Missouri House Veterans Committee chair Rep. Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) is championing bipartisan veteran suicide prevention legislation again this session. The committee voted 8-0 this week to approve Chairman Griffith’s bill that tasks the Missouri Veterans Commission with expanding their efforts to prevent veteran suicide. The Jefferson City-based non-partisan MOST Policy Initiative testifies that risk of suicide is higher among veterans than the general population, and that Missouri has the nation’s 8th-highest veteran suicide rate. Chairman Griffith joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” He tells listeners that he’s spoken to Governor Mike Parson (R) about the bill and that the governor, a veteran, understands its importance. Griffith hopes Governor Parson mentions veterans suicide and his bipartisan bill during next week’s State of the State address:
(AUDIO): Missouri House Veterans Committee chairman Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) speaks on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
Missouri House Veterans Committee chairman Rep. Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) has filed legislation tasking the Missouri Veterans Commission with expanding its efforts to prevent veteran suicide. The bill was heard in committee this week. Chairman Griffith tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the bill is needed to address Missouri’s high veteran suicide numbers. Chairman Griffith, an ally of GOP Governor Mike Parson, says he’s disappointed the governor’s proposed budget didn’t include $27-million in extra funding for the 988 number. The 988 number is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Griffith also praises Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres) for the pace of the session this year. Griffith says things are moving quicker than in past years:
(AUDIO) Kehoe says state employee pay raise is critical for Missouri’s veterans homes
Missouri’s lieutenant governor says there’s both a waiting list and open bed space at the state’s seven veterans homes, because the state Department of Public Safety (DPS) doesn’t have enough staff.
Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (R) spoke on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.”
“I mean how embarrassing is this. We’re the fifth-largest (state) in the United States with 475,000 veterans. We don’t have enough staff to take care of our heroes at our seven veterans homes”
Kehoe is urging state lawmakers to approve the governor’s proposed 8.7 percent pay raise for state employees, saying it would help the veterans homes and Missouri veterans. The Missouri Veterans Commission, which is part of DPS, operates seven veterans homes, including one in mid-Missouri’s Mexico. Kehoe emphasizes that the lack of staff is not the fault of the Missouri Veterans Commission, but rather is due to competition from the marketplace.
“The last year-and-a-half to two years wages, salaries prices especially in health care have gone through the roof. And so you can’t go out and hire people for any business right now when you’re 20 and 30 percent below what the market pays”
Governor Parson’s call drew bipartisan applause during Wednesday’s State of the State Address.
The Missouri Veterans Homes have a total of 1,238 beds that provide long-term skilled nursing care in compliance with federal VA regulations. The homes are located in mid-Missouri’s Mexico, as well as Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis and Warrensburg.
Click here to listen to the full “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” interview with Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe.
(AUDIO): State Rep. Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) discusses veteran suicides on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Rep. Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) chaired the Missouri House interim committee on veteran mental health and suicide this summer. He joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” today, telling listeners that Missouri ranks fourth in the nation in veteran suicides. He’s pre-filed House Bill 132, which tasks the Missouri Veterans Commission with expanding its efforts to prevent veteran suicide:
Veterans have opportunity to take free flight in World War II-era plane in Jefferson City
Veterans and the general public are invited to Saturday’s “Fly into the 40s” event at the Jefferson City Memorial Airport. The event will honor veterans and celebrate Operation September Freedom. It’s being hosted by Columbia-based Veterans United Home Loans (VUHL) and is free to the public.
VUHL vice president of military relations Pam Swan tells 939 the Eagle that there will be three World War II-era Stearman biplanes, along with other aircraft.
“We will have a DC-3 that flew in World War II that will have reenactors jumping out with the 1940-eras parachute, the round canopies. We’ll have the All-American veterans team jumping with them as well,” Swan says.
Saturday’s event is from 10 am to 7 pm, and VU is partnering with Dream Flights to honor veterans by taking them on free flights on Friday or Saturday. More than 40 veterans have already registered for a free flight, and World War II veterans are being given preference for the flights.
“We’re giving veterans rides throughout the day on a wait list that if we run out of the scheduled times. And they’re also going to be available to fly veterans on Friday while they’re just doing set-up and stuff,” says Swan.
If you’re a veteran and want to take a free flight, you should e-mail militaryrelations@veteransunited.com.
There will also be vintage military vehicles on-display and live parachuting demonstrations on Saturday. The orchestra band Kapital Kicks will perform, and the Missouri Veterans Commission will be in attendance. Food trucks and drink stations will be on-hand as well.
While admission is free, donations to the Dream Flights are encouraged.