I met a disabled Vietnam War vet today who is also from a Gold Star family. He's paid at 100% VA Disability rate for Individual Unemployability (IU - DAV guys know what I am talking about). Colorado apparently does not recognize IU as a "true" 100% rating for benefits like free state park passes. Guy was from NY that does. Not a fiscally huge issue at all for the state, but an issue of respect for this veteran.
He contacted his Highlands Ranch GOP State Senator, who not only refused to speak to him, but told him through an aide that there was nothing he could and directed him to the DougCo Veterans Assistance Office (VAO). The VAO told him this was a well known issue of concern with many veterans and that the disabled vet should try and get a grassroots effort going to get the law changed.
WHISKEY . . . TANGO . . . FOXTROT . . . ?!?!?!
I'm sure all the Highlands Ranch GOP statehouse reps have gone to veterans events and said: "Thank you for your service." But then to ignore this veteran with a legitimate issue, THAT THEY COULD FIX, is obscene. I know that none of the Highlands Ranch GOP statehouse reps have ever served. But one does not have to have served to take care a constituent like this. Simply listen, find out if there is a problem with merit (and there is), and take care of it.
Knowing my Democratic colleagues in the state house, I don't think it will take more than 4-5 discussions with leadership for them to understand and correct this issue. But for the DougCo VAO to apparently have said it was a known issue for years, and the Highlands Ranch GOP just sits on their hands and does nothing . . .
The more you peel back the rotten onion of DougCo's GOP . . .
