trillion and can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible person for the next 20 years.

Social Security has not contributed to the deficit. Social Security is funded independently by FICA taxes which are paid by workers and their employers.

The so-called chained-CPI, which recalculates how COLA's are formulated, is not a "modest tweak." If the chained CPI went into effect today, a senior aged 65 would receive $658 a year less in Social Security benefits when he/she is 75, and $1,100 a year less at age 85. Further, the average disabled veteran would lose tens of thousands of dollars in benefits over his/her lifetime.

Please stand with me today and demand that Congress and the President oppose any grand bargain which cuts Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

When one out of four U.S. corporations pay nothing in federal income taxes; when Bush's tax breaks for the rich remain in place for many wealthy Americans; when the U.S. spends almost as much as the rest of the world combined on defense, there are much fairer and economically sound ways to address the budget than cutting programs desperately needed by the most vulnerable people in our country.

Please stand with me and USAction in protecting the future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

Let's go forward together. Thanks for your continued support.

Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders





http://secure.truemajority.org/o/2/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=4140

Federal shutdown endangers vets' benefits

Federal shutdown endangers vets' benefits

By Patrick Cassidy

pcassidy@capecodonline.com

October 09, 2013

 

HYANNIS — If the partial government shutdown continues past late October, payments will stop for disability, education and other benefits for military veterans on Cape Cod and across the country.

 

"Everything will come to a screeching halt," said Leslie Pierson, public affairs officer for the Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Rhode Island, which oversees the Hyannis Community Based Outpatient Clinic for veterans.

 

On Cape Cod, veterans already are feeling the effects of the stalemate in Washington, D.C., including through the postponement of a $180,000 grant that was intended to help their families.

 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs posted a document on its website Monday announcing that claims processing and payments in compensation, pension, education and vocational rehabilitation programs are expected to continue through late October.

 

"However, in the event of a prolonged shutdown, claims processing and payments in these programs would be suspended when available funding is exhausted," according to the statement.

 

Despite the threat to benefit payments, veterans seeking health services directly from the VA are covered for at least another year.

 

Veterans Health Administration facilities such as the Hyannis clinic, which serves about 4,000 patients, will remain open and funded through September 2014, Pierson said.

"VHA gets funding a year in advance," she said.

 

The regional Veterans Benefits Administration offices, including the one in Providence that serves Southeastern Massachusetts, have been shut down to public access, according to the VA website.

 

About 7,250 employees at the Veterans Benefits Administration — about one-third of the workforce — are furloughed during the shutdown, according to the agency's contingency plan for a government shutdown posted on its website.

 

The Providence regional office has more than 166,000 potential clients, including 75,439 in Southeastern Massachusetts, according to the VA. It administers about $195 million in annual benefits and other services to veterans.

 

Additional services, such as processing appeals and remands, also are suspended, according to the VA website.

 

There are about 25,000 veterans on Cape Cod and an additional 2,000 veterans on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, according to U.S. Census figures.

 

The shutdown already has reduced services for some of them.

 

The Nam Vets Association of the Cape and Islands was expecting to receive a $180,000 grant from the VA on Oct. 1, the first day of the shutdown, the group's executive director, Merrill Blum, said Tuesday.

 

"The money has been allocated for this grant program, but there's nobody there to sign the check," he said.

 

The grant was for two case management workers as well as subsidies to help veterans and their families find or maintain housing, Blum said.

 

"It's all about sustainability afterward," he said. "We can't do that work."

 

The grant's conditions require that the agency help 80 families in the next year, he said.

 

If benefits are cut, the veterans affected would be those served by the association who are receiving housing assistance and funding for retraining, Blum said.

 

There are 200 veterans attending Cape Cod Community College under the GI Bill of Rights and the new Veterans Retraining Assistance Program, or VRAP, which provides educational benefits for veterans between ages 35 and 60 who have recently become unemployed, Edward Merigan, director for the Barnstable District Veterans Services, said.

 

VRAP provides $1,554 a month in educational support, although many of the veterans who use it are able to supplement educational costs with Pell grants, Merigan said.

 

"We're told that these are phased situations," he said about the shutdown's effects.

 

The federal government has experienced 17 shutdowns since 1977, and none of them has progressed to the point where benefits were cut off, Merigan said.

 

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131009/NEWS/310090311/-1/NEWSLETTER100

 

 

Federal employees cleared for WIC vouchers

 

October 09, 2013

 

Government and military employees who have been furloughed as a result of the federal shutdown are immediately eligible for benefits from the Women, Infants and Children food program, according to the head of the program in Hyannis.

 

The benefits are available under the striking workers policy, according to Magolia Solorzano, program director at the Cape Cod WIC program.

 

WIC provides supplemental food and nutritional education to low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to age 5.

 

Clients get vouchers redeemable at supermarkets and farmers markets for products including whole wheat bread, low-fat milk, infant formula, baby food, eggs and fruits and vegetables.

 

CYNTHIA McCORMICK

 

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131009/NEWS/310090329/-1/NEWSLETTER100

 

 

Veterans With Service Dogs Kicked Out Of Long John Silvers In Anniston Alabama

Revealing the ignorance of the law is shocking!

Stolen Valor

We recieved a response this morning from the owner of the Long John Silvers in Alabama, he is making contact with the Veterans this morning. See the link for the full update and his response:

http://guardianofvalor.com/two-veterans-service-dogs-kicked-long-john-silvers-anniston-alabama/

 

 

Two Veterans With Service Dogs Kicked Out Of Long John Silvers In Anniston Alabama

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Bulldog1

**********SEE UPDATES AT BOTTOM OF POST FOR LJS RESPONSE**************

We were contacted tonight by two Veterans(USMC and USAF) who were highly upset by the way they were treated when they visited a Long John Silver’s tonight in Anniston, Alabama. The Veterans both have registered Service dogs, and both dogs were also wearing their vests.

This is Reagan, a service dog trained by New Horizons Service Dogs out of Orange City, Florida.

Reagan

This is Ranger, a service dog in training by 1 Boy 4 Change:

Ranger

According to the Veterans this is how the event unfolded:

“On Wednesday, September 04, 2013, I, Amanda Houser, and Holly Bolesky went to grab a bite to eat at my local Long John Silver’s (hereby referred to as LJS). We entered the establishment, waited in line behind another couple for approximately two or three minutes, and then approached the counter to order our dinner.

We ordered, and our receipt is stamped at 1900:00:29 pm, today’s date. We grabbed our drink cups and went to fill them, then sat down at a table to wait. After sitting at this table for approximately two to three minutes, the person we later learned was the Manager on Duty approached us and stated that we could not have dogs inside the restaurant.

I informed her that they were service dogs and that everything was okay. She said that “folks have allergies” and that she couldn’t allow dogs inside and that we would have to leave. At this point, another customer at the table next to us said that these were service dogs and that she couldn’t tell us to leave and that she had dog allergies, and they weren’t bothering her a bit. I stated that I could call the police and have them clear up the matter if she preferred.

At this point, the Manager walked away. (This is the same person who took our order.) About three to four minutes after this first encounter, another employee approached us and said that she had spoken to her manager and that he said we could not have dogs inside unless we were blind, and again told us that we would have to leave since we weren’t blind. We again told her that these were service dogs and that she could not make us leave. She stated that we “should just go on ahead and call the cops then”. At this point, I obliged.

My call to the Anniston Police Department was logged from Holly’s cell phone at 1911 pm. I informed the dispatcher of the situation and stated that they wanted me to call them, and I requested that APD send someone out. He said they would send an Officer. At 1922, I logged a call to Janet Carswell, CEO of 1 Boy 4 Change, Inc (the organization I’m certified through), and left a message for her to call me when she got the chance.

At roughly 1925, the officer with APD showed up and went to speak with the manager while Holly and I continued to eat. By approximately 1926, the Officer was speaking with me outside the front of the restaurant. At 1928 Janet returned my call, which Holly answered. The officer asked what happened, so I filled him in on the situation and asked that he take care of it.

He stated that he didn’t know the law as it pertained to this situation, and I called Holly outside as she has had her service dog longer than I had. Holly walks outside and we tell the story again. The first thing he asks is “What are your dogs for?” I state that they are for PTSD. He does not seem to understand why he was called, we inform him of the laws for the state of Alabama, with Janet on speakerphone.

She even goes as far as to tell him the title code for the state law that makes it a misdemeanor to interfere with a disabled person with a service dog in Alabama. The cops dismissed this information and kept talking. At this point, he calls the manager back out. She states that she is “scared of dogs” and Holly and I both inform her that this is not our problem, as they are service dogs, and protected by State and Federal law, in the same manner that a “walker, crutch, or wheelchair” would be covered. She states that she does not care and that she must “look out for other customers who have food allergies or are afraid of dogs”.

Again, we state that, were that the case, we would be happy to move to another table, but it is still not our problem. She also tried to say that “foreign people and other businesses have different rules about dogs and stuff”. I assured her I have been every place imaginable with my dog and have never been kicked out. We reiterated that this is federal ADA law and is the same in every state. She claims her manager told her to call 911, so she told the officer that she reported we did not have any weapons when she was on the phone with 911 dispatchers.
Holly and I were both incredulous. How did this even turn to a 911 type of call and involve weapons of any sort??? We got no answer. We asked her if a customer walked in with a prosthetic limb if they would be allowed to stay, she stated they would be. We then told her that Service Dogs are considered medical equipment. She rolled her eyes and stated that this is different.

After a few minutes of discussion with her getting more and more agitated by the second, she tells us that we should have informed the manager on duty that we were disabled and had service dogs with us. We repeated that she was the one that took our order! She claimed to have not seen the dogs…… after a few more minutes of back and forth, she stated that she “ain’t gonna stand out here and argue with them all night Officer, so can you just take care of this I’m going back inside for my other customers.”

The officer says that we are egging her on and blowing this out of proportion and that he doesn’t see what the problem is. He also stated we should keep paperwork with us to help alleviate problems in the future. We told him we had it with us right then and she never asked us for anything, and neither did the officers. We inform him that we will be filing charges tomorrow and will finish eating and be on our way. At this point, we return inside and finish our meal. I clean our table and throw away our trash and we leave.

We called the restaurant at 2047 pm to get the names of the manager and the other employee involved, but no one answered the phone. The Officer stated that he will file a report and that I can pick up a copy of it tomorrow, and that it will be in both mine and Holly’s names just in case. As soon as I get a copy of the report, I will update this incident report with the names of the employees and officers involved.

We are embarrassed by the way we were treated and humiliated that we had to stand in front of the restaurant on a very busy road with two patrol cars and two officers. I am horrified by the way we were spoken to and treated. This should never have happened, and I will work to ensure it never happens again.”

There seems to be a lack of knowledge lately on the part of Law Enforcement when it comes to Federal law concerning service animals.

According to the ADA:
Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go. For example, in a hospital it would be inappropriate to exclude a service animal from areas such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias, or examination rooms. However, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal from operating rooms or burn units where the animal’s presence may compromise a sterile environment.

• When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.

• Allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals. When a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, for example, in a school classroom or at a homeless shelter, they both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations within the room or different rooms in the facility.

• A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless: (1) the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it or (2) the dog is not housebroken. When there is a legitimate reason to ask that a service animal be removed, staff must offer the person with the disability the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the animal’s presence.

• Establishments that sell or prepare food must allow service animals in public areas even if state or local health codes prohibit animals on the premises.

And according to Alabama law concerning the ADA:
Section 21-7-5
Penalty for denial of or interference with enumerated rights.

Any person, firm or corporation, or the agent of any person, firm or corporation, who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities enumerated in Sections 21-7-2 and 21-7-3 or otherwise interferes with the rights of a totally or partially blind or otherwise disabled person under Sections 21-7-2 through 21-7-4 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

So this is the second incident in which an officer was called and did not know the law as it pertains to registered Service dogs, and Long John Silvers also needs to educate their employee’s that a Service dog is not just for “Blind People”!

The Long John Silver’s in question is at 631 Quintard Ave, Anniston AL 36201, the Facebook page for the national chain is located here:Long John Silvers

I think education is the biggest issue as this is the second incident where an Officer of the Law was unaware of the ADA. I am hoping these incidents start to decline as attention is brought to it and training is implemented. As more and more of our troops come back from over seas, and more wounded than in any other war, more service animals will be around. And it must be embarrassing for these Veterans when they are called out like this in front of people.
If you do contact LJS, please keep it polite and professional, that always leads to the best outcome.

UPDATE: 20130905
We received contact from Long John Silver’s this morning via Email and they asked that we post this response:

I work with Long John Silver’s and to share with you some information relating to your blog post. First, Long John Silver’s values all of our veterans and active duty military. The company has clear policies for restaurants about service dogs and the fact that service dogs are allowed in restaurants.

Long John Silver’s restaurants are independently owned and operated. The owner of the Anniston unit has asked me if you have email addresses for the 2 veterans. He would like to contact them personally to apologize.

Owners statement:

“As the owner of the Anniston Long John Silver’s, I want to apologize to the veterans who visited my restaurant yesterday. One of our staff members was not fully aware of the important role that service dogs fill for veterans. We have talked with all of our team members at the restaurant and emphasized that service dogs fill a number of important roles for people. We have also emphasized the gratitude and respect we hold for all of our veterans.

We are making a donation to New Horizons Service Dogs of Orange City, Florida, to help support their important work. In addition, we invite the two veterans and their immediate families and service dogs back to Long John Silver’s to allow us to show our gratitude for their service.

Dr. Adel El-Sahn
Owner

Long John Silver’s, Anniston, Alabama”

We want to thank the Owner for his quick response, and he ensures us that his employee’s should have been aware of the law as it pertains to the ADA. And that he personally ensured that this point was made this morning. We are working on putting him in touch with the Veterans.

UPDATE: 20130905
The owner and the Veterans are making contact with each other as we speak, also the owner had this sign put up this morning.


We will update this story as we get more information.

Big I's Restaurant: Interview of MSgt Glaser

WATCH: Restaurant owner kicks out war vet and his service dog

Posted Tuesday, August 27th 2013 @ 9am

On Saturday morning, James Glaser, who suffers from PTSD, and his service dog "Jack" went to the Big I's located at 578 Main St. for something to eat; however, when they arrived, they were not welcomed warmly by the restaurant's cook and owner.
Read more from WTAG



Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

Big I's Restaurant Denies Disabled Veteran Service!

James Glaser's photo.

 

 

Please help me get the word out to BOYCOTT this diner in OXFORD MA!
I am Retired MSgt James Glaser, Disabled Vet with service dog trained by TADSAW, Train a Dog... Save a Warrior. Today for lunch the wife and I, when I mention I it is always Jack (service dog) and I, wanted to eat at Big I's 578 Main St Oxford, MA 01540 (508) 987-2224. Hours: Mon-Sun 5 am - 3 pm. The second we walk through the door the cook/ owner I assume started cussing and telling me to get that F$#king FAKE service dog out of here. I told him he was not fake and had certification paperwork. He said he does not give a shit or have time for me and get out of his restaurant. The Oxford police came and took report and the guy even told the police that he does not care that it is a service dog and Jack nor I are welcome in there.

VA Claims Backlog Shrinking

Bernie Sanders

Today's news from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.):

Obama on VA Claims Backlog: President Obama, addressing the annual convention of the Disabled American Veterans on Saturday, said his administration is making progress on reducing a backlog of disability claims that shrank by nearly one-fifth since peaking at more than 600,000 just a few months ago. CNN reported that the backlog built up as new waves of claims were coming in. The VA completed more than 1 million claims each of the last three years, according to Sen. Bernard Sanders, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Local Legends: Sen. Sanders, Vermont’s first woman governor, Madeleine Kunin, Phish members and Ben & Jerry of ice cream fame are among an eclectic crowd of people featured in a new book, “Legendary Locals of Burlington” by Robert Resnik, himself something of a local legend, according to a Burlington Free Press book review.

Continue reading here: http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=01f819b9-54c8-40ba-b8a9-fefd45d459fc

This and That!

Zinn Education Project shared Zinn Education Project's photo.

 

Gov. Daniels, now president of Purdue University, demanded that Howard Zinn’s work be hunted down in Indiana schools and suppressed: "The obits and commentaries... mentioned his book A People's History of the United States is the ‘textbook of choice in high schools and colleges around the country.’ It is a truly execrable, anti-factual piece of disinformation that misstates American history on every page. Can someone assure me that is not in use anywhere in Indiana? If it is, how do we get rid of it before more young people are force-fed a totally false version of our history?" He made this statement in 2010; he and Purdue University have stated publicly that they stand by it today. They claim it is not an issue of censorship or academic freedom because it is "merely" about K-12! Read and share this article by Rethinking Schools editor Bill Bigelow on CommonDreams.org "Indiana’s Anti-Howard Zinn Witch-hunt": http://bit.ly/1b016DY

 

Former Indiana Republican governor Mitch Daniels now president of Purdue University wants to manipulate education. While governor he appointed the board who appointed him president then they increased his pay as a reward for censoring what students can learn about history. I guess Republicans have had so much success manipulating the public through misinformation media like FOX News and Clear channel that corrupting education seemed like a good fit.

 

Roll Tide

 

Progressives That Kick Conservative Ass shared The Blue, the Proud, the Liberal Corps's photo.

(B) True!

 

The Blue, the Proud, the Liberal Corps loves us some FDR action. (Thanks to Glittersnipe Design for throwing this one together for us.) -- Liz

Wake up call's photo.

Join us: Wake up call

 

 

What portion of Detroit's problems were caused by Predatory Gambling

sucking discretionary income from the local economy?

Bernie Sanders added a new photo.

Being Liberal

(M) We should all be outraged by this, and it's why we need to Raise The Minimum Wage. If you agree become a fan of the page here: https://www.facebook.com/MinimumWageRaise and then post this image on your facebook page.

Posted on the Being Liberal fan page.