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| Michigan Governor Granholm Wants To Punish Poor, Disabled Veterans |
| 2007-04-14 |
| For residents of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, the summer carnival, concert trips or fishing jaunts on Lake Michigan are highlights of the year. They are now victims of the state's budget crisis, prompting complaints from residents and veterans' advocates. "If they cut these activities out, why am I here? It's what makes me feel like I am part of the real world," said John Palmer, a 63-year-old Air Force veteran who depends on a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis. Palmer said residents learned last week everything from doughnuts on Saturday to a trip to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for its butterfly exhibit have been axed. Resident Randy Fortune, 58, said the announcement cast a sense of gloom among the home's 720 residents. "We have no light at the end of the tunnel. We have nothing to look forward to. Everybody is upset." According to Frank Snarski, the home's commandant, the cuts stem from an executive order by Gov. Jennifer Granholm that restricted funds at the home only be used for "essential" items. They come from a $1 million fund used for items not covered by the home's overall budget. They include eyeglasses, dentures, medical supplies, trips the doctor, as well as entertainment of residents. Although the fund comes from private donations, including those made on state income tax forms, the state historically has had broad oversight over how the money is used. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #13 I caught one that spell-check missed - you when I meant your. WORD didn't find any others, except todays, which is more than one today. I heard that slogan on the radio from a outfit trying to get car donations for veterans - They gav their tomorrows for your todays. I like it. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-04-14 15:51 |
| #12 Spell-check it first, there are errors. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-04-14 13:11 |
| #11 Well said, Bobby. Suggest you cc: the letters-to-the-editor pages of the Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids newspapers. |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-04-14 11:10 |
| #10 Dear Governor Granholm: I see in the Grand Rapids Press from April 13, 2007 that your executive orders are reducing private funds to disabled Veterans. “ For residents of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, the summer carnival, concert trips or fishing jaunts on Lake Michigan are highlights of the year. They are now victims of the state's budget crisis, prompting complaints from residents and veterans' advocates. “ “Although the fund comes from private donations, including those made on state income tax forms, the state historically has had broad oversight over how the money is used. “ Widows and orphans, too Governor? Perhaps you can tax the homeless. What will you do with those private funds, Governor? Redecorate the Governor’s Mansion? Fund you re-election campaign? Words cannot convey my contempt of your apparent contempt of those who sacrificed their tomorrows for our todays. My Father and Father-in-Law are both veterans; fortunately they live in Illinois. My son is also a veteran, but he lives in Texas. Please reconsider your executive order, Governor. This is not 1975; American does not have contempt for veterans anymore. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-04-14 10:51 |
| #9 Governor Jennifer M. Granholm P.O. Box 30013 Lansing, Michigan 48909 PHONE: (517) 373-3400 PHONE: (517) 335-7858 - Constituent Services FAX:(517) 335-6863 I'm going to guess that letters would be more effective than e-mails; I'll bet she doesn't accept them from those who are not her constituents, ala Pelosi and Murtha. I believe I'll drop her a note. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2007-04-14 10:36 |
| #8 Bunch of Zimbabwe Bob wannabes? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-04-14 08:30 |
| #7 NH has been turned from a red to a blue state by the hoards of people escaping Mass. The problem is that when they get here, they want the same tax and spend, granny state policies that they just left! |
| Posted by: Jim 2007-04-14 07:59 |
| #6 Oh, come on, give Governor Granholm a break! She has to finance abortion clinics, pay off the public school unions, and redecorate the governor's mansion somehow. [/sarcasam] |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-04-14 07:28 |
| #5 "Massachusetts said goodbye to its last auto plant years ago. Its economy is growing. Its population is generally better educated with a substantially higher percentage of adults holding college degrees." Talk to someone from MA. The economy is NOT growing - lack of tax revenues due to decreased earnings, both private and corporate, have lead to a billion dollar shortfall in the state government's coffers. People are leaving the state in record numbers, and the bulk of these are the "educated"; the income tax was supposed to be reduced to 5% by popular vote several years ago and has not yet due to a greedy and irresponsible legislature (both houses of which are over 80% Democrat); the state has the highest capital gains ("unearned") income tax in the U.S., forcing many elderly to leave the state in order to retire; the infrastructure of roads and bridges is falling apart; the government is the most anti-gun of any state in the country; the illegal immigrant problem is out of control there, and the state government has a long record of encouraging illegals to move there. In 1980, there were 50 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in MA. There are now less than a third of that number. MI may have its problems. Emulating MA won't help them. |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2007-04-14 07:03 |
#4 From a detnews.com editorial:We were both pumping gas at the Cumberland Farms in South Hadley, Mass., when the woman next to me smiled and cheerfully asked, "So, how are things in Michigan?" |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-04-14 01:07 |
| #3 I'm surprised Granholm didn't offer each of the vets an ipod instead. |
| Posted by: GORT 2007-04-14 00:47 |
| #2 The only thing the state of Michigan remains committed to is the Democratic party, the only thing Granholm stands for is re-election. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-04-14 00:31 |
| #1 Maybe MICHIGAN has read LUCIANNE'S article on how the state may be destined to become a future water-starved DUST BOWL ala Global Warming??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-04-14 00:17 |