This letter is in response to Joe Kent calling U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’ vote against a bill to fully fund a veterans bill as disingenuous and hypocritical.
Two weeks ago, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez had a sit-down meeting with the American Legion Post 101 of Winlock. I was in attendance as the commander of the post along with 15 other veterans. She explained her reasoning and asked the group how VA services are provided for in Lewis County and similar rural areas. Her stated position to us is she wanted a full accounting of why metro areas seem to be serviced better than rural areas.
We explained to her that there was a local VA clinic in the Lewis County Mall, but for reasons we did not know, the contract for providing local doctors and nurses was contracted to a local private company.
On a personal note, I explained to her the former VA clinic did not provide me personally with the services I needed, and I made a conscious choice to travel to the VA medical center at American Lake. As a retired military service member, before or after my appointment, I used my benefits to access Fort Lewis. I explained to her that many veterans do not have that access due to not having an active or retired ID card.
A few members of the group explained their personal history with the VA and how different our experiences are and have been in the past. I have no problem with the VA, but I suggested to her that as a military service member is discharged or retired, they records need to be transferred and the service members’ needs to be registered in the VA system immediately.
There was another suggestion that the VA establish agreements with the local hospitals and larger clinics for a VA liaison office to coordinate healthcare for veterans.
From our meeting, I understood that U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez wants to see where the current budget is going, an accounting, a position I think fiscal responsible citizens want, before she votes to authorize more spending.
I support that.
According to Lewis County, 11% of the county population of 77,000 are veterans and U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez wants to see those veterans and the rest in the Third Congressional District taken care of.
Joe Kent, as for being a hypocrite, we tried to research the company you claimed paid your salary and the business was registered in the state you claim. Who really paid your salary while you were running?
Also, during the last campaign, our American Legion Post set up an information booth in Vader and Winlock for May Day and Egg Day. Why did you not stop by and say hello to your fellow veterans while you were there?
How do I know? Because in the pictures of those parades published by The Chronicle, I am the one leading the color guard.
Timothy Schmidt
Napavine
