A statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley:
“As a veteran, I am appalled by Gov. Cuomo’s recent veto of the Veterans Buyback bill. This legislation would have allowed honorably discharged veterans to purchase up to three years of their service from New York State to count toward their public retirement system benefits. More importantly, veterans who have served in conflicts such as Bosnia, Afghanistan and Somalia, are not given the option for a service credit and this bill would have addressed such a concern.
“I am deeply troubled that Gov. Cuomo supports taxpayer-funded college tuition for illegal immigrants but refuses to sign this legislation as a token of gratitude for those that have honorably defended our freedom. The legislature overwhelmingly passed this measure for the second straight year and Gov. Cuomo blatantly ignored the pulse of the people. Furthermore, he again vetoed the bill days before Veterans Day (Nov. 11), adding insult to injury and further alienating our needy veterans. This act illustrates the governor’s myopic view of the public’s needs and I plan to push this legislation when we head back into session in January.”
I was under the impression
I was under the impression that Assemblyman Hawley's pet peeve was unfunded mandates. I offer this quote from Governor Cuomo's justification for vetoing the Senate/Assembly Bills dubbed "Vets Buy Back Bill" merely to question who would pay for the cost of implementation if the state budget does not provide funding... " I vetoed similar or identical bills in 2014 because the costs imposed were not accounted for in the State’s financial plan and the unfunded costs and expenses would impose a substantial burden on New York State taxpayers. In order to provide all of the benefits associated with the above-referenced bills, the State and its localities would be required to pay a combined, estimated total of $229.7 million in near-term costs and $607 million in combined, estimated long-term costs. Once again, these unfunded costs have not been accounted for in the State’s financial plan. I am therefore compelled to veto these bills."
Although in principle I support the buy back option, I wonder as to the impact of this unfunded mandate on local taxpayers. From the sounds of this, local governments, schools, who employ those public employees seeking this benefit would necessarily have to make substantial increases in retirement budgets. Correct me if I'm mistaken.
In my opinion, the veterans
In my opinion, the veterans pre-paid for this benefit by stepping up to serve and protect the rest of us. Therefore it is not an unfunded mandate, it is one paid for by something other than money.
It's bad enough Congress
It's bad enough Congress wants to cut funding for veterans' disability benefits, and now Cuomo wants to screw over N.Y. veterans.
Some politics we have.
Oh, I wonder when Congress will drop the pay raise bomb on us?