Panel restores funding for Redding vets' home

Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, who is vice chair of the lower chamber's budget committee, says he pushed to restore half the funding for the Redding and Fresno veterans' homes so they could open "as soon as possible."

He explained in a news release:

In the last year’s budget an agreement was broken and under the governor’s proposed budget plan these veterans homes would sit vacant until January 2014. This important issue was brought up for a vote and was passed with bi-partisan support in the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 4 to be included in the 2012-13 Budget.

“This is but the first step to ensure the homes in Redding and Fresno areas are open by July 1st, 2013,” said Nielsen. “The budget has a long way to go before it’s finally passed and we need the veterans to continue as they did today in Sacramento, to show members of the Legislature and the Governor’s Administration that they will do everything to ensure our veterans will begin to live in these veterans homes without delay.”

“When veterans stand together we can accomplish any mission,” said Lieutenant Colonel Carl Bott, USMC (Ret), a former Second Assembly District Veteran of the Year. “This is just the opening battle in a long war.”