Pritzker unveils veterans plan
Thursday, Nov 9, 2017 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Press release…
Ahead of Veterans Day, JB Pritzker outlined his plan to fight for Illinois veterans and their families as governor. JB’s four-point plan details how the state can support our veterans with housing, employment, healthcare, education, and additional services they may need. As governor, JB will:
Increase opportunities for education and employment for veterans and their families
Ensure Illinois veterans of all ages have safe, stable, and affordable housing options
Improve healthcare options for veterans across the state
Better manage and coordinate veteran’s services
Read the full plan HERE.
“As the son and grandson of Navy veterans, I have a very personal commitment to uphold the sacred obligation to those who risk their lives so that we can live in a free and democratic society,” said JB Pritzker. “When we support our veterans, we are building stronger families and communities across our state. Supporting Illinois veterans means increasing opportunities for their families to build better lives and that will be a priority for me as governor.”
* Education and employment…
Make it easier for servicemembers returning home to use prior military experience to earn credits at Illinois’ higher education institutions.
Stabilize funding for higher education scholarships for Veterans and connect them with job opportunities in the trades.
Create jobs by offering additional incentives to businesses that hire Veterans and their spouses.
Improve access to state professional licensing based on skills gained while serving in the armed forces.
* Housing…
Reduce homelessness and increase access to safe, affordable housing in communities for Veterans and their families.
Remediate all unsafe living conditions for our Veterans and improve the quality of life in Illinois Veterans’ Homes by increasing mandatory health inspections and routine maintenance to end outbreaks of preventable diseases like Legionnaires disease.
* Healthcare…
Increasing the number of qualified nursing staff working in Illinois Veterans’ Homes to ensure quality care.
Work with communities to recruit and retain qualified medical personnel to expand access to healthcare and mental healthcare, particularly in rural areas.
* I asked about cost and was told this…
JB will ensure stable funding of these services, many of which are part of the greater social service infrastructure that has been dismantled by Bruce Rauner.
- bubblehead - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:27 pm:
Just love it when these people who never served– or even dodged the draft in the 60’s (Trump, Quinn, Cheney, Rauner, etc.)– wrap themselves in the flag and veterans. Cheap stunt that rings hollow to those who actually served. Of course, once you’ve opted to not serve (”other priorities”, no doubt), especially with bone spurs or other such dodges of the draft, can you ever “support the troops” authentically? I don’t know. Early decisions have consequences sometimes.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:37 pm:
Utterly meaningless.
Thanks for asking about the cost.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:46 pm:
===(Trump, Quinn, Cheney, Rauner)===
How did Rauner dodge the draft? He turned 18 when the Vietnam war ended in 1975.
- Ron - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
Is Pritzker paying for this?
- Ron - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:50 pm:
He is a billionaire.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:54 pm:
At this point, if nothing else, it’s clear Pritzker’s running the most substantive campaign out of all the candidates.
- cannon649 - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:54 pm:
JB can not ensure anything - he and his family could not fund what he is talking about
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:55 pm:
Typical liberal ‘I’ll come up with impressive programs, and YOU pay”. Ambition on taxpayers back. Bloated promises, bloated ambition, bloated Pritzker.
- Ira Tated - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:57 pm:
Agree with “Bubblehead”…love how it is assumed all vets are homeless, helpless and unhealthy….wrapping themselves in the flag indeed…most vets are educated, have a work ethic and despise the crocodile tears at election time.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 1:57 pm:
bubblehead, I think you’re being a little overly critical here. The reality is that the overwhelming majority of people haven’t served. Sure there are some that really weaseled out of serving (bone spurs LOL), but most folks didn’t simply because they had opportunities that we didn’t have. I don’t hold it against anyone. Folks like Rauner and Pritzker, they should be able to offer ideas to help vets without us ignoring their plans out of hand because they didn’t enlist. Frankly, I served with a whole bunch of guys that I wouldn’t want anywhere near state or federal government. A good idea is a good idea.
- cdog - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 2:01 pm:
How many self-employed veterans who are not eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, or veteran’s insurance would love to see the Obamacare individual mandate repealed?
All of them.
Pritzker’s wordiness does nothing for those that contribute to Illinois’ economy.
This group of Americans are being taken advantage of by insurance companies. The self-employed, many of whom are veterans, are trapped by prohibitively expensive insurance premiums and deductibles, effectively equal to no insurance and a robbing of their bank accounts.
Self-employed veterans, who are farmers, tradesmen, consultants, etc., are suffering from this horrible structural economic and personal catastrophe.
Maybe Pritzker can process this into his progressive mind; he can choose to be a leader on this subject and not follow the democrat’s class-warfare talking points.
- InvolvedMillennial - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 2:05 pm:
The plan seems to be well rounded and thorough. If you haven’t already, give it a read before you criticize!
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 2:32 pm:
===Pritzker’s wordiness does nothing for those that contribute to Illinois’ economy===
Why do you only care about self-employed vets? You think only they contribute to the economy? Vets who need help the most from the state are unemployed, underemployed and in some cases, homeless. Many family members of veterans benefit greatly from the ACA, getting insurance they couldn’t otherwise afford without the subsidies. Maybe you can get this through your small mind: ALL vets are deserving of getting the assistance they need, as are their family members.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 2:37 pm:
And one other thing - you’re a head cheerleader for republicans that are, right at this very moment, trying to pass a bill that raises taxes on people making between $20 and $40K per year (a lot of them veterans and family members of veterans) so that they can give trust fund kids like Ivanka and Jared a tax free inheritance. If I were you, I’d shut my pie hole about “class warfare”.
- DeseDemDose - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 2:38 pm:
JB honors Vets before Veterans day. JB critiqued for wordiness and who knows why by the usual culprits.
- My thoughts - Thursday, Nov 9, 17 @ 2:43 pm:
Hmm..JB’s governor for Illinois page states that he is the son of a Navy veteran; any truth to this or is this a moment like Rauner’s immigrant grandparents?