Oregon War Veterans Blog

OWVA raises over half a million dollars

10.17.08

Contact: Greg Warnock

503.689.4145

greg@owva.org

For Immediate Release

 

SALEM—Oregon War Veterans Association has received more than $500,000.00 in contributions from donors during the 2008 election cycle.  The funds have been used for numerous electoral and charitable projects that will help veterans and members of Oregon’s military families get the benefits they deserve.

 

“We have waited for many years to see contributions like the ones we have received this year.  It has been a long hard road, with our board members and directors working selflessly to help where we can,” OWVA’s Director, Greg Warnock, told a member of its community support team.

 

OWVA’s goal to raise One Million Dollars for its election and measure projects, and the establishment of the Military Family Support Foundation (a charity to help with emergency needs for military related families) has “had a great start,” said Warnock during a discussion with supporters.

 

OWVA is a 501(c)(19) War Veterans Association established to advocate for veterans and members of the military and their families.  Each election cycle it endorses candidates in a bi-partisan manner and works to elect officials who will be more sensitive to veterans’ issues.  Contributions to OWVA are tax deductible.

 

OWVA also supports projects that aid and comfort deployed troops and their families.  In 2003, it paid for several Christmas parties for deployed units, and supported 25 pieces of legislation—and saw 19 of them passed and signed by the Governor.

 

In 2005, OWVA paid for funeral expenses relating to travel for families of National Guard troops who were killed in Action, and raised money for the now famous “Save Christmas Project,” where it sent 45 pallets of donated goods to Oregon troops deployed to Afghanistan. 

 

In 2007, it wrote 12 pieces of legislation and saw some of the most creative new laws passed in support of vets and military families, including House Bill 3201, which gives tax deductions to National Guard members and health care providers who serve military families.

 

In 2008, OWVA has endorsed more than 75 candidates for public office, including candidates for Congress and the Oregon Legislature.  It has also paid for several Christmas parties for units being deployed to Iraq in 2009.

 

For more information about OWVA, visit its website at www.OWVA.org.

OWVA Endorses Kurt Schrader (D) for Congress

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Greg Warnock

503.689.4145

greg@owva.org

 

OWVA Endorses Kurt Schrader (D) for Congress

 

SALEM—Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) has chosen Democrat Kurt Schrader in its endorsement for Congressional District 5, against Republican Mike Erickson.

 

In its endorsement letter, OWVA’s director said that Schrader is much better prepared to serve the district than Erickson.  “Schrader has been available to veterans, has supported many pieces of OWVA legislation, and has great customer service skills that will serve the district’s veterans and senior citizens in the same way Darlene Hooley did,” said OWVA Director Greg Warnock.

 

“Erickson is a terrible candidate, in my opinion,” Warnock told OWVA’s selection board.  “He fails to show up to scheduled meetings, he has never personally returned an e-mail or phone call from us, so how could we expect him to serve us in Congress?  He is in the race for his own ego, it seems to me.”

In a meeting between Warnock and Schrader, Warnock advised the candidate to keep customer service as a priority, especially when working with veterans and seniors.  He also advised Schrader of future legislation that OWVA would submit to Congress on behalf of Oregon’s National Guard members and veterans.

“We need to pressure the National Guard Bureau to allow their family support personnel to let us know when they need charitable support from the community.  We also need the Army to permit ‘comfort items’ donated by charitable organizations to be transported by the Military Airlift Command and/or civilian contractors,” Warnock said during the meeting.  “Additionally, we need Congress to authorize a higher reimbursement amount to TRICARE/Medicaid health care providers, who serve Oregon’s retired veterans and activated National Guard Troop’s families.”  Schrader supported the proposed legislation.

OWVA’s selection board was unanimous in their selection of Schrader, who serves in the Oregon Senate as the Co-Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

 

For more information about OWVA visit www.OWVA.org

 

A PDF of this release is available for download here.

OWVA Endorses Independent - Belcastro for Oregon HD05

For Immediate Release

 

Contact: Greg Warnock

503.689.4145

greg@owva.org

 

OWVA Endorses Independent - Pete Belcastro for HD05

 

SALEM—Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) has chosen Independent Candidate Pete Belcastro for State Representative over Peter Buckley (D) for Southern Oregon’s House District 5, which includes Ashland and surrounding communities.

 

Belcastro, an Ashland radio personality, a past Southern Oregon University professor, and father of an Iraqi War Veteran, is a much better candidate for OWVA’s legislative agenda. During the 2007 legislative session, Peter Buckley, who serves as the Chair of the House Education Committee, refused to hear the education bills written by OWVA and other veteran’s groups.

 

“We have never seen such obstinacies toward our issues as we saw by many of the committee chairs, including Buckley,” OWVA’s Director, Greg Warnock, said to Belcastro in a meeting today in Salem.  “OWVA wrote 12 bills to help the troops, their families and veterans.  All of our bills passed through the Veteran’s Affairs Committee, but most of them were killed in the secondary committees, including all of our bills that were forwarded to Buckley’s committee on Education.  We definitely need a change in HD05.”

 

Two of OWVA’s bills (HB 3199 and 3200) proposed funding for the Oregon Youth Challenge Program (OYCP).  OYCP is the most successful at-risk educational program in the State of Oregon, but they do not have the facilities to meet the needs of all available applicants.

HB 3200 added funding for an additional 30 female students to enter the program.  Currently, each class is made up of 60 boys and 30 girls, who spend 6 months in a residential facility near Bend.  OWVA wanted to equalize the proportion of girls and boys who attend the school. 

Buckley wouldn’t give the bills a hearing, so they died in his committee.

For more information about OWVA visit www.OWVA.org

 

A PDF of this release is available for download here.

OWVA Voter Guide

Here is a downloadable PDF of the OWVA Voter Guide.  Please print it out, save it, e-mail it, and share it with everyone you know who is concerned about veterans' issues this election!

A trip down memory lane: OWVA Director Sends Letter to Legislators and Media - May 21, 2007

(Note: this letter was originally published on 5/27/2007 and is being republished today as a reminder to voters that veterans haven't always received the best representation from their elected officials!)

 

May 21, 2007

President Courtney

Senator Monnes-Anderson

Senator Carter

Senator Gordly

Senator Kruse

Senator Brown

Senator Schrader

Speaker Merkley

Representative Hunt

Representative Barnhart

Representative Rosenbaum

Representative Read

 

Veterans are very frustrated with the 2007 legislative session.

 

Oregon War Veterans Association is the fastest growing veterans assocition in Oregon, with more than 400 new war veteran members since January, and we are NOT happy.

 

How many times do you think I have heard, "we don't like the war, or the President's policies, but we do support veterans and our troops," from the leaders of this legislative session?  Everytime I turn around, I get that comment thrown at me.  But your actions do NOT support your words, words that now seem very much like political smoke and mirrors.

 

In 2003, our directors and members supported 28 legislative bills.  19 of them were passed, and signed by the Governor.  Last session, monumental steps were taken to prove the legislature's support of the our vets and deployed National Guard troops.

 

This year, however, we decided to keep our bills to a minimum, and focus on several key, important bills.  Of the 15 bills OWVA supported this session, only a few of them still remain viable.  These were good bills.  Bills that will help our troops deal with emergencies, when they return home from the war.  Bills that help disabled veterans fight for justice.  Bills that help veterans buy long term care policies, so they don't become problems for us in the future.  Bills that let more girls enter the Oregon Youth Challenge Progam.

 

This year, I will be surprised if any of our important bills make it to the Governor's desk.  What does that say about this session's legislative leadership?  What have veterans done to deserve this treatment?  How will it look to have this legislature turn on veterans and our returning troops?

 

A good case in point is HB 3009.  This bill has no fiscal impact on the State.  People who previously fought against the Oregon Veterans Home are now in support of adding more homes.  We have done our work to resolve many of the issues that people in the care industry had with a second veterans home, and now it looks like the Senate is going to kill our chances to build a new one in the near future.

 

We heard on Friday that Senator Monnes-Anderson is "not inclined to bring this bill back for a work session," essentially killing one of our highest priority bills.  It seems to me that there is too much political wrangling around the sponsors of our bills, and not enough concern for the bill's actual merit.

 

Perhaps I am mistaken.  We'll see.

 

Please carefully consider how disinfranchising Oregon's greatest citizens will have on the future of those citizens who have sacrificed their families, their health, and their carreers so that you folks can actually do the job that you do, and live with the influence and priviledges that you enjoy.

In the great scehme of things, veterans don't ask for even a portion of what they deserve.  But when we do ask for something, that means it is very important to us, and we expect our leaders to respect that, and give us at least as much attention as you do for the special interest groups who contantly have your ears and share your kleenex boxes.

 

Why aren't the ODVA and OMD emergency fund programs going to be funded again this year?  They each need $500,000.00 to help needy families.  You gave them the money last year, but refuse to give it this year, while 950 troops are returning to Oregon.  What kind of message is that?

You still have time to make a real difference for veterans and returning troops.

 

As a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foriegn Wars and the president of Oregon War Veterans Association, I strongly urge you to not kill anymore of our bills.  Please pass HB 3009.  Please vote to pass our remaining bills in Revenue and Ways and Means.  Please fund the emergency accounts as requested.  Please give us the respect we deserve. Let's not let HJM 9 be the best veteran's bills that you have passed this year.

 

Very sincerely,

 

Greg Warnock

OWVA