Today, November 11, 2011 is Veterans Day, a time to honor all military veterans who raised their hand and took the oath to protect the rights of American citizens and to protect this country.
Being in the military myself, as well as being raised in a military family where my father was deployed for most of my childhood and adolescent years, I know the sacrifices a military member and their families make for the sake of others. Long and numerous deployments are not easy on anyone and can take its toll on a family unit.
All the wars and conflicts that America has been in throughout the years has unfortunately led to many casualties. Many military members, young and old, have paid the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect our freedom.
Reading the article regarding the homestead tax exemption to surviving spouses of military veterans who were 100% disabled on the Eyes of Texas blog written by Josh Coffman really bothered me as it should everyone. I totally agree with Coffman's statements in that this particular amendment MUST be passed. It should be common sense to everyone in why this amendment MUST be passed. The homestead tax exemption should incorporate the surviving spouse because it's not only the military veteran that suffers but also the family he/she leaves behind. The Department of Veteran Affairs, the state of Texas, as well as the entire nation should recognize the sacrifices military families have to endure.
I remember watching a CNN Special Report regarding the Department of Veteran Affairs and their system on rating a veteran disabled. The bottom line to that report is that the VA's disability rating system is broken and flawed. Many mistakes were made when rating a disabled veteran. In that report, there were veterans who lost limbs and who are suffering from post traumatic head injuries only to receive a 10% disability rating from the VA.
Another report titled Why The VA Frustrates Veterans also states that the VA disability rating system is slow and flawed to where the veterans moto for how the VA operates is "Delay, Deny and Hope That I Die."
From these two examples, it's very clear that the VA makes it difficult for deserving veterans who should be rated as 100% disabled to actually receive that rating. This means that only a small amount of veterans, especially those living in Texas, are rated as 100% disabled. For the veterans who were rated properly and receive that 100% rating, the homestead tax exemption should be given to them and extended to their surviving spouse.
I agree with Coffman when he states "We as a State and Nation owe it to the families of veterans who pay the ultimate sacrifices so we don't have to. To tax a surviving spouse is a cowardly act...These families are taxed enough."
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