Ross unveils plan to support veterans

6-part strategy expands educational opportunities, treatment courts, he says

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mike Ross unveiled his six-pronged plan Monday to support veterans, including making it easier for them to get professional licenses and receive college credit through the state.

"It is time to stop being reactive and start being proactive," Ross said at a news conference in Little Rock with more than a dozen veterans standing behind him.

As part of his plan called Veterans Matter, Ross said he wants to work with state agencies, professional licensure boards, and the state's colleges and universities to make it easier for veterans to move from combat to civilian careers.

Twenty states have laws authorizing state licensure boards to accept military education, experience and training toward occupational licensure, and "we can do the same in Arkansas," he said.

Ross said he supports Arkansas Veterans Coalition's goal of exempting military retirement benefits from state income taxesbut wants to conduct an economic impact study to review the cost and benefit of the proposed exemption before determining the most fiscally responsibly way to reach that goal.

The first $6,000 of Arkansans' retirement benefits, including military retirement benefits, is exempt from the state income tax each year, according to the state Department of Finance and Administration. Completely exempting military retirement benefits would reduce state tax revenue by at least $17 million a year, the department estimates.

Ross said he also wants to increase access to veterans treatment courts to reduce their ranks behind bars. The Arkansas Veterans Coalition estimates about 2,000 veterans are incarcerated in Arkansas. If half of them are given the chance to participate in a veterans treatment court or alternative sentencing program, he estimated that the state would save more than $16 million a year.

Savings from the veterans treatment courts may be a way to pay for exempting military retirement benefits from the state's income taxes, Ross said.

If elected, he said he'll ask the Arkansas Veterans Commission to develop a strategic plan for serving veterans in Arkansas; seek approval of legislation empowering the commission to help guide work at the state Department of Veterans Affairs; and work with Arkansas National Guard leaders to ensure they have the resources to effectively do their jobs, including responding to emergencies.

The Democratic candidate also promised to appoint more veterans to serve on state boards and commissions.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Asa Hutchinson, who unveiled his four-pronged veterans plan two weeks ago, said that "support for veterans is an issue that Mike Ross and I agree upon."

"I previously announced my plan to support Arkansas veterans, including looking for ways to exempt our veterans from the state income tax and by eliminating the residency requirement for in-state tuition for our returning veterans," Hutchinson said in a written statement.

"As Governor, I will continue to work with the Veteran's Coalition to expand the presence of veteran treatment courts and to increase employment opportunities for our returning service men and women," he said.

Ross of Little Rock is a former 4th district congressman, state senator and Nevada County Quorum Court member. Hutchinson is a former 3rd district congressman, federal homeland security undersecretary and director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. They're vying to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe in the Nov. 4 general election.

Metro on 08/26/2014

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