Lincoln County Commissioner and Marine veteran Chris Bruns made it clear on Monday that he is a staunch defender of the Veterans Aid Fund. Bruns doubled down on that position late Wednesday in a guest opinion for the Bulletin.

Governor Jim Pillen has proposed transferring small portions of the Veterans Aid Fund, along with segments of about 90 other state cash funds managed by various state agencies and departments, to help address a $471 million revenue shortfall in the state budget. According to the Nebraska Constitution, the budget must be balanced.

The Veterans Aid Fund has grown to its current size of $30 million, with approximately $215,000 allocated annually to Lincoln County veterans. These funds provide critical assistance to veterans facing major expenses during unexpected financial crises.

Bruns expressed deep concern upon learning of Gov. Pillen’s proposal to tap into the fund, emphasizing that veterans have risked their lives for their country. He highlighted that the aid fund was established shortly after World War I as an endowment, using federal dollars allocated to every state, designed to be self-sustaining.

“It was purposeful in that it never required the taxpayers to fund it again,” Bruns wrote in the Bulletin. “In short, it was prudent stewardship meant to outlast political cycles and economic swings, ensuring that help would always be available for veterans in need.”

The governor’s proposal includes removing $5 million from the fund over the next two years. Bruns warned that this “quietly kicks open a back door, allowing this fund to be tapped every biennium (two years).”

He also pointed out that Section 198 of the bill contains open-ended language that changes the underlying statute. Once this language is approved, future withdrawals could become routine and discreet, described merely as dollar amounts annotated in spreadsheets for transfer without public explanation.

Bruns’ complete statement is available on the Opinion page of the Bulletin.
https://northplattebulletin.com/state-could-keep-taking-funds-from-veterans-aid-commissioner-says/