Kaine Discusses Economy with Roanoke Area Veterans
Press Release
On Monday, Tim Kaine sat down with Roanoke area veterans to discuss his approach to creating economic growth and specifically addressed strategies to reduce disproportionately high unemployment among veterans, and fulfill the obligations the country has made to those who've served. At the meeting, Kaine told veterans at the Disabled American Veterans Lounge in Salem that he hopes to carry on the tradition of Jim Webb of representing Virginia veterans in the U.S. Senate.
Roanoke Free Press: Reemployment while transitioning to civilian jobs should be easier said Kaine. He suggested having the skills learned in the military translate to civilian job certifications that civilian employers could understand. Some veterans "get no credit for what they were doing." In the past it was easier because employers understood what a "gunnery sergeant" does said Kaine. Today there isn't an understanding of a veteran's value. "There are all kinds of civilian credentials that would work for all kinds of skills these days," said Kaine. Examples he gave were Cisco system's administrator and EMT certifications. That information then would be retained in personnel files he said....
Roanoke Free Press: Sherwood who is also Captain of the DAV Honor Guard said, "as soon as [Kaine] said we have a promise to the veterans he won my vote. I could tell this [roundtable] was not politics today. He was listening."
Roanoke Free Press: Not everything is up for spending cuts said Kaine. "Some programs are producing more value for citizens then others veteran's benefits are a perfect example of this. It's not just a line item in the budget. It is an earned benefit like a contract, like a promise," said Kaine. He added that benefits are connected to retention and recruitment with an all-volunteer military. "As we're making cuts we need to protect benefits that have been promised to people."
WSET: Former Governor Tim Kaine was in the area Monday meeting with veterans. Kaine met members of the Roanoke Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans in Salem. Kaine says he is interested in continuing the pro-veteran policies pushed through by current Senator Jim Webb.
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