BGlobe lead editorial 8/14: Praise for Kerry bill

[TayTay]

This editorial praised Kerry for his actions in bringing the Military Family Bill of Rights up in the Senate. It is pretty rare for the Globe to single out Kerry alone for praise for a legislative action (usually he is included in list of legislators being lauded for some action.)

It's nice to see the BGlobe applauding Kerry for doing this. Maybe it will bring notice to something that should be passed in both chambers unanimously.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2005/08/14/cheated_soldiers/

(SNIP)

Senator John Kerry and colleagues on Capitol Hill have proposed legislation to give these small-business owners a break through economic disaster grants, tax credits, and loans, recognizing a problem that has been largely ignored.

The problem has been easy to miss, given that most Reservists and Guard members leave salaried jobs with their companies, which are required by federal law to hire them back. But there are no protections for the returning soldier who is the company, whether it is a retail shop, restaurant, gas station, medical practice, or other enterprise.

''It may be a small number of people, but in terms of lives affected the magnitude is huge," said Major Rob Palmer, public affairs officer for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency. In a phone interview he estimated that 10 percent of the 800,000 men and women serving in the National Guard and Reserves are self-employed.

Part of Kerry's Military Family Bill of Rights, now in the Senate Finance Committee, would provide grants of up to $25,000 for small businesses hurt by the loss of a key employee, and low-interest loans up to $100,000 for veterans to start new businesses. The legislation would set up a Guard and Reservist task force through the Small Business Administration that would help companies prepare for military call-ups.

[politicasista]

1. Cool

Thanks Tay Tay. :hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Yay!

Nice to hear! Boston and all of Massachusetts is so lucky to have Kerry. I have a sorta friend who soon is going to be moving up to Boston to attend BU. She's going to be so lucky to have the best senator in the world!

[MH1]

3. Bill numbers and info

From thomas.loc.gov:

S.460
Title: A bill to expand and enhance benefits for members of the Armed Forces and their families, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/18/2005) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 2/18/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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S.240
Title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow small business employers a credit against income tax with respect to employees who participate in the military reserve components and are called to active duty and with respect to replacement employees and to allow a comparable credit for activated military reservists who are self-employed, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. (introduced 2/1/2005) Cosponsors (6)
Latest Major Action: 2/1/2005 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

COSPONSORS(6), ALPHABETICAL : (Sort: by date)
Sen Durbin, Richard - 2/1/2005 Sen Leahy, Patrick J. - 2/1/2005
Sen Murray, Patty - 2/1/2005 Sen Pryor, Mark L. - 2/1/2005
Sen Rockefeller, John D., IV - 2/1/2005 Sen Stabenow, Debbie - 2/1/2005

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Note the dates that these were introduced, and referred to Committee on Finance. I appreciate the Globe editorial, but I think stronger language might have been appropriate in this case.

[kerrygoddess]

4. recent article they reference in OP/ED

Also praises JK -- I wrote about it here - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=175

[TayTay]

5. Remember when they piss and moan about money

that there was nearly $500 million dollars appropirated in the Transportation bill to build two bridges to nowhere in Alaska. $500 million bucks. How much would Kerry's bill actually cost?

I really, really despise these lying, hypocritical, chickenhawk, piece of shit assh*les. The ottest place in hell, in my humble opinion, is too good for them.