Archive for October, 2009
VA Candidates Step Up Courting of Military Votes
Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates jockeyed for a wealth of active-duty and veterans votes, as political groups stepped up efforts this week to help overseas military voters navigate a vexing absentee ballot process.
Campaign officials hope for a smoother time than last year’s presidential election, when a dispute over how to fill out absentee forms nearly invalidated dozens of military absentee ballots in Fairfax County. While far from tipping the election, the episode shone a harsh light on the confusing, technicality-fraught process by which members of the military cast their ballots.
Virginia is using a different ballot this year that officials don’t expect to cause the same confusion. Overseas military personnel and their families are now able to receive a ballot by e-mail, and many members of the armed forces are already registered after intense efforts last year.
The changes are expected to benefit Republican nominee Bob McDonnell, a former Army officer who spent much of his life in Hampton Roads, a region heavy in military votes.
“Our biggest [goal] is to make sure that all those servicemen and women, regardless of where they’re stationed, are given the opportunity to have their ballot counted, which obviously was an issue last time,” said deputy McDonnell campaign manager Dave Rexrode.
McDonnell’s Democratic opponent — Creigh Deeds — is far from conceding the military vote. Democrats have mounted a broad outreach to veterans especially, with a Veterans for Deeds committee headed by Sen. Jim Webb.
“If you look at the legislation that’s come out of not only the [Virginia] General Assembly but Congress as well, and the support for veterans and military families specifically, a lot of that legislation has started on the Democratic side,” said Joe Harmon, chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party’s Veterans and Military Families Caucus.
Emergency Payments for Veterans Awaiting VA Educational Benefits
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has authorized advance payments up to $3,000 for Veterans who have applied for VA educational benefits and who have not yet received their monthly education payments.
If you are a Veteran who has applied for one of VA’s education programs and have not yet received your monthly benefit payment for the Fall 2009 term, you can submit a request for an advance payment on this website.
Advance payments will be issued by the U. S. Treasury within 3 workdays (Monday through Friday) following submission of this request. Payments will be in the form of a check sent through the U.S. mail. You should therefore anticipate an additional 3 days (excluding Sundays) for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver your check.
You can also visit one of VA’s 57 regional offices across the country to immediately receive an advance payment. You will need to bring a photo ID and your course schedule when you visit the regional office. A list of VA’s regional offices is available at www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp.
The advance payments will be reconciled with future education payments owed to you.
The amount of the advance payment will be determined as follows:
Post-9/11 GI Bill $3,000
Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty $3,000
Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve $1,000
Reserve Education Assistance Program $2,000
Post Vietnam Era Educational Assistance Programs $1,000
By completing this site, VA will be collecting personally identifiable information. If you choose not to provide this information over the internet you may visit a VA Regional Office to request assistance in person.
Shannon Gratefully Accepts Support from Virginia Veterans
Virginia veterans today praised Steve Shannon’s plan to support and protect the Commonwealth’s veterans and service members. Shannon, who is running for Attorney General, has consistently supported veterans’ programs in the state legislature, and has proposed a plan to ensure that those who have sacrificed for their country are looked after in Virginia.
“Steve Shannon has been one of our legislature’s strongest supporters of veterans,” said US Army Colonel Scott Robinson. “Steve has worked hard to make sure veterans can go to college. And throughout his career, Steve has devoted himself to making Virginia a safer place for service members to return home to.”
“Steve has shown himself willing to fight for those who have fought for our country,” said Air Force Colonel Thomas Beres. “When Steve is Virginia’s Attorney General, I know that he will not stop until every Virginia veteran has the benefits and protection we need, and until Virginia is a safer place for our families to live.”
“I am honored to have the support of these brave men and women,” said Shannon. “Our veterans have sacrificed in the defense of our nation. When I’m Attorney General, I will fight to get our veterans the care and benefits they deserve and to make Virginia a safer place for them and their families to call home.”
Shannon has consistently supported legislation to extend higher education benefits to service members and their families. He voted in favor of legislation to extend in-state tuition benefits to families of active duty personnel and mobilized reservists and guard members. He was also the chief sponsor of a bill that would have granted a waiver of tuition, charges and fees for eligible veterans who gain admission to any of our public universities.
Virginia is home to 812,000 veterans, and has one of the largest military populations in the country, with 156,000 active military personnel, 26,000 reservists, and 10,000 members of the Virginia National Guard.
Virginia Veterans who have endorsed Shannon
James Morin, Chair of Veterans for Shannon, veteran of the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bronze Star recipient, Captain, U.S. Army, Herndon
Thomas Beres, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Potomac Falls
Robert Haley, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Reston
Robert Barnette Jr., State Command Chief MSG, U.S. Air Force, Mechanicsville
Jarris L. Taylor Jr., Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force, Yorktown
Michael Turner, Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Waterford
Terron Sims II, Captain, U.S. Army, Arlington
Joshua Lawton-Belous, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Fairfax
Chase Neely, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Fairfax
Lela Graham, Specialist, U.S. Army, Charlottesville
Scott Robinson, Colonel, U.S. Army, Tappahannock
John Harvey, 1st Leiutenant, U.S. Army, Manassas
Willard Jasper, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army, Alexandria
Stephen Price, Captain, U.S. Army, Philomont
Chris Rey, Captain, U.S. Army, Williamsburg
Harry Wiggins, Major, U.S. Army, Lake Ridge
Kate Wilder, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army, Springfield
John Jenkins, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army, Dale City
Pat McAloon, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Vienna
Bob Martin, Sergeant, U.S. Army, Hampton
Joseph Harmon, Sergeant, U.S. Marines, Fairfax
Kenneth Bernstein, Private First Class, U.S. Marines, Arlington
William Westhoff, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Marines, Dale City
Charley Conrad, Senior Chief Quartermaster, U.S. Navy, Arlington
Carlos Del Torro, Commander, U.S. Navy, Stafford
Justin Brown, ATI3, U.S. Navy, Gainesville
Ralph Parrott, Captain, U.S. Navy, Fairfax Station
Anne J. Rawley, Captain, U.S. Navy, Chesapeake
Bruce Roemmelt, ABH2, U.S. Navy, Haymarket
Nancy McPherson, YM1, Coast Guard, Chesapeake