August 21,2011Editorial Page by the Editor of
August 21,2011
"Ask not what your state has done for you, but what
you........."
By; William A. Gast, Editor
It continues to be an example of what a state can do to repay the veterans of their community that have given so much. I'm talking about what the Texas legislature,...and Rick Perry have done for veterans. The Texas summers are predominately pretty much above normal temps. This is a given. What is not known by most Americans is that a disabled veteran that has suffered burns over most of his/her body in combat wounds suffers additionally from inability to control their body temperature as a result, has a very difficult time in a room with elevated temperature. Especially if that room is in his house. Imagine that as a burned vet you are unable to regulate your body temperature like most people. Your skin does not perspire. Keeping cool is not just a comfort zone for you, it is a medical necessity. This means that the room, the vet's home or his daily living environment needs to be in the range of 65 to 70 degrees.
That is a costly requirement for these patriots that have given so much for our country. In Texas, right now especially when the average temps are triple digit that can be out of line with the veterans budget.
But Texas legislators have not forgotten their vets---again. In a small sign of gratitude, the Texas legislature, under the authorship of Sen. Leticia Van De Putte, passed a bill to give these deserving guardians of our country, a discount on their utility bills. As of this writing, the discount is around an average of $90 per veterans household but that can make a difference for sure. Also, at this time it only applies to those with severe burns that decrease the vets ability to regulate their core body temp and only those that are under the CPS Energy corporations billing. But it has the eye of Rick Perry and if the bill has the word veteran attached to it---it will get a signature for state-wide regulation in a nanosecond IMHO.
Perry refers to San Antonio--the home of CPS energy that this most effects, as "Military City USA"
You could not have found a better place to start the program Mr. Governor (and Presidential candidate). I hope the media considers these gestures of gratitude when they say you shoot from the hip.
William A. Gast USN (ret) DAV, CRSC