As the Alabama House of Representatives prepares to tackle a controversial bill aimed at reorganizing the state’s veterans board and graft the commissioner into the governor’s cabinet, the Alabama Alliance of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is stressing its opposition.
Senate Bill 67 (SB67), the bill to restructure the State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA) and change the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs commissioner to a governor-appointed position, is slated to come before the House of Representatives on Thursday.
SEE: House to tackle controversial Veterans Board bill on Thursday
The legislation underwent significant opposition from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), leading to multiple significant amendments.
Under the new law, the governor would still appoint SBVA members based on suggested appointees from the following nine organizations: The Alabama Department of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Alabama Alliance of the MOAA and the Marine Corps League.
Since the amendments, three of the state's largest VSOs have supported the bill, while the remaining have opposed it.
On the eve of the House vote, MOAA reiterated its opposition to the bill and called on lawmakers to oppose it. The primary objection is that the bill would turn the SBVA into an "oversight" board, giving it no real authority.
“There have been no material changes to the overriding objection that SB67 removes the authority, autonomy, independence, and rule making power of the SBVA,” MOOA said in a statement. “SB67 is still wholly unacceptable to Alabama Veterans as it relegates the SBVA to be toothless advisory committee with no real power. Any suggestions of oversight or control of any funds is patently false as evidenced by the plain language in SB67, even as amended.”
Alabama Veterans are shocked by the political maneuvering to divide the Alabama Veterans community and dismayed at the misrepresentations by some that this legislation has widespread veteran support. Of the eight remaining VSOs with representation on the SBVA, five are opposed to this legislation. One must question the depth of support of the three named VSOs because the rank and file of those VSOs we have encountered also oppose SB67.”
The bill is listed fifth in line for a nine-bill calendar that promises to take up significant time with debate.
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