What we ask of UVC: Inclusion of Gold Star Wives in the state legislative agenda

 It is so simple.

 I hope that the United Veterans Coalition adopts the same simple resolution of support from 2016 for Gold Star Wives property tax exemption that UVC advocated in 2016, but with specificity as to active duty military survivors:

"Provide property tax exemption for surviving spouses of active-duty military line-of-duty deaths, similar to current exemption for seniors and 100% disabled veterans and their survivors. 

Farewell, MOAA and my 30-year membership.

No help here!

I've ended my 31-year membership in the Military Officers Association of America, resigning last week. Leadership's brief response to my request for support (copy below) or advice on property tax exemptions for surviving spouses of active-duty military wasn't helpful and didn't deal with the issue. The only answer was that the Colorado MOAA representative would decide whether to support or not, and whether to speak with me or not. 

There wasn't even an offer to bring my concerns about Gold Star Wives and Colorado's TDIU veterans to the MOAA representative.

In essence, I was told by leadership that my effort as a life member to express my need for MOAA help within the United Veterans Coalition was dependent upon and at the sole discretion of our lobbyist. 

MOAA's rep hasn't found an opportunity for me to discuss my hope for MOAA support within the Colorado United Veterans Coalition. My specific request was for MOAA to advocate veterans' issues as per our mission statement. I was sent an email on how the United Veterans Coalition handles legislative objectives but nothing regarding how MOAA could help, nor whether MOAA agreed or disagreed with my concern's solution.

Being denied my voice, permitted any discussion of my needs only upon invitation of another (no matter how kind or skillful or even supportive the lobbyist may be) is unacceptable. This is an MOAA gag. Are officers expected to wait around, mute and dependent on others deciding what's best for us?

Rather than have my affiliation as a member affirm MOAA inaction, disinterest, or perhaps even opposition to my needs, I have terminated my life membership. Now I hope to bring up the issue with other UVC-affiliated groups, seeking their support to place Gold Star Wives and TDIU veterans on its 2022 legislative agenda.

What I wrote MOAA to ask for help:

I'm a life MOAA member and ask your help. Good afternoon. I don't know the complexities of getting an MOAA resolution but hope for your advice. If appropriate, please consider this a motion under the appropriate rules for such a thing.

Our state restricts the small Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption to those whose spouse died while already in receipt of the exemption. This language makes it impossible for "Gold Star Wives: (name change underway to Spouses) to qualify because their troop died on duty and never came home to apply for the exemption An obvious and gruesome "Catch-22." 

There are about 150 or so widows/widowers not already covered under the Homestead Exemption. I'm not addressing Gold Star Wives' second category, spouses of vets who die after the military of service-connected causes because the current language includes them. Legislative Affairs Council estimates the cost to Colorado to be under $100,000.

I'd like to correct this via our membership in the United Veterans Coalition of Colorado. I assume we either agree upon supporting something as an informal process or some sort of resolution. I've drafted such a resolution for discussion.

Please help me correct this discrimination of active duty widows who should be receiving the same respect and honor as do Colorado's disabled veteran survivors.

Several years back, MOAA was much more responsive when I visited headquarters in Washington along with Dr. Jeanie Stellman from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. MOAA and ROA, the American Legion, NPR, even Air Force Times all lent their support throughout the four year effort getting our crews C-123 Agent Orange coverage.

So, thanks again, MOAA, but farewell. I'm not able to travel to Washington again to find somebody in MOAA to hear me out.

May 2015 MOAA Magazine

 

Colorado's Gold Star Wives' Catch-22

Catch-22

Just think about this. 

Colorado has a modest property tax savings just for totally disabled veterans, totally disabled military retirees, and for their survivors. I am referring to the Colorado Disabled Veterans Survivor Property Tax Exemption program. Saves about $600 each for those qualified, with a goal of helping disabled vets and survivors get or keep homes after suffering lifelong total disabilities in the Nation's service.

Think about this also: Colorado refuses this very modest property tax exemption to survivors of military who die in the line of duty on active federal service. None of my county's 245 recipients of the exemption is a war widow or widower, AKA a "Gold Star Spouse."  In fact, there isn't a single one in all of Colorado.

Surviving spouses of active duty military lost in the line of duty just don't qualify. Until we change the rules, they never will. The core problem is that the rules limit the property tax exemption to the disabled vet, and then the survivor if and only if the veteran was receiving it at the time of death.

If you're a civilian, take it from me; While in the process of crashing your airplane, sinking your ship, or getting a bullet through your helmet, it is awkward to first take a few moments out before dying to apply for and be approved for the Colorado exemption. Actually, time does not permit.

You've heard the phrase "Catch-22" for a no-win and absurd situation, a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations. We've certainly invented a whopper with Colorado Constitution Article X Section 3.5 and HB14-1373. 

This macabre situation boils down to coming home alive but disabled after service and save a little money on your property taxes versus dying on duty so your spouse can pay more property taxes. What great choices!

Not that any soldier, sailor, airman or Marine gets to make such a choice; too often, guys in uniforms much different than ours decide that for us by shooting or launching RPG's in our direction. 

Next stop: either:
  (1) the nearest field hospital or
  (2) an aluminum casket with Old Glory across it.

Catch-22. Colorado's Disabled Veteran Survivor Property Tax Exemption.