Unhappy Veterans Day as Illinois lays off 17 vets

Veterans Day is being observed today. However, 17 veterans are not in a celebratory mood, they are looking for work in the same month that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich proclaimed November "Hire a Vet Month."

Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, who has been at odds of late with his boss, had this to say yesterday:

The governor proclaimed this "Hire a Veteran Month." He didn't say "Fire a Veteran."

A Democrat, Blagojevich has approval ratings that are so low, even President Bush polls better in this Democratic state. He's been particularly inept in fiscal matters, so it should be taken with a grain of salt that "Blago" blames federal cutbacks for being forced to lay off 17 security guards charged with protecting state National Guard facilities. A Swedish firm will keep an eye on those sites instead.

The Chicago "free registration" Tribune has more.

State officials said the displaced veterans have been offered other state jobs, and 12 have accepted. But one of the affected vets said the job he was offered paid $600 less per month, so he turned it down.

Army Lt. Col. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, a spokeswoman for the Illinois National Guard, adds that security guards didn't meet federal requirements to carry firearms, which one vet who lost his job, National Guard Staff Sgt. Bob Clingen, to say, "It's ludicrous that they would even say that, when you're talking about veterans."

Lt. Governor Quinn is a strong supporter of Illinois veterans.

Thanks for the link: Third Wave Dave

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