Shellito warns of cuts to state vets' programs; Senator Mike Parry silent again

Memorial Day is coming up, and families across Minnesota will tidy up the resting places of loved ones, leaving flowers and straightening up the Bronze Star markers on graves of their veterans. The stars are silent reminders of the part of a life--or all of it--that Americans gave to their country.

This morning's Star Tribune reports that may change under the dramatic cuts proposed in Republican bills working their way toward Governor Dayton's desk. In State VA chief: Budget cuts by GOP would hurt veterans, Rachel Stassen Berger writes:

Republican budget cuts could trigger the closure of at least one veterans' home, higher burial fees for veterans' families and elimination of the Bronze Star grave marker program, according to state Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Shellito.

Shellito, who led the state National Guard under former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, said the budget as it stands would result in layoffs and other cuts, even though Republicans had pledged to protect veterans from spending reductions. "I'm very concerned," Shellito said.

The House sponsor, Rep. Morrie Lanning, says Shellito is overreacting. The soldier's response?

Although rhetoric at the Capitol has heated up as the budget process grinds toward a May 23 adjournment, Shellito said his projections are not part of that fight. "I don't play games," said Shellito, a major general in the Guard. "It's really serious."

In a letter to Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday, Shellito said the budget proposals for his department would result in layoffs for more than 100 employees.

The Military Affairs Department, which is separate from Veterans Affairs, said legislative budgets could leave too little money to properly maintain state-owned National Guard armories and the House budget bill could "jeopardize the ability of the state to retain the Army and Air National Guard units currently assigned."

Judging from I've observed from Shellito during his time leading the Guard, and from what my many friends in the MNG say about their former leader, I believe him. Shellito isn't the sort of guy who'll play games.

More telling is who isn't talking. From the Strib:

Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, Lanning's counterpart in the Senate, was not available for comment, despite repeated requests.

Mike Parry at a loss for words? Too busy taping a lame caucus radio podcast to answer some questions about vets? Tied up accepting a journalistic lap dance from the fawning staff at the Faribault Daily News? Really, Mike, really?

Parry was one of those Republicans who promised to hold veterans' programs harmless. But then, he famously didn't answer Senator Dick Cohen's question on the floor of the senate about budget cuts, either.

In fact, Parry won his special election in January 2010 while campaigning on an across-the-board 15 percent budget cut that would nonetheless hold state veterans' program harmless. The Mankato Free Press reported in January 2010:

Parry was asked, if billions of dollars in inefficiencies are present in the budget, why Pawlenty didn’t target them when he had the chance.

“I wasn’t there,” Parry said. “I don’t know what he was thinking.”

One problem, according to Parry’s philosophy, might have been the governor’s attempt to protect K-12 education funding and other popular parts of the budget. Parry would exempt only two relatively small sections of the state budget — veterans benefits and public safety programs. [emphasis added]

Every other part of the budget must be cut — even property tax credits and other favored line items that directly reduce people’s property taxes, according to Parry.

Chair of the Senate's Government Reform and Veterans Committee, Parry didn't taking questions about the possible cuts back in early February.

Parry was hired by voters and draws a paycheck to answer questions. It's the rest of us who should be speechless.

Update: Tomorrow's "Tax Cut Rally" asks attendees to remember our troops and "Visit veterans memorials on the state capitol grounds." Bluestem thinks it would be better to call Parry's office (number here) and remind him of his promises to vets.

February's video: