SENATOR GOLDEN DENOUNCES GOVERNOR'S VETO OF THE VETERANS EQUALITY ACT

Brooklyn - State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn), a member of the State Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Miliary Affairs, today is denouncing Governor Andrew Cuomo's last night's unpatriotic veto of the Veterans Equality Act (S.5937/A.8174-A) approved this year by both houses of New York State Legislature. The bill's intent was to allow New York military veterans the opportunity to apply their military service credit to their pension. 

“This legislative session, my colleagues in the Senate and the Assembly passed the Veterans Equality Act because it was the right thing to do for our veterans,” said Senator Marty Golden. “Allowing veterans to apply their honorable military service toward their New York State pension should be without question a law in New York. Our State can never repay our veterans for their sacrifice and denying those who served the opportunity to retire with a equitable pension is outright insulting. I join with New Yorkers across the State in my extreme disappointment with Governor’s Cuomo action that adversely impacts the pensions of those who served."

The Veterans Equality Act would  allow all who military veterans who served honorably to buy back up to three years of pension credit. The number of veterans employed in New York State and in New York City civil service positions would result in a minimal financial impact to the State budget.