Veterans Legislative Day Highlights Priorities

Hoosier veterans gathered at the Statehouse to meet lawmakers and talk about their priority issues. This was the fourth annual veterans legislative day.

Gov. Eric Holcomb, also a veteran, addressed more than 100 gathered in at the statehouse.

“No state has answered the call the way that Indiana has,” says Holcomb.

Hoosier veterans, including VFW State Senior Vice Commander Eric Billman, asked lawmakers to restore more veteran benefits, including tax breaks.

“Indiana veterans bring in approximately $2.8 billion into the state,” says Billman. “We spend approximately 90 percent of that.”

Other veteran priorities include medical cannabis, veteran family support and expansion of treatment courts. Rep. Karlee Macer (D-Indianapolis) says she supports legislation that makes Indiana more veteran friendly.

“How are we really laying out a community for veterans to come here to the state of Indiana to live?” Macer asks.

Holcomb says Indiana is winning in other ways for veterans.

“We’re proud to be one of the states with the lowest unemployment rate for veterans,” says Holcomb.

Indiana is home to approximately half a million veterans.