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State's veterans promised change

Monday, July 18, 2005

PEORIA JOURNAL STAR
AP

SPRINGFIELD (AP) - Leaders from Illinois say they are pushing federal authorities hard to upgrade services for veterans in the state, telling the annual convention of the American Legion of Illinois that some improvements are already in the works.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama told convention attendees Saturday that 12 new workers with the Veterans Affairs Department have been assigned to Illinois to help process new and old benefit claims. He says veterans in Illinois deserve more disability pay and medical attention.

"We would not be here celebrating our freedom if it were not for the enormous sacrifices made by men and women who have fought and still fight," he said.

After speaking to the convention in Springfield Friday, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said the VA will open a new, part-time Springfield office beginning in October.

At least two employees from the federal VA office in Chicago will travel to Springfield during the first week of each month and work out of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs' offices, he said.

Currently, Illinois veterans have to travel to one of six regional offices, located in Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Iowa, and Louisville, Ky.

Illinois veterans' benefits have been in the spotlight since December, when the Chicago Sun-Times published an analysis showing Illinois ranked 50th out of 52 states and territories in the compensation that veterans were paid for disabilities in 2003.

A 200-page report released in May by the VA's Office of the Inspector General showed staffing shortages and a World War II-era compensation plan are some of the reasons for the disparity. The average Illinois veteran with a disability got about $1,400 less last year than veterans in other states.

Earlier this month, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced the state would hire 25 service officers to help state veterans apply for and receive federal benefits. He also signed legislation that requires the state to conduct an annual review comparing Illinois veterans' benefits to those in other states and U.S. territories.