Rep. Minnick hears concerns from Idaho veterans

by Edgar Linares
Idaho's NewsChannel 7

KTVB.COM

Posted on May 15, 2010 at 10:17 PM

Updated yesterday at 10:06 AM

MERIDIAN -- A town hall meeting brought in dozens of veterans to talk with Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick this Saturday.

Saturday is Armed Forces Day and the congressman wanted to hear from vets on what concerns them the most.

"It is very appropriate today that we commemorate past veterans and realize that it hasn't gotten any easier," Minnick said.

A wide variety of issues were talked about at the meeting. From major issues like the war, to smaller ones like parking at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Boise.

Twenty minutes into the meeting, the issue of health care was brought up.

Tom Ressler, supervisor for the Office of Veterans Advocacy in Idaho said there's a wide variety of issues they deal with. He said the most crucial is response time to claims issued by veterans.

"If a veteran loses a claim here locally and we file an appeal for them, and it's denied at the local level then we have to file an appeal to the board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, D.C. When it goes to Washington, D.C. it's normally two to two-an-half years, some much longer than that," said Ressler.

Ressler said that time frame is inappropriate and needs to improve.

Another question asked is what Minnick is doing to bring the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Idaho. Commander of American Legion Post 113,  Frank Kenny, pointed out some of Idaho's advantages.

"We got the best flying weather, we have the best ranges. We can have bases for both training and operations. And from a logistics standpoint no other base in the nation can beat us," Kenny said.

At one point during the meeting, the room got quiet when someone asked about Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl. Bergdahl is the Hailey, Idaho soldier being held hostage by the Taliban.

"The last communication I had was that they (military leaders) continue to be optimistic, and think he's still alive," Minnick said.

Other issues talked about during Saturday's meeting included Laura Silsby, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and the national debt.

"On Armed Forces Day, I really appreciate our guys coming out," Kenny said. "They're putting their barbecues on hold and coming to speak with the representative."

Minnick said he plans to bring up these issues when he returns to Washington.