Legislation has been proposed in Madison that would make some broad changes in how the state and counties administer local veterans services.
Among the provisions, it would allow counties the option to keep the current arrangement for a County Veteran Service Officer, or not have a local officer and go into a consortium with other counties. Currently the CVSO's are mandated by the Wisconsin statutes in each county. It would allow non-veterans to be that CVSO and eliminate several duties now done locally and put them under the direction of the state.
Oneida County Veterans Service Officer Tammy Walters thinks this would not be the best way to help local veterans..
"....a consortium means that the veteran calls a 1-800 number and either gets someone in their county or another county and relies on that person to do business over the phone. That is not an appropriate way to take care of veterans. We have veterans with needs and that is not an appropriate way to take care of them...."
Walters says she hopes veterans contact their local legislators to let them know their feelings on the proposed changes. The bill was being circulated to come up with co-signers this week.
