Texas, Miss. National Guards defy President Obama, won’t give same-sex benefits

[mota bhai 2,675]

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas National Guard refused to process requests from same-sex couples for benefits on Tuesday despite a Pentagon directive to do so, while Mississippi won’t issue applications from state-owned offices.

...

Texas and Mississippi appeared to be the only two states limiting how and where same-sex spouses of National Guard members could register for identification cards and benefits, according to an Associated Press tally. Officials in 13 other states that also ban gay marriage - including Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan and Georgia - said Tuesday that they will follow federal law and process all couples applying for benefits the same.

Maj. Gen. John Nichols, the commanding general of Texas Military Forces, wrote to service members in a letter obtained by the AP that because the Texas Constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman, his state agency couldn’t process applications from gay and lesbian couples.

...

A spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the Texas Military Forces, as a state agency, must obey state law.

Mississippi National Guard spokesman Tim Powell said the main factor in determining where same-sex spouses could apply for benefits came down to the property owner. Powell said only National Guard offices on federal property would accept the applications in Mississippi, which also constitutionally bans gay marriage.

...

Pentagon officials said Texas appeared to be the only state with a total ban on processing applications from gay and lesbian couples.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-miss-national-guards-wont-give-same-sex-benefits-at-some-sites-cite-gay-marriage-ban/2013/09/03/c047d8b8-14fe-11e3-b220-2c950c7f3263_story.html

Edited September 4, 2013 by amriki bhai

[mota bhai 2,675]

bttt

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas National Guard refused to process requests from same-sex couples for benefits on Tuesday despite a Pentagon directive to do so, while Mississippi won’t issue applications from state-owned offices.

...

Texas and Mississippi appeared to be the only two states limiting how and where same-sex spouses of National Guard members could register for identification cards and benefits, according to an Associated Press tally. Officials in 13 other states that also ban gay marriage - including Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, Michigan and Georgia - said Tuesday that they will follow federal law and process all couples applying for benefits the same.

Maj. Gen. John Nichols, the commanding general of Texas Military Forces, wrote to service members in a letter obtained by the AP that because the Texas Constitution defines marriage as between a man and a woman, his state agency couldn’t process applications from gay and lesbian couples.

...

A spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the Texas Military Forces, as a state agency, must obey state law.

Mississippi National Guard spokesman Tim Powell said the main factor in determining where same-sex spouses could apply for benefits came down to the property owner. Powell said only National Guard offices on federal property would accept the applications in Mississippi, which also constitutionally bans gay marriage.

...

Pentagon officials said Texas appeared to be the only state with a total ban on processing applications from gay and lesbian couples.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-miss-national-guards-wont-give-same-sex-benefits-at-some-sites-cite-gay-marriage-ban/2013/09/03/c047d8b8-14fe-11e3-b220-2c950c7f3263_story.html

This is going to get interesting..Lot of things come into play with the National Guard By law they are under control of the Governor of the state, This could turn into a big show down. You see he did comply with units on Federal Property.

Keep in mind there are no health benefits for the majority of Guardsmen.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Keep in mind there are no health benefits for the majority of Guardsmen.

Not quite true. Depending on what periods you served on Federal Active Duty, you may be eligible for low priority health services, on a cost sharing basis. Most American Legion posts have a designated person that can check your eligibility for you.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Not quite true. Depending on what periods you served on Federal Active Duty, you may be eligible for low priority health services, on a cost sharing basis. Most American Legion posts have a designated person that can check your eligibility for you.

Sorry Sir...The majority of Guardsmen are part timers and most have not seen active duty

Notice i said Majority

I know about the benefits I got sweet VA care for my active duty during Desert Storm.

[Danno 1,228]

MOst people don't know this but Tx has a special provision in their Constitution which I think allows them to divide the state up, which would give more seats in the Senate. It's the only state with this provision.

If anyone can clarify this, it might be interesting on what this could mean. (or not mean)

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Sorry Sir...The majority of Guardsmen are part timers and most have not seen active duty

Notice i said Majority

I know about the benefits I got sweet VA care for my active duty during Desert Storm.

Almost all guardmembers have been on active duty for training. That counts.

[mota bhai 2,675]

MOst people don't know this but Tx has a special provision in their Constitution which I think allows them to divide the state up, which would give more seats in the Senate. It's the only state with this provision.

If anyone can clarify this, it might be interesting on what this could mean. (or not mean)

Snopes calls that "partly true".

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/texas.asp

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

MOst people don't know this but Tx has a special provision in their Constitution which I think allows them to divide the state up, which would give more seats in the Senate. It's the only state with this provision.

If anyone can clarify this, it might be interesting on what this could mean. (or not mean)

Only Congress can create new states. Nobody cares what is in the Texas state constitution.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Almost all guardmembers have been on active duty for training. That counts.

I am not aware of any health care for ADT only

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I am not aware of any health care for ADT only

Contact your local American Legion post.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Or do it online:

http://www.legion.org/benefitscalculator/?width=750&height=575&iframe=true

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Or do it online:

http://www.legion.org/benefitscalculator/?width=750&height=575&iframe=true

Thanks I will look into it..

I need to figure out how to get at least a 0% service connected so I can go to the VA clinic in Manila

[Darnell 8,479]

I say this issue will get resolved next week, without resolution in the courts.